Medication

Medications are one of the most powerful tools in a medical professional’s arsenal. From stabilising vitals to managing pain and treating infections, the right drug at the right time can be the difference between life and death.

OOC Note: You are not expected to memorise all drug names. This guide exists to help enhance your roleplay realism and understanding of what medications might be used in a given situation.

Analgesics (Painkillers)

Used to relieve pain and reduce fever. Painkillers fall into two broad categories—non-narcotic for mild to moderate pain, and narcotic for severe pain.

Mild Pain (Pain Score 1–3)

Best for minor injuries, headaches, and fevers.

  • Acetaminophen / Paracetamol (Tylenol) – Not an NSAID, gentle on the stomach.
  • Ibuprofen (Motrin) – NSAID; reduces inflammation.
  • Naproxen (Aleve) – NSAID; longer lasting than ibuprofen.

Moderate Pain (Pain Score 4–6)

Often used post-injury or post-op.

  • Tramadol (Ultram) – Mild opioid.
  • Acetaminophen + Codeine (Tylenol-3/Vopac)
  • Oxycodone + Acetaminophen (Percocet)
  • Hydrocodone + Acetaminophen (Vicodin)

Severe Pain (Pain Score 7–10)

Used in major trauma, post-surgical recovery, or palliative care.

  • Morphine – Classic, powerful opioid.
  • Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) – More potent than morphine.

Always assess pain level carefully, and be cautious with narcotic requests, especially if a patient asks for them early on.

Anesthetics

Used to numb pain or induce unconsciousness.

General Anesthetics

Used during major surgeries for full sedation.

  • Propofol IV – Fast-acting, short-duration sedation.
  • Ketamine IV – Dissociative anesthetic; maintains breathing.

Local Anesthetics

Used for minor procedures or to numb a small area.

  • Lidocaine – Quick onset, local numbing.

Anti-Infectives

Antibiotics (For Bacterial Infections)

Used for infections like UTIs, pneumonia, or abscesses.

  • Amoxicillin (Amoxil) – Penicillin-based.
  • Vancomycin (Vancocin) – Strong non-penicillin antibiotic.
  • Sulfamethoxazole + Trimethoprim (Bactrim) – Good for penicillin-allergic patients.

Antivirals (For Viral Infections)

For flu, shingles, and respiratory viruses.

  • Acyclovir (Zovirax)
  • Amantadine (Symmetrel)
  • Ritonavir (Norvir) – Commonly used in HIV treatment.

Antifungals (For Fungal Infections)

  • Voriconazole (Vfend)
  • Clotrimazole (Lotrimin) – Often topical.
  • Terbinafine (Lamisil)

Cardiovascular Medications

For Hypertension (High BP)

  • Nitroglycerin – Relieves chest pain by dilating vessels.

For Hypotension (Low BP)

  • Fludrocortisone (Florinef) – Helps increase blood volume and pressure.

During Cardiac Arrest

  • Epinephrine (Adrenaline) – Stimulates the heart.

For Tachycardia (HR >100 bpm)

  • Diltiazem (Cardizem) – Slows heart rate.

For Bradycardia (HR <60 bpm)

  • Epinephrine (Adrenaline) – Boosts heart rate temporarily.

Coagulant (Clot Promoter)

Used to stop bleeding during trauma or surgery.

  • Tranexamic Acid (TXA) – Promotes clotting; handle with care.

Anticoagulants (Blood Thinners)

Makes bleeding harder to stop—be alert if trauma occurs.

  • Warfarin – Requires monitoring and dosage checks.
  • Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) – No routine monitoring needed.
  • Heparin – IV use in hospitals to prevent clot formation.

Diuretics (“Water Pills”)

Help remove excess fluid from the body to reduce BP or swelling.

  • Furosemide (Lasix) – Fast-acting diuretic.
  • Mannitol (Resectisol) – Used for brain swelling.
  • Metolazone (Zaroxolyn)
  • Spironolactone (Aldactone) – Potassium-sparing.
  • Acetazolamide (Diamox) – Reduces pressure in eyes and brain.
  • Hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide) – Common for high BP.

Gastrointestinal Medications

Antiemetics (Anti-Nausea)

  • Lorazepam (Ativan) – Hospital use only; also a sedative.

Neurological Medications

Anticonvulsants (Seizure Control)

Normalize nerve signals to stop seizures or nerve pain.

  • Gabapentin (Neurontin)
  • Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
  • Phenytoin (Dilantin)
  • Primidone (Mysoline)

For Migraines / Cluster Headaches

  • Sumatriptan (Imitrex) – Works best if taken early.

Poison Control

Opioid Overdose

  • Naloxone (Narcan) – Reverses overdose rapidly.

General Poisoning

  • Activated Charcoal – Absorbs poison in the stomach.

Mental Health Medications

Antidepressants

  • SSRIs – e.g., Sertraline, Fluoxetine
  • SNRIs – e.g., Venlafaxine
  • TCAs – Older, more side effects

Antipsychotics

Used for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and psychosis.

  • Atypical: Olanzapine, Quetiapine, Risperidone
  • Typical: Older generation

Anxiolytics (Anti-Anxiety)

  • Lorazepam (Ativan)
  • Diazepam
  • Benzodiazepines – Addictive; use sparingly.

Mood Stabilisers

  • Lithium
  • Valproate
  • Lamotrigine

Respiratory Medications

Antihistamines

For allergic reactions or mild allergic asthma.

  • Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

Bronchodilators

Open airways and ease breathing.

  • Albuterol (Ventolin HFA)

Inhaled Corticosteroids

Reduce airway inflammation.

  • Fluticasone (Flovent HFA)
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