User:ImprovedWikiImprovment/Essential medicines

WHO list of essential medicines, to all eventually be created/expanded.


Anaesthetics, preoperative medicines and medical gases change

General anaesthetics and oxygen change

Inhalational medicines change

Injectable medicines change

Local anaesthetics change

Preoperative medication and sedation for short-term procedures change

Medical gases change

Medicines for pain and palliative care change

Non-opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIMs) change

Opioid analgesics change

Medicines for other common symptoms in palliative care change

Antiallergics and medicines used in anaphylaxis change

Antidotes and other substances used in poisonings change

Non-specific change

Specific change

Anticonvulsants/antiepileptics change

Anti-infective medicines change

Anthelminthics change

Intestinal anthelminthics change

Antifilarials change

Antischistosomals and other antinematode medicines change

Cysticidal medicines change

Antibacterials change

Access group antibiotics change

Watch group antibiotics change

Reserve group antibiotics change

Antileprosy medicines change

Antituberculosis medicines change

Antifungal medicines change

Antiviral medicines change

Antiherpes medicines change

Antiretrovirals change

Nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors change
Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors change
Protease inhibitors change
Integrase inhibitors change
Fixed-dose combinations of antiretroviral medicines change
Medicines for prevention of HIV-related opportunistic infections change
Other antivirals change

Antihepatitis medicines change

Medicines for hepatitis B change
Nucleoside/Nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors change
Medicines for hepatitis C change
Pangenotypic direct-acting antiviral combinations change
Non-pangenotypic direct-acting antiviral combinations change
Other antivirals for hepatitis C change

Antiprotozoal medicines change

Antiamoebic and antigiardiasis medicines change

Antileishmaniasis medicines change

Antimalarial medicines change

For curative treatment change
For chemoprevention change

Antipneumocystosis and antitoxoplasmosis medicines change

Antitrypanosomal medicines change

African trypanosomiasis change
Medicines for the treatment of 1st stage African trypanosomiasis change
Medicines for the treatment of 2nd stage African trypanosomiasis change
American trypanosomiasis change

Medicines for ectoparasitic infections change

Antimigraine medicines change

For treatment of acute attack change

For prophylaxis change

Immunomodulators and antineoplastics change

Immunomodulators for non-malignant disease change

Antineoplastics and supportive medicines change

Cytotoxic medicines change

Targeted therapies change

Immunomodulators change

Hormones and antihormones change

Supportive medicines change

Antiparkinsonism medicines change

Medicines affecting the blood change

Antianaemia medicines change

Medicines affecting coagulation change

Other medicines for haemoglobinopathies change

Blood products of human origin and plasma substitutes change

Blood and blood components change

Plasma-derived medicines change

Human immunoglobulins change

Blood coagulation factors change

Plasma substitutes change

Cardiovascular medicines change

Antianginal medicines change

Antiarrhythmic medicines change

Antihypertensive medicines change

Medicines used in heart failure change

Antithrombotic medicines change

Anti-platelet medicines change

Thrombolytic medicines change

Lipid-lowering agents change

Dermatological medicines (topical) change

Antifungal medicines change

Anti-infective medicines change

Anti-inflammatory and antipruritic medicines change

Medicines affecting skin differentiation and proliferation change

Scabicides and pediculicides change

Diagnostic agents change

Ophthalmic medicines change

Radiocontrast media change

Antiseptics and disinfectants change

Antiseptics change

Disinfectants change

Diuretics change

Gastrointestinal medicines change

Antiulcer medicines change

Antiemetic medicines change

Anti-inflammatory medicines change

Laxatives change

Medicines used in diarrhoea change

Oral rehydration change

Medicines for diarrhea change

Medicines for endocrine disorders change

Adrenal hormones and synthetic substitutes change

Androgens change

Estrogens change

No listings in this section.

Progestogens change

Medicines for diabetes change

Insulins change

Oral hypoglycaemic agents change

Medicines for hypoglycaemia change

Thyroid hormones and antithyroid medicines change

Immunologicals change

Diagnostic agents change

Sera, immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies change

Vaccines change

Recommendations for all

Recommendations for certain regions

Recommendations for some high-risk populations

Recommendations for immunization programmes with certain characteristics

Muscle relaxants (peripherally-acting) and cholinesterase inhibitors change

Ophthalmological preparations change

Anti-infective agents change

Anti-inflammatory agents change

Local anesthetics change

Miotics and antiglaucoma medicines change

Mydriatics change

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) change

Medicines for reproductive health and perinatal care change

Contraceptives change

Oral hormonal contraceptives change

Injectable hormonal contraceptives change

Intrauterine devices change

Barrier methods change

Implantable contraceptives change

Intravaginal contraceptives change

Ovulation inducers change

Uterotonics change

Antioxytocics (tocolytics) change

Medicines administered to the mother change

Medicines administered to the neonate change

Peritoneal dialysis solution change

Medicines for mental and behavioural disorders change

Medicines used in psychotic disorders change

Medicines used in mood disorders change

Medicines used in depressive disorders change

Medicines used in bipolar disorders change

Medicines for anxiety disorders change

Medicines used for obsessive compulsive disorders change

Medicines for disorders due to psychoactive substance use change

Medicines acting on the respiratory tract change

Antiasthmatics and medicines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease change

Solutions correcting water, electrolyte and acid-base disturbances change

Oral change

Parenteral change

Miscellaneous change

Vitamins and minerals change

Ear, nose and throat medicines change

Medicines for diseases of joints change

Medicines used to treat gout change

Disease-modifying agents used in rheumatoid disorders (DMARDs) change

Juvenile joint diseases change

Dental preparations change

Notes change

An α indicates the medicine is only on the complementary list. For these items specialized diagnostic or monitoring or specialist training are needed. An item may also be listed as complementary on the basis of higher costs or a less attractive cost-benefit ratio.[1][2]

  1. Thiopental may be used as an alternative depending on local availability and cost.
  2. (For use in spinal anaesthesia during delivery, to prevent hypotension).
  3. No more than 30% oxygen should be used to initiate resuscitation of neonates less than or equal to 32 weeks of gestation.
  4. Not in children less than 3 months.
  5. Not recommended for anti‐inflammatory use due to lack of proven benefit to that effect.
  6. For the management of cancer pain
  7. Alternatives limited to hydromorphone and oxycodone
  8. For the management of cancer pain.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Alternatives limited to dolasetron, granisetron, palonosetron, and tropisetron
  10. Alternatives limited to cetirizine and fexofenadine
  11. There may be a role for sedating antihistamines for limited indications (EMLc).
  12. Alternatives limited to prednisone
  13. For use as adjunctive therapy for treatment-resistant partial or generalized seizures.
  14. Alternatives limited to diazepam and midazolam
  15. For use in eclampsia and severe pre‐eclampsia and not for other convulsant disorders.
  16. For buccal administration when solution for oromucosal administration is not available.
  17. The presence of both 25 mg/5 mL and 30 mg/5 mL strengths on the same market would cause confusion in prescribing and dispensing and should be avoided.
  18. 18.0 18.1 Avoid use in pregnancy and in women and girls of child-bearing potential, unless alternative treatments are ineffective or not tolerated because of the high risk of birth defects and developmental disorders in children exposed to valproate in the womb.
  19. Oxamniquine is listed for use when praziquantel treatment fails.
  20. > 1 month.
  21. Only for the presumptive treatment of epidemic meningitis in children older than two years and in adults.
  22. Alternatives limited to 4th level ATC chemical subgroup (J01CF Beta-lactamase resistant penicillins)
  23. cloxacillin, dicloxacillin and flucloxacillin are preferred for oral administration due to better bioavailability.
  24. Use in children <8 years only for life-threatening infections when no alternative exists.
  25. Procaine benzylpenicillin is not recommended as first-line treatment for neonatal sepsis except in settings with high neonatal mortality, when given by trained health workers in cases where hospital care is not achievable.
  26. Third-generation cephalosporin of choice for use in hospitalized neonates.
  27. Do not administer with calcium and avoid in infants with hyperbilirubinemia.
  28. > 41 weeks corrected gestational age.
  29. Erythromycin may be an alternative. For use in combination regimens for eradication of H. pylori in adults
  30. Imipenem/cilastatin is an alternative for complicated intraabdominal infections and high-risk febrile neutropenia only, except for acute bacterial meningitis in neonates, where meropenem is preferred
  31. For use only in patients with HIV receiving protease inhibitors
  32. For use only in combination with meropenem or imipenem/cilastatin
  33. ≥ 5 years
  34. Terizidone may be an alternative
  35. Prothionamide may be an alternative
  36. Imipenem/cilastatin may be an alternative
  37. For treatment of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, histoplasmosis, sporotrichosis, paracoccidioidomycosis, mycoses caused by Talaromyces marneffei and chromoblastomycosis; and prophylaxis of histoplasmosis and infections caused by T. marneffei in AIDS patients.
  38. For treatment of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis and acute invasive aspergillosis.
  39. Alternatives limited to anidulafungin and caspofungin
  40. Alternatives limited to valaciclovir
  41. also indicated for pre-exposure prophylaxis.
  42. For use in pregnant women and in second-line regimens in accordance with WHO treatment guidelines.
  43. 43.0 43.1 Alternatives limited to lamivudine (for emtricitabine)
  44. combination also indicated for pre-exposure prophylaxis
  45. For the treatment of viral haemorrhagic fevers
  46. For the treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVr).
  47. For severe illness due to confirmed or suspected influenza virus infection in critically ill hospitalized patients
  48. For the treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVr).
  49. Pangenotypic when used in combination with sofosbuvir
  50. Pangenotypic when used in combination with daclatasvir
  51. For the treatment of hepatitis C, in combination with direct acting anti-viral medicines
  52. To be used in combination with ribavirin
  53. Alternatives limited to tinidazole
  54. 54.0 54.1 To be used in combination with artesunate 50 mg.
  55. For use in the management of severe malaria.
  56. Not recommended in the first trimester of pregnancy or in children below 5 kg.
  57. To be used in combination with either amodiaquine, mefloquine or sulfadoxine + pyrimethamine.
  58. Other combinations that deliver the target doses required such as 153 mg or 200 mg (as hydrochloride) with 50 mg artesunate can be alternatives.
  59. For use only for the treatment of Plasmodium vivax infection.
  60. For use only in combination with quinine.
  61. Only for use to achieve radical cure of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale infections, given for 14 days.
  62. For use only in the management of severe malaria, and should be used in combination with doxycycline.
  63. Only in combination with artesunate 50 mg.
  64. For use only in Central American regions, for Plasmodium vivax infections.
  65. For use only in combination with chloroquine.
  66. For the treatment of 1st and 2nd stage human African trypanosomiasis due to Trypanosoma brucei gambiense infection.
  67. To be used for the treatment of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense infection.
  68. To be used for the treatment of the initial phase of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense infection.
  69. To be used for the treatment of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense infection
  70. Only to be used in combination with eflornithine, for the treatment of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense infection.
  71. Certolizumab pegol, etanercept, golimumab and infliximab are alternatives, including quality-assured biosimilars
  72. 72.0 72.1 72.2 72.3 72.4 72.5 72.6 72.7 72.8 Including quality-assured biosimilars
  73. Afatinib and gefitinib are alternatives
  74. Pembrolizumab is an alternative, including quality-assured biosimilars
  75. Alternatives limited to enzalutamide
  76. Alternatives limited to 4th level ATC chemical subgroup (L02BG Aromatase inhibitors)
  77. Alternatives limited to flutamide and nilutamide
  78. Alternatives limited to goserelin and triptorelin
  79. Alternatives limited to prednisone
  80. Alternatives limited to trihexyphenidyl
  81. Alternatives limited to benserazide (for carbidopa)
  82. periconceptual use for prevention of first occurrence of neural tube defects
  83. Alternatives limited to epoetin alfa, beta and theta, darbepoetin alfa, methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta, and their quality-assured biosimilars.
  84. Apixaban, edoxaban and rivaroxaban are alternatives
  85. Alternatives are limited to dalteparin and nadroparin, including their quality-assured biosimilars.
  86. Alternatives are limited to the oral form of deferasirox.
  87. Polygeline, injectable solution, 3.5% is considered an alternative.
  88. 88.0 88.1 88.2 Includes carvedilol and metoprolol as alternatives
  89. Alternatives limited to 4th level ATC chemical subgroup (C08CA Dihydropyridine derivatives)
  90. Includes atenolol, carvedilol, and metoprolol as alternatives. Atenolol should not be used as a first-line agent in uncomplicated hypertension in patients > 60 years.
  91. Alternatives limited to 4th level ATC chemical subgroup (C09AA ACE inhibitors, plain)
  92. Hydralazine is listed for use in the acute management of severe pregnancy‐induced hypertension only. Its use in the treatment of essential hypertension is not recommended in view of the availability of more evidence of efficacy and safety of other medicines.
  93. 93.0 93.1 93.2 Alternatives limited to chlorothiazide, chlorthalidone, and indapamide
  94. Alternatives limited to 4th level ATC chemical subgroup (C09AA ACE inhibitors, plain) (for lisinopril) and 4th level ATC chemical subgroup (C08CA Dihydropyridine derivatives) (for amlodipine)
  95. Alternatives limited to 4th level ATC chemical subgroup (C09AA ACE inhibitors, plain) (for lisinopril) and chlorthalidone, chlorothiazide, indapamide (for hydrochlorothiazide)
  96. 96.0 96.1 Alternatives limited to 4th level ATC chemical subgroup (C09CA Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), plain)
  97. Methyldopa is listed for use only in the management of pregnancy-induced hypertension. Its use in the treatment of essential hypertension is not recommended in view of the evidence of greater efficacy and safety of other medicines.
  98. Alternatives limited to 4th level ATC chemical subgroup (C09CA Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), plain) (for telmisartan) and 4th level ATC chemical subgroup (C08CA Dihydropyridine derivatives) (for amlodipine)
  99. Alternatives limited to 4th level ATC chemical subgroup (C09CA Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), plain) (for telmisartan) and chlorthalidone, chlorothiazide, indapamide (for hydrochlorothiazide)
  100. Alternatives limited to 4th level ATC chemical subgroup (C09AA ACE inhibitors, plain)
  101. Alternatives limited to bumetanide and torasemide
  102. For use in high‐risk patients. Alternatives limited to atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, and pravastatin
  103. Alternatives limited to 4th level ATC chemical subgroup (D01AC Imidazole and triazole derivatives) excluding combinations
  104. Alternatives limited to 4th level ATC chemical subgroup (D07AC Corticosteroids, potent (group III))
  105. Alternatives limited to 4th level ATC chemical subgroup (D07AA Corticosteroids, weak (group I))
  106. Alternatives limited to calcitriol and tacalcitol
  107. Alternatives limited to podophyllotoxin
  108. Alternatives limited to precipitated sulfur topical ointment
  109. Alternatives limited to atropine and cyclopentolate
  110. Alternatives limited to propanol
  111. Alternatives limited to iodine
  112. Alternatives limited to 4th level ATC chemical subgroup (D08AE Phenol and derivatives)
  113. Alternatives limited to bumetanide and torasemide
  114. Alternatives limited to chlorothiazide and chlorthalidone
  115. Alternatives limited to 4th level ATC chemical subgroup (A02BC Proton pump inhibitors) excluding combinations
  116. Alternatives limited to 4th level ATC chemical subgroup (A02BA H2-receptor antagonists) excluding combinations
  117. Alternatives limited to mesalazine
  118. Alternatives limited to bisacodyl
  119. In acute diarrhoea zinc sulfate should be used as an adjunct to oral rehydration salts.
  120. Alternatives limited to norethisterone
  121. Alternatives limited to insulin degludec, insulin detemir, and insulin glargine, including quality-assured biosimilars
  122. Alternatives limited to canagliflozin and dapagliflozin
  123. Glibenclamide not suitable above 60 years. Alternatives limited to 4th level ATC chemical subgroup (A10BB Sulfonylureas)
  124. 124.0 124.1 Carbimazole is an alternative depending on local availability
  125. For use when alternative first-line treatment is not appropriate or available; and in patients during the first trimester of pregnancy.
  126. For use when alternative first-line treatment is not appropriate or available
  127. Exact type to be defined locally
  128. 128.0 128.1 128.2 Recommended for certain regions
  129. 129.0 129.1 129.2 129.3 129.4 129.5 Recommended for some high-risk populations
  130. 130.0 130.1 130.2 Recommended only for immunization programmes with certain characteristics
  131. For infections due to Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
  132. Alternatives limited to amikacin, kanamycin, netilmicin, and tobramycin
  133. Alternatives limited to 4th level ATC chemical subgroup (S01AE Fluoroquinolones)
  134. Alternatives limited to chlortetracycline and oxytetracycline
  135. Alternatives limited to 4th level ATC chemical subgroup (S01HA Local anaesthetics) excluding cocaine and combinations
  136. Alternatives limited to carbachol
  137. Alternatives limited to 4th level ATC chemical subgroup (S01ED Beta blocking agents) excluding combinations
  138. Alternatives limited to cyclopentolate hydrochloride or homatropine hydrobromide only for the EMLc
  139. For use in women actively breastfeeding at least 4 times per day
  140. Alternatives limited to methylergometrine
  141. Where permitted under national law and where culturally acceptable.
  142. Only for use for induction of labour where appropriate facilities are available.
  143. Alternatives limited to indometacin
  144. Alternatives limited to prostaglandin E2
  145. Alternatives limited to risperidone injection
  146. Alternatives limited to citalopram, escitalopram, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, and sertraline
  147. Alternatives limited to buprenorphine. The medicines should only be used within an established support programme.
  148. Alternatives limited to beclometasone, ciclesonide, flunisolide, fluticasone, and mometasone
  149. Alternatives limited to beclometasone/formoterol, budesonide/salmeterol, fluticasone/formoterol, fluticasone furoate/vilanterol, and mometasone/formoterol
  150. Alternatives limited to terbutaline
  151. Alternatives limited to aclidinium, glycopyrronium, and umeclidinium
  152. Ergocalciferol can be used as an alternative.
  153. Colecalciferol can be used as an alternative.
  154. Alternatives limited to ofloxacin
  155. For use for rheumatic fever, juvenile arthritis, Kawasaki disease

References change

  1. Cite error: The named reference WHO2015List was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
  2. Cite error: The named reference WHO21st was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).