WHO Model List of 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.

A † indicates the medicine is a complementary item.

General anesthetics and oxygen

 * Halothane
 * Ketamine
 * Nitrous Oxide
 * Oxygen
 * Thiopental

Local anesthetics

 * Bupivacaine
 * Ephedrine †
 * Lidocaine
 * Lidocaine + epinephrine

Preoperative medication and sedation for short-term procedures

 * Atropine
 * Diazepam
 * Morphine
 * Promethazine

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

 * Aspirin
 * Ibuprofen
 * Paracetamol (Acetaminophen)

Opioid analgesics

 * Codeine
 * Morphine

Medicines to treat gout

 * Allopurinol

Disease modifying agents used in rheumatoid disorders (DMARDs)

 * Chloroquine
 * Azathioprine †
 * Methotrexate †
 * Penicillamine †
 * Sulfasalazine †

Antiallergics and medicines used in anaphylaxis

 * Chlorphenamine
 * Dexamethasone
 * Epinephrine (adrenaline)
 * Hydrocortisone
 * Prednisolone

Non-specific

 * Activated carbon

Specific

 * Acetylcysteine
 * Atropine
 * Calcium gluconate
 * Deferoxamine
 * Dimercaprol
 * DL-Methionine
 * Methylthioninium chloride
 * Naloxone
 * Penicillamine
 * Potassium ferric hexacyanoferrate(II)
 * Sodium calcium edetate
 * Sodium nitrite
 * Sodium thiosulfate

Anticonvulsants/antiepileptics

 * Carbamazepine
 * Diazepam
 * Ethosuximide †
 * Magnesium sulfate
 * Phenobarbital
 * Phenytoin
 * Valproic acid

Intestinal anthelminthics

 * Albendazole
 * Levamisole
 * Mebendazole
 * Niclosamide
 * Praziquantel
 * Pyrantel

Antifilarials

 * Diethylcarbamazine †
 * Ivermectin
 * Suramin sodium †

Antischistosomals and antitrematode medicine

 * Oxamniquine †
 * Praziquantel
 * Triclabendazole

Beta Lactam medicines

 * Amoxicillin
 * Ampicillin
 * Benzathine benzylpenicillin
 * Benzylpenicillin
 * Cefazolin
 * Cefixime
 * Ceftazidime †
 * Ceftriaxone †
 * Cloxacillin
 * Co-amoxiclav (amoxicillin + clavulanic acid)
 * Imipenem/cilastatin (Imipenem + cilastatin) †
 * Phenoxymethylpenicillin
 * Procaine benzylpenicillin

Other antibacterials

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

Antileprosy medicines

 * Clofazimine
 * Dapsone
 * Rifampicin

Antituberculosis medicines

 * 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

 * Amphotericin B †
 * Clotrimazole
 * Fluconazole
 * Flucytosine †
 * Griseofulvin
 * Nystatin
 * Potassium iodide †

Antiherpes medicines

 * Aciclovir

Nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors

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

Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors

 * Efavirenz (EGV or EFZ)
 * Nevirapine (NVP)

Protease inhibitors

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

Combination drugs

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

Other antivirals

 * Ribavirin

Antiamoebic and antigiardiasis medicines

 * Diloxanide
 * Metronidazole

Antileishmaniasis medicines

 * Amphotericin B †
 * Meglumine antimoniate
 * Pentamidine †

For curative treatment

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

For prophylaxis

 * Chloroquine
 * Doxycycline
 * Mefloquine
 * Proguanil

Antipneumocytosis and antioxoplasmosis medicines

 * Pentamidine †
 * Pyrimethamine
 * Sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim

African trypanosomiasis

 * Eflornithine
 * Melarsoprol
 * Pentamidine
 * Suramin sodium

American trypanosomiasis

 * Benznidazole
 * Nifurtimox

For treatment of acute attack

 * Aspirin
 * Paracetamol (Acetaminophen)

For prophylaxis

 * P-r-opranolol

Immunosuppressive medicines

 * Azathioprine †
 * Ciclosporin †

Cytotoxic medicines

 * Asparaginase †
 * Bleomycin †
 * Calcium folinate †
 * Chlorambucil †
 * Cisplatin †
 * Cyclophosphamide †
 * Cytarabine †
 * Dacarbazine †
 * Dactinomycin †
 * Daunorubicin †
 * Doxorubicin †
 * Etoposide †
 * Fluorouracil †
 * Mercaptopurine †
 * Methotrexate †
 * Procarbazine †
 * Vinblastine †
 * Vincristine †

Hormones and antihormones

 * Dexamethasone †
 * Hydrocortisone †
 * Prednisolone †
 * Tamoxifen †

Medicines used in palliative care
None

Antiparkinsonism medicines

 * Biperiden
 * Levodopa + carbidopa

Antianaemia medicines

 * Ferrous salt
 * Ferrous salt + folic acid
 * Folic acid
 * Hydroxocobalamin

Medicines affecting coagulation

 * Heparin sodium
 * Phytomenadione
 * Protamine sulfate
 * Warfarin

Plasma substitutes

 * Dextran 70

Plasma fractions for specific use

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

Antianginal medicines

 * Atenolol
 * Glyceryl trinitrate
 * Isosorbide dinitrate
 * Verapamil

Antiarrhythmic medicines

 * Atenolol
 * Digoxin
 * Epinephrine
 * Lidocaine
 * Procainamide †
 * Quinidine †
 * Verapamil

Antihypertensive medicines

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

Medicines used in heart failure

 * Digoxin
 * Dopamine
 * Enalapril
 * Furosemide
 * Hydrochlorothiazide

Antithrombotic medicines

 * Acetylsalicylic acid
 * Streptokinase †

Lipid-lowering agents

 * Simvastatin

Antifungal medicines

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

Anti-infective medicines

 * Methylrosanilinium chloride
 * Neomycin sulfate + bacitracin
 * Potassium permanganate
 * Silver sulfadiazine

Anti-inflammatory and antipruritic medicines

 * Betamethasone
 * Calamine lotion
 * Hydrocortisone

Astringent medicines

 * Aluminium diacetate

Medicines affecting skin differentiation and proliferation

 * Benzoyl peroxide
 * Coal tar
 * Dithranol
 * Fluorouracil
 * Podophyllum resin
 * Salicylic acid
 * Urea

Scabicides and pediculicides

 * Benzyl benzoate
 * Permethrin

Ophthalmic medicines

 * Fluorescein
 * Tropicamide

Radiocontrast media

 * Amidotrizoate
 * Barium sulfate
 * Iohexol
 * Meglumine iotroxate †

Antiseptics

 * Chlorhexidine
 * Ethanol
 * Povidone iodine

Disinfectants

 * Chlorine base compound
 * Chloroxylenol
 * Glutaral

Diuretics

 * Amiloride
 * Furosemide
 * Hydrochlorothiazide
 * Mannitol
 * Spironolactone

Antacids and other antiulcer medicines

 * Aluminium hydroxide
 * Ranitidine
 * Magnesium hydroxide

Antiemetic medicines

 * Metoclopramide
 * Promethazine

Anti-inflammatory medicines

 * Hydrocortisone †
 * Sulfasalazine

Laxatives

 * Senna

Oral rehydration

 * Oral rehydration therapy salts

Medicines for diarrhea in children

 * Zinc sulfate

Antidiarrheal (symptomatic) medicines in adults

 * Codeine

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

Androgens

 * Testosterone †

Oral hormonal contraceptives

 * Ethinylestradiol + levonorgestrel
 * Ethinylestradiol + norethisterone
 * Levonorgestrel

Injectable hormonal contraceptives

 * Medroxyprogesterone acetate
 * Medroxyprogesterone acetate + estradiol cypionate
 * Norethisterone enantate

Intrauterine devices

 * Copper-containing IUD

Barrier methods

 * Condoms
 * Diaphragms

Implantable contraceptives

 * Levonorgestrel-releasing implant

Estrogens

 * Ethinylestradiol

Insulins and other antidiabetic agents

 * Glibenclamide
 * Insulin injection
 * Intermediate-acting insulin
 * Metformin

Ovulation inducers

 * Clomifene †

Progesterones

 * Medroxyprogesterone acetate †
 * Norethisterone

Thyroid hormones and antithyroid medicines

 * Levothyroxine
 * Potassium iodide
 * Propylthiouracil

Diagnostic agents

 * Tuberculin

Sera and immunoglobulins

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

Vaccines

 * Bacillus Calmette-Guérin 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

 * Alcuronium
 * Neostigmine
 * Pyridostigmine †
 * Suxamethonium
 * Vecuronium

Anti-infective agents

 * Aciclovir
 * Gentamicin
 * Tetracycline

Anti-inflammatory agents

 * Prednisolone

Local anesthetics

 * Tetracaine

Miotics and antiglaucoma medicines

 * Acetazolamide
 * Pilocarpine
 * Timolol

Mydriatics

 * Atropine
 * Epinephrine †

Oxytocics

 * Ergometrine
 * Mifepristone-misoprostol †
 * Misoprostol †
 * Oxytocin

Antioxytocics

 * Nifedipine

Peritoneal dialysis solution

 * Intraperitoneal dialysis solution †

Medicines used in psychotic disorders

 * Chlorpromazine
 * Fluphenazine
 * Haloperidol

Medicines used in depressive disorders

 * Amitriptyline
 * Fluoxetine

Medicines used in bipolar disorders

 * Carbamazepine
 * Lithium carbonate
 * Valproic acid

Medicines used in generalized anxiety and sleep disorders

 * Diazepam

Medicines used for obsessive compulsive disorders and panic attacks

 * Clomipramine

Medicines used in substance dependence programs

 * Methadone †

Antiasthmatic and medicines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

 * Beclometasone
 * Epinephrine
 * Ipratropium bromide
 * Salbutamol

Other medicines acting on the respiratory tract

 * Caffeine citrate

Oral

 * Oral rehydration salts (see 17.5.1 Oral rehydration)
 * Potassium chloride

Parenteral

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

Miscellaneous

 * Saline solution for injection/rehydration

Vitamins and minerals

 * Ascorbic acid
 * Calcium gluconate †
 * Ergocalciferol
 * Iodine
 * Nicotinamide
 * Pyridoxine
 * Retinol
 * Riboflavin
 * Sodium fluoride
 * Thiamine