We have created this comprehensive guide to help you better understand the world of medicines, their uses and their specificities. Whether you're a healthy sportswoman, an active or simply curious mom to learn more about everyday treatments, this resource will be valuable to you.
Our practical approach will allow you to:
- Quickly identify the main medicines in alphabetical order
- Distinguish those available without prescription from those requiring prescription
- Understanding essential therapeutic uses
- Adopt good practices for secure use
This guide also provides useful information for games of letters and general culture, as we believe that knowledge of medicines is part of a culture of health that we encourage in all our readers.
What is a drug and what is it for?
A drug is a substance or composition designed to prevent, diagnose or treat a disease. We distinguish several categories according to their mode of action: pain relievers, antibiotics fight bacterial infections, anti-inflammatorys reduce inflammation, and anxiolytics relieve anxiety.
Each medicine has a precise composition, a defined dosage and specific indications. The National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) strictly controls their placing on the market in France. We remind our readers regularly that even non-prescription drugs require careful and dose-friendly use.
List of medicines from A to Z
This alphabetical classification facilitates your research and gives you an overview of the main treatments available. We selected the most commonly used drugs, specifying for each one their status (with or without prescription) and main indications.
Medicinal products starting with A
Aspirin: Available without prescription, it is one of the oldest and most effective analgesics. It relieves mild to moderate pain, lowers fever and, at a low dose (75-100 mg), prevents cardiovascular accidents. We recommend taking it during meals to avoid stomach irritation.
Amoxicillin: This prescription antibiotic treats many bacterial infections (angins, otitis, bronchitis). Its wide spectrum of action makes it one of the most prescribed antibiotics in France, with about 15 million cans sold annually.
Atorvastatin: This prescription statin effectively reduces blood cholesterol by 30 to 50%. It prevents cardiovascular disease in people at risk and requires regular biological monitoring.
Alprazolam: Anxiolytic of the benzodiazepine family, it treats acute anxiety disorders. Its maximum duration of treatment is limited to 12 weeks to avoid addiction.
Advil (ibuprofen): Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug available without a prescription, it works on pain, fever and inflammation. We recommend respecting the maximum dose of 1200 mg per day.
Medicinal products starting with B
Betadine: A reference antiseptic containing povidone iodized, it effectively disinfects wounds and superficial burns. Its bactericidal, virucid and fungicide action makes it a must in the family pharmacy.
Bisoprolol: This cardioselective beta blocker treats high blood pressure and heart failure. It slows the heart rate and reduces the contraction force of the heart.
Budesonide: Inhaled corticosteroid used to treat asthma and allergic rhinitis. Its local administration limits the systemic effects of corticosteroids.
Medicinal products starting with C
Cetirizine: Second generation antihistamine, it effectively treats allergies for 24 hours with little sedative effect. Its excellent tolerance makes it the first-line treatment of allergic rhinitis.
Codeine: Opiate analgic subject to prescription since 2017, it treats moderate to intense pain. Often associated with paracetamol, it requires strict medical supervision.
Clarithromycin: A prescribed macrolide antibiotic in respiratory infections, especially in patients allergic to penicillin.
Medicinal products starting with D
Doliprane (paracetamol): Most sold medicine in France with over 500 million boxes annually. It relieves pain and fever without anti-inflammatory effect. We insist on respecting the maximum dose of 4 grams per day.
Daflon: Veinotonic containing diosmine, it improves venous circulation and treats hemorrhoids. Its effectiveness is recognized in chronic venous insufficiency.
Donormyl: Hypnotic for transient insomnia, its use should not exceed 5 consecutive days. It contains a sedative antihistamine that facilitates sleep.
Depakin: Major antiepileptic with sodium valproate, it prevents seizures and stabilizes mood in bipolar disorders.
Most used medicines in France
The ranking of the most consumed drugs reveals the main health concerns:
| Rank | Medicinal product | Catégorie | Number of boxes/year |
| 1 | Doliprane | Antalgic | 500 million |
| 2 | Aspirin | Antalgic/Cardioprotective | 100 million |
| 3 | Daflon | Veinotonic | 80 million |
| 4 | Amoxicillin | Antibiotic | 70 million |
| 5 | Cetirizine | Antihistamine | 60 million |
This list reflects the prevalence of pain, venous disorders and allergies in the French population.
Drugs available without prescription
Over-the-counter drugs account for about 30% of the French pharmaceutical market. Paracetamol (Doliprane, Dafalgan), ibuprofen (Advil), aspirin, and antihistamines such as cetirizine are among the most commonly used. These self-medication treatments nevertheless require vigilance and adherence to dosages.
We encourage our readers to always seek advice from their pharmacists, especially in cases of intensive sports practice or pregnancy. Responsible self-medication requires careful reading of records and knowledge of contraindications.
Medicinal products subject to medical prescription
Prescription drugs are for treatments requiring medical follow-up: antibiotics, anxiolytics, antihypertensive agents, statins. These regulations protect patients from serious adverse reactions and inappropriate use.
The medical prescription guarantees the adaptation of treatment to each individual situation. We remind you that you should never share your medication on prescription or change your dosage without medical advice.
Tips for using your medication properly
We favour a preventive approach in the use of medicines. Respect exactly the dosage schedule, the prescribed dosages and the duration of treatment. Store your medicines in their original packaging, away from light and moisture.
Keep a logbook of your treatments, especially useful during medical consultations. Report systematically to your doctor or pharmacist all medicines you are taking, including those without a prescription and food supplements.
Common errors and precautions to be known
One of the most common mistakes is to stop antibiotic treatment as soon as symptoms improve. This practice promotes bacterial resistance and relapses. We also observe a tendency to overdosage paracetamol by cumulation of different specialties containing the same active substance.
Attention to drug interactions: l We recommend that you report your sporting status because some drugs are on the doping list.
Drugs and Letter Sets (Scrabble, Petit Bac, general culture)
Knowledge of drug names greatly enriches your vocabulary for the game of letters. In Scrabble, "quinze" (Q-U-I-N-Z-E) earns 72 points, "zythum" (old medicine) can reach 126 points with the right boxes.
The medicines offer combinations of original letters: "xylocaine" with its 2 X, "betadine" with its accent, "azithromycin" for long sequences. This pharmaceutical culture often impresses during quiz nights with friends!
Why knowing medicines is useful every day
We believe that a good knowledge of medicines is an integral part of your health culture. It allows you to interact effectively with health professionals, understand your prescriptions and make informed decisions about your self-medication.
For us, sportsmen and women who are passionate about well-being, this knowledge becomes indispensable. It helps you adjust your training according to your treatments, identify contraindications with certain dietary supplements, and optimize your recovery in case of injury.
This pharmaceutical culture makes you more autonomous in managing your health, while keeping the essential reflex of consulting a professional for any serious or persistent health problem.
