List of World Health Organization Essential Medicines

The List of World Health Organization Essential Medicines is a model list of essential medicines created by the World Health Organization. This list is based on the 15th edition (March 2007). The list was first published in 1977. The 16th edition for adults and the second edition for children were released in March 2009. The list was updated in March 2010.

Contents
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1 Anesthetic.s o 1.1 General anesthetics and oxygen o 1.2 Local anesthetics o 1.3 Preoperative medication and sedation for short-term procedures 2 Analgesics, antipyretics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, medicines used to treat gout and disease modifying agents in rheumatoid disorders o 2.1 Non-opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIMs) o 2.2 Opioid analgesics o 2.3 Medicines to treat gout o 2.4 Disease modifying agents used in rheumatoid disorders (DMARDs) 3 Antiallergics and medicines used in anaphylaxis 4 Antidotes and other substances used in poisonings o 4.1 Non-specific o 4.2 Specific 5 Anticonvulsants/antiepileptics 6 Anti-infective medicines o 6.1 Anthelminthics  6.1.1 Intestinal anthelminthics  6.1.2 Antifilarials  6.1.3 Antischistosomals and antitrematode medicine o 6.2 Antibacterials  6.2.1 Beta Lactam medicines  6.2.2 Other antibacterials  6.2.3 Antileprosy medicines  6.2.4 Antituberculosis medicines o 6.3 Antifungal medicines o 6.4 Antiviral medicines  6.4.1 Antiherpes medicines  6.4.2 Antiretrovirals  6.4.2.1 Nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors  6.4.2.2 Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors  6.4.2.3 Protease inhibitors  6.4.2.4 Combination drugs  6.4.2.5 Other antivirals o 6.5 Antiprotozoal medicines  6.5.1 Antiamoebic and antigiardiasis medicines  6.5.2 Antileishmaniasis medicines  6.5.3 Antimalarial medicines  6.5.3.1 For curative treatment

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 6.5.3.2 For prophylaxis 6.5.4 Antipneumocytosis and antioxoplasmosis medicines 6.5.5 Antitrypanosomal medicines  6.5.5.1 African trypanosomiasis  6.5.6 American trypanosomiasis 7 Antimigraine medicines o 7.1 For treatment of acute attack o 7.2 For prophylaxis 8 Antineoplastic, immunosuppressives and medicines used in palliative care o 8.1 Immunosuppressive medicines o 8.2 Cytotoxic medicines o 8.3 Hormones and antihormones o 8.4 Medicines used in palliative care 9 Antiparkinsonism medicines 10 Medicines affecting the blood o 10.1 Antianaemia medicines o 10.2 Medicines affecting coagulation 11 Blood products and plasma substitutes o 11.1 Plasma substitutes o 11.2 Plasma fractions for specific use 12 Cardiovascular medicines o 12.1 Antianginal medicines o 12.2 Antiarrhythmic medicines o 12.3 Antihypertensive medicines o 12.4 Medicines used in heart failure o 12.5 Antithrombotic medicines o 12.6 Lipid-lowering agents 13 Dermatological medicines (topical) o 13.1 Antifungal medicines o 13.2 Anti-infective medicines o 13.3 Anti-inflammatory and antipruritic medicines o 13.4 Astringent medicines o 13.5 Medicines affecting skin differentiation and proliferation o 13.6 Scabicides and pediculicides 14 Diagnostic agents o 14.1 Ophthalmic medicines o 14.2 Radiocontrast media 15 Disinfectants and antiseptics o 15.1 Antiseptics o 15.2 Disinfectants 16 Diuretics 17 Gastrointestinal medicines o 17.1 Antacids and other antiulcer medicines o 17.2 Antiemetic medicines o 17.3 Anti-inflammatory medicines o 17.4 Laxatives o 17.5 Medicines used in diarrhea  17.5.1 Oral rehydration  17.5.2 Medicines for diarrhea in children  17.5.3 Antidiarrheal (symptomatic) medicines in adults  

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18 Hormones, other endocrine medicines and contraceptives o 18.1 Adrenal hormones and synthetic substitutes o 18.2 Androgens o 18.3 Contraceptives  18.3.1 Oral hormonal contraceptives  18.3.2 Injectable hormonal contraceptives  18.3.3 Intrauterine devices  18.3.4 Barrier methods  18.3.5 Implantable contraceptives o 18.4 Estrogens o 18.5 Insulins and other antidiabetic agents o 18.6 Ovulation inducers o 18.7 Progesterones o 18.8 Thyroid hormones and antithyroid medicines 19 Immunologicals o 19.1 Diagnostic agents o 19.2 Sera and immunoglobulins o 19.3 Vaccines 20 Muscle relaxants (peripherally-acting) and cholinesterase inhibitors 21 Ophthalmological preparations o 21.1 Anti-infective agents o 21.2 Anti-inflammatory agents o 21.3 Local anesthetics o 21.4 Miotics and antiglaucoma medicines o 21.5 Mydriatics 22 Oxytocics and antioxytocics o 22.1 Oxytocics o 22.2 Antioxytocics 23 Peritoneal dialysis solution 24 Psychotherapeutic medicines o 24.1 Medicines used in psychotic disorders/diseases o 24.2 Medicines used in mood disorders  24.2.1 Medicines used in depressive disorders  24.2.2 Medicines used in bipolar disorders o 24.3 Medicines used in generalized anxiety and sleep disorders o 24.4 Medicines used for obsessive compulsive disorders and panic attacks o 24.5 Medicines used in substance dependence programs 25 Medicines acting on the respiratory tract o 25.1 Antiasthmatic and medicines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease o 25.2 Other medicines acting on the respiratory tract 26 Solutions correcting water, electrolyte and acid-base disturbances o 26.1 Oral o 26.2 Parenteral o 26.3 Miscellaneous 27 Vitamins and minerals

Anesthetics
General anesthetics and oxygen
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Halothane Ketamine Nitrous Oxide Oxygen Thiopental

Local anesthetics
1. 2. 3. 4.

Bupivacaine Ephedrine Lidocaine Lidocaine + epinephrine

Preoperative medication and sedation for short-term procedures

1. 2. 3. 4.

Atropine Diazepam Morphine Promethazine

Analgesics, antipyretics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, medicines used to treat gout and disease modifying agents in rheumatoid disorders
Non-opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIMs)
1. 2. 3.

Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin) Ibuprofen Paracetamol (Acetaminophen)

Opioid analgesics
1. 2.

Codeine Morphine

Medicines to treat gout

1.

Allopurinol

Disease modifying agents used in rheumatoid disorders (DMARDs)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Chloroquine Azathioprine Methotrexate Penicillamine Sulfasalazine

Antiallergics and medicines used in anaphylaxis

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Chlorphenamine Dexamethasone Epinephrine (adrenaline) Hydrocortisone Prednisolone

Antidotes and other substances used in poisonings

Non-specific
1.

Activated carbon

Specific
1. Acetylcysteine 2. Atropine 3. Calcium gluconate 4. Deferoxamine 5. Dimercaprol 6. DL-Methionine 7. Methylthioninium chloride (methylene blue) 8. Naloxone 9. Penicillamine 10. Potassium ferric hexacyanoferrate(II) (Prussian blue) 11. Sodium calcium edetate 12. Sodium nitrite 13. Sodium thiosulfate

Anticonvulsants/antiepileptics
1. 2. 3. 4.

Carbamazepine Diazepam Ethosuximide Magnesium sulfate

5. 6. 7. 8.

Phenobarbital Phenytoin Valproic acid Sodium valproate

Anti-infective medicines
Anthelminthics
Intestinal anthelminthics
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Albendazole Levamisole Mebendazole Niclosamide Praziquantel Pyrantel

Antifilarials
1. 2. 3.

Diethylcarbamazine Ivermectin Suramin sodium

Antischistosomals and antitrematode medicine

1. 2. 3.

Oxamniquine Praziquantel Triclabendazole

Antibacterials
1.

aquaflavine emulsion

Beta Lactam medicines

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Amoxicillin Ampicillin Benzathine benzylpenicillin Benzylpenicillin Cefazolin Cefixime Ceftazidime Ceftriaxone Cloxacillin Co-amoxiclav (amoxicillin + clavulanic acid)

11. Imipenem/cilastatin (Imipenem + cilastatin) 12. Phenoxymethylpenicillin 13. Procaine benzylpenicillin

Other antibacterials
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

Azithromycin Chloramphenicol Ciprofloxacin Clindamycin Co-trimoxazole (sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim) Doxycycline Erythromycin Gentamicin Metronidazole Nitrofurantoin Spectinomycin Sulfadiazine Trimethoprim Vancomycin

Antileprosy medicines
1. 2. 3.

Clofazimine Dapsone Rifampicin

Antituberculosis medicines
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.

Amikacin p-aminosalicylic acid Capreomycin Cycloserine Ethambutol Ethionamide Isoniazid Isoniazid + ethambutol Kanamycin Ofloxacin Pyrazinamide Rifampicin Rifampicin + isoniazid Rifampicin + isoniazid + ethambutol Rifampicin + isoniazid + pyrazinamide Rifampicin + isoniazid + pyrazinamide + ethambutol Streptomycin

Antifungal medicines
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Amphotericin B Clotrimazole Fluconazole Flucytosine Griseofulvin Nystatin Potassium iodide

Antiviral medicines
Antiherpes medicines
1.

Aciclovir

Antiretrovirals
Nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Abacavir (ABC) Didanosine (ddI) Emtricitabine (FTC) Lamivudine (3TC) Stavudine (d4T) Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) Zidovudine (ZDV or AZT)

Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors 1. 2.

Efavirenz (EGV or EFZ) Nevirapine (NVP)

Protease inhibitors 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Indinavir (IDV) Lopinavir + ritonavir (LPV/r) Nelfinavir (NFV) Ritonavir Saquinavir (SQV)

Combination drugs 1. 2. 3. 4.

Efavirenz + emtricitabine + tenofovir Emtricitabine + tenofovir Stavudine + lamivudine + nevirapine Zidovudine + lamivudine

5.

Zidovudine + lamivudine + nevirapine

Other antivirals 1.

Ribavirin

Antiprotozoal medicines
Antiamoebic and antigiardiasis medicines
1. 2.

Diloxanide Metronidazole

Antileishmaniasis medicines
1. 2. 3.

Amphotericin B Meglumine antimoniate Pentamidine

Antimalarial medicines
For curative treatment 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Amodiaquine Artemether Artemether + lumefantrine Artesunate Chloroquine Doxycycline Mefloquine Primaquine Quinine Sulfadoxine + pyrimethamine

For prophylaxis 1. 2. 3. 4.

Chloroquine Doxycycline Mefloquine Proguanil

Antipneumocytosis and antioxoplasmosis medicines

1. 2. 3.

Pentamidine Pyrimethamine Sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim

Antitrypanosomal medicines
African trypanosomiasis 1. 2. 3. 4.

Eflornithine Melarsoprol Pentamidine Suramin sodium

American trypanosomiasis
1. 2.

Benznidazole Nifurtimox

Antimigraine medicines
For treatment of acute attack
1. 2.

Aspirin Paracetamol

For prophylaxis
1.

Propranolol

Antineoplastic, immunosuppressives and medicines used in palliative care

Immunosuppressive medicines
1. 2.

Azathioprine Ciclosporin

Cytotoxic medicines
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Asparaginase Bleomycin Calcium folinate Chlorambucil Cisplatin Cyclophosphamide Cytarabine Dacarbazine Dactinomycin

10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.

Daunorubicin Doxorubicin Etoposide Fluorouracil Mercaptopurine Methotrexate Procarbazine Vinblastine Vincristine

Hormones and antihormones

1. 2. 3. 4.

Dexamethasone Hydrocortisone Prednisolone Tamoxifen

Medicines used in palliative care

None

Antiparkinsonism medicines
1. 2.

Biperiden Levodopa + carbidopa

Medicines affecting the blood

Antianaemia medicines
1. 2. 3. 4.

Ferrous salt Ferrous salt + folic acid Folic acid Hydroxocobalamin

Medicines affecting coagulation

1. 2. 3. 4.

Heparin sodium Phytomenadione Protamine sulfate Warfarin

Blood products and plasma substitutes

Plasma substitutes
1.

Dextran 70

Plasma fractions for specific use

1. 2. 3.

Human normal immunoglobulin Factor VIII concentrate Factor IX complex (II, VII, IX, X concentrate)

Cardiovascular medicines
Antianginal medicines
1. 2. 3. 4.

Atenolol Glyceryl trinitrate Isosorbide dinitrate Verapamil

Antiarrhythmic medicines
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Atenolol Digoxin Epinephrine Lidocaine Procainamide Quinidine Verapamil

Antihypertensive medicines
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Amlodipine Atenolol Enalapril Hydralazine (for acute, severe pregnancy-induced hypertension only) Hydrochlorothiazide Methyldopa Sodium nitroprusside

Medicines used in heart failure

1. 2. 3. 4.

Digoxin Dopamine Enalapril Furosemide

5.

Hydrochlorothiazide

Antithrombotic medicines
1. 2.

Acetylsalicylic acid Streptokinase

Lipid-lowering agents
1.

Simvastatin

Dermatological medicines (topical)

Antifungal medicines
1. 2. 3. 4.

Benzoic acid + salicylic acid (see also Whitfield's ointment) Miconazole Selenium sulfide Sodium thiosulfate

Anti-infective medicines
1. 2. 3. 4.

Methylrosanilinium chloride Neomycin sulfate + bacitracin Potassium permanganate Silver sulfadiazine

Anti-inflammatory and antipruritic medicines

1. 2. 3.

Betamethasone Calamine lotion Hydrocortisone

Astringent medicines
1.

Aluminium diacetate

Medicines affecting skin differentiation and proliferation

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Benzoyl peroxide Coal tar Dithranol Fluorouracil Podophyllum resin Salicylic acid

7.

Urea

Scabicides and pediculicides

1. 2.

Benzyl benzoate Permethrin

Diagnostic agents
Ophthalmic medicines
1. 2.

Fluorescein Tropicamide

Radiocontrast media
1. 2. 3. 4.

Amidotrizoate Barium sulfate Iohexol Meglumine iotroxate

Disinfectants and antiseptics

Antiseptics
1. 2. 3.

Chlorhexidine Ethanol Povidone iodine

Disinfectants
1. 2. 3.

Chlorine base compound Chloroxylenol Glutaral

Diuretics
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Amiloride Furosemide Hydrochlorothiazide Mannitol Spironolactone

Gastrointestinal medicines

Antacids and other antiulcer medicines

1. 2. 3. 4.

Aluminium hydroxide Ranitidine Magnesium hydroxide Omeprazole

Antiemetic medicines
1. 2.

Metoclopramide Promethazine

Anti-inflammatory medicines
1. 2.

Hydrocortisone Sulfasalazine

Laxatives
1.

Senna

Medicines used in diarrhea

Oral rehydration
1. 2.

Oral rehydration therapy salts RESOMAL

Medicines for diarrhea in children

1.

Zinc sulfate

Antidiarrheal (symptomatic) medicines in adults

1.

Codeine

Hormones, other endocrine medicines and contraceptives

Adrenal hormones and synthetic substitutes
See section 3 Antiallergics and medicines used in anaphylaxis.

Androgens
1.

Testosterone

Contraceptives
Oral hormonal contraceptives
1. 2. 3.

Ethinylestradiol + levonorgestrel Ethinylestradiol + norethisterone Levonorgestrel

Injectable hormonal contraceptives

1. 2. 3.

Medroxyprogesterone acetate Medroxyprogesterone acetate + estradiol cypionate Norethisterone enantate

Intrauterine devices
1.

Copper-containing IUD

Barrier methods
1. 2.

Condoms Diaphragms

Implantable contraceptives
1.

Levonorgestrel-releasing implant

Estrogens
1.

Ethinylestradiol

Insulins and other antidiabetic agents

1. 2. 3. 4.

Glibenclamide Insulin injection Intermediate-acting insulin Metformin

Ovulation inducers
1.

Clomifene

Progesterones
1. 2.

Medroxyprogesterone acetate Norethisterone

Thyroid hormones and antithyroid medicines

1. 2. 3.

Levothyroxine Potassium iodide Propylthiouracil

Immunologicals
Diagnostic agents
1.

Tuberculin

Sera and immunoglobulins

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Anti-D immunoglobulin Antitetanus immunoglobulin Antivenom immunoglobulin Diphtheria antitoxin Rabies immunoglobulin

Vaccines
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.

Bacillus Calmette-Gurin vaccine (BCG) for tuberculosis Cholera vaccine Diphtheria vaccine Hepatitis A vaccine Hepatitis B vaccine Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine Influenza vaccine Japanese encephalitis vaccine Measles vaccine Meningococcal meningitis vaccine Mumps vaccine Pertussis vaccine Pneumococcal vaccine Poliomyelitis vaccine Rabies vaccine Rotavirus vaccine Rubella vaccine Tetanus vaccine Typhoid vaccine Varicella vaccine Yellow fever vaccine

Muscle relaxants (peripherally-acting) and cholinesterase inhibitors

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Alcuronium Neostigmine Pyridostigmine Suxamethonium Vecuronium

Ophthalmological preparations
Anti-infective agents
1. 2. 3. 4.

Aciclovir Gentamicin Tetracycline Ganciclovir

Anti-inflammatory agents
1.

Prednisolone

Local anesthetics
1.

Tetracaine

Miotics and antiglaucoma medicines

1. 2. 3.

Acetazolamide Pilocarpine Timolol

Mydriatics
1. 2.

Atropine Epinephrine

Oxytocics and antioxytocics

Oxytocics
1. 2.

Ergometrine Mifepristone-misoprostol

3. 4.

Misoprostol Oxytocin

Antioxytocics
1.

Nifedipine

Peritoneal dialysis solution

1.

Intraperitoneal dialysis solution

Psychotherapeutic medicines
Medicines used in psychotic disorders/diseases
1. 2. 3.

Chlorpromazine Fluphenazine Haloperidol

Medicines used in mood disorders

Medicines used in depressive disorders
1. 2. 3. 4.

Amitriptyline Fluoxetine Sertraline Bupropion

Medicines used in bipolar disorders

1. 2. 3.

Carbamazepine Lithium carbonate Valproic acid

Medicines used in generalized anxiety and sleep disorders

1.

Diazepam

Medicines used for obsessive compulsive disorders and panic attacks

1.

Clomipramine

Medicines used in substance dependence programs

1.

Methadone

Medicines acting on the respiratory tract

Antiasthmatic and medicines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
1. 2. 3.

Beclometasone Epinephrine Ipratropium bromide

Other medicines acting on the respiratory tract

1.

Caffeine citrate

Solutions correcting water, electrolyte and acid-base disturbances

Oral
1. 2.

Oral rehydration salts (see 17.5.1 Oral rehydration) Potassium chloride

Parenteral
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Glucose Glucose with sodium chloride Potassium chloride Sodium chloride Sodium hydrogen carbonate Sodium lactate

Miscellaneous
1.

Saline solution for injection/rehydration

Vitamins and minerals

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Ascorbic acid Calcium gluconate Ergocalciferol Iodine Nicotinamide Pyridoxine Retinol

8. Riboflavin 9. Sodium fluoride 10. Thiamine

Notes
^ A indicates the medicine is a complementary item, that is one which enhances the action of another item on this list.