AnKing Brand Names Deck Wiki

[Dam_Doc]

AnKing Brand Names Deck Wiki

Table of Contents

1. Goal, Purpose, & Deck Breakdown
2. Deck Formatting, Source, & Suggestion Guidelines
3. Card Design Philosophy
4. How to Contribute
5. Maintainers & Contributors
6. Disclaimer

Updated on: August 29th, 2026
Deck download link: Subscribe here!

---

1. Goal, Purpose, & Deck Breakdown

Our goal is to create a Brand Names Deck focused on the medications you encounter every day on the wards.

Whether you’re rotating on an inpatient cardiology service or working in a rheumatology clinic, recognizing common brand names can make communication with patients, residents, and attendings much easier. This is especially helpful when starting clerkships as an MS3 or MS4, when brand names are often used interchangeably with generic names in everyday clinical practice.

The goal is to make it clear and easy to use for anyone.

This will be a free deck, continuing our mission to make high-quality medical education available to everyone.

Note: This deck is originally based on the “Bone-Wizard’s deck for generic + brand names” on Reddit, published in 2019 on Reddit. The deck was then modified and improved upon with the addition of various different new drugs, improvements by a member of the AnKing team (@dam_doc). It was then further repurposed with new fields, additional images, and re-released for free by the AnKing maintainer team

How should I use this deck?

This deck is a supplement to your learning on clinical rotations. The best way to use this deck is two-fold, first: proactively, second: as you go

Recommended approach (example):

• If you are starting a cardiology service tomorrow, it would be useful to unsuspend a few common medications that you know will be encountering, so you can start learning them over time
• Another approach would be, anytime you hear a brand name used, you search the deck and unsuspend that card. This way over a few years, you can enhance your knowledge of these brand names and slowly become more familiar as you go

The rotation tags

To make it as proactive as possible, every high-frequency drug is also tagged by the rotation you are most likely to hear it on. Before a block starts, unsuspend that rotation tag:

Rotation tag	Drugs	Unsuspend before…
#Rotations::IM	81	Internal medicine / wards
#Rotations::Psych	37	Psychiatry
#Rotations::FM	34	Family medicine / outpatient
#Rotations::Peds	28	Pediatrics
#Rotations::Surgery	28	Surgery / peri-op
#Rotations::EM	26	Emergency medicine
#Rotations::OBGYN	10	OB/GYN

A drug may carry more than one rotation tag

Breakdown & Overview of Tag Tree Hierarchy & Sections

This deck does not use subdecks, but instead relies on the the tag tree as its navigation system:

▽ 🏷 #AK_Brand_Name_Drugs
  ▽ 🏷 !Regional
        🏷 Australia
        🏷 France
  ▽ 🏷 #Rotations
        🏷 EM
        🏷 FM
        🏷 IM
        🏷 OBGYN
        🏷 Peds
        🏷 Psych
        🏷 Surgery
  ▽ 🏷 Analgesics
        🏷 Acetaminophen
        🏷 Cough_Cold
        🏷 Narcotics_Opioids
        🏷 Neuropathic
        🏷 NSAIDs
  ▽ 🏷 Anesthetics
        🏷 Local_Anesthetics
        🏷 Sedation
  ▽ 🏷 Anti-Inflammatory
        🏷 Steroids
  ▽ 🏷 Cardiology
        🏷 Antiarrhythmics
        🏷 Anticoagulants
        🏷 Antiplatelets
        🏷 Beta_blockers
        🏷 Calcium_channel_blockers
        🏷 Dyslipidemia
      ▽ 🏷 HTN
            🏷 ACEI
            🏷 ARBs
          ▽ 🏷 Diuretics
                🏷 K_Sparing
                🏷 Loop
                🏷 Other
                🏷 Thiazide
            🏷 Vasodilators
        🏷 Nitrates
        🏷 Vasopressors
     🏷 Dermatology
  ▽ 🏷 Endocrine
      ▽ 🏷 Diabetes
            🏷 Biguanides
            🏷 DPP4
            🏷 GLP1
            🏷 Insulin
            🏷 SGLT2
            🏷 Sulfonylureas
            🏷 Thiazolidinediones
        🏷 Thyroid
  ▽ 🏷 Gastrointestinal
        🏷 Antidiarrheals
        🏷 Antiemetics
        🏷 Appetite_Stimulants
        🏷 Constipation
        🏷 GERD_PUD
  ▽ 🏷 Genitourinary
        🏷 BPH
        🏷 Erectile_Dysfunction
        🏷 Overactive_Bladder
  ▽ 🏷 Hematology_Oncology
        🏷 Anemia
        🏷 Antidotes
        🏷 Chemotherapy
        🏷 Hormonal_Therapy
        🏷 Immunotherapy
        🏷 Thrombolytics
  ▽ 🏷 Infectious
      ▽ 🏷 Antibiotics
            🏷 Cephalosporins
            🏷 Fluoroquinolones
            🏷 Macrolides
            🏷 Monobactams
            🏷 Penicillins
        🏷 Antifungals
        🏷 Antimalarials
        🏷 Antivirals
  ▽ 🏷 MSK
        🏷 Gout
        🏷 Muscle_Relaxants
        🏷 Osteoporosis
  ▽ 🏷 Neurology
        🏷 Antiepileptics
        🏷 Dementia
        🏷 Migraine 
        🏷 Parkinson
        🏷 Tardive_Dyskinesia
      🏷 OBGyn
  ▽ 🏷 Psychiatry
        🏷 Addiction
        🏷 ADHD
        🏷 Antianxiety
      ▽ 🏷 Antidepressants
            🏷 Atypical
            🏷 MAOIs
            🏷 SNRI
            🏷 SSRI
            🏷 TCAs
        🏷 Antipsychotics
        🏷 Sleep
  ▽ 🏷 Pulmonary
          🏷 Antihistamines
      ▽ 🏷 Asthma_COPD
            🏷 Biologics
            🏷 ICS
            🏷 LAMA
            🏷 Leukotriene
            🏷 SABA
  ▽ 🏷 Renal
        🏷 CKD
        🏷 ESA
        🏷 Hyperparathyroidism
        🏷 Phosphate_Binders
  ▽ 🏷 Rheumatology
        🏷 Biologics
        🏷 DMARDs
  ▽ 🏷 Vaccines
        🏷 Pneumococcal
        🏷 Shingles

Tagging conventions:

• Cards should be tagged down to the subclass level wherever a subclass exists (e.g. Cardiology::HTN::Diuretics::Loop, not just Cardiology::HTN)
• Combination drugs are under their own ::Combos tag under the relevant class
• A drug used across systems (e.g. a beta blocker for migraine prophylaxis) should be tagged under both systems

---

2. Deck Formatting, Source, & Suggestion Guidelines

Source

All brand names in this deck are sourced from various websites online. It is difficult to locate just one source for all brand names, as different parts of the world and regions will have vastly different names for drugs.

The primary focus of this deck will be for drug brand names in the United States. We may introduce alternative region names in the future

Card Format Standard

This deck uses a dedicated Brand Names note type built on a Basic note template. Every drug is one note that generates two cards, so you learn the pair in both directions:

Card	Front	Back
Card 1	Generic name →	Brand name + Info
Card 2	Brand name →	Generic name + Info

What belongs in each field?

#	Field	What goes in it
1	Generic	The generic name, capitalized. Combination products use Drug A + Drug B with a common abbreviation in parentheses, e.g. Trimethoprim + Sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX)
2	Brand	The US brand name. Multiple brands separated by or on one line
3	Info	The memory hook (italicized)+ Class: + Use:
4	Dosing	Route or form only when it is the clinically distinguishing feature (e.g. Oral, IV only, Inhaled, Weekly)
5	Adverse Effects	The side effects you would actually counsel a patient about or get pimped on
6	Contraindications	Only true absolute or boxed contraindications
7	Additional Resources	Shared AnKing summary illustrations
8	Personal Notes	Field not overwritten by an AnkiHub update, use to put your own mnemonics

---

3. Card Design Philosophy

The role of the Info field

The Info field is to help make the generic↔brand link stick and give you clinical context to place the drug:

• A memory hook that connects the two names by sound or spelling
• The pronunciation, when the brand name is commonly mangled
• The pharmacologic class
• The one or two indications you will actually hear on the wards
• A side effect that is the reason the drug gets discussed at all (SJS/TEN for Bactrim, cough for lisinopril)

---

4. How to Contribute

Submitting Suggestions via AnkiHub

1. Find the card you want to suggest a change for
2. Click the AnkiHub suggestion button
3. Type in the appropriate change type:
   • Content correction
   • Formatting fix
   • Extra field addition
   • New card request

Guidelines for Quality Suggestions

Read this before suggesting. Suggestions without enough rationale or specific evidence will be rejected, and we reserve the right to reject without explanation when a suggestion clearly ignores this page.

When submitting suggestions, please:

Rule #1: cite a source. Every factual change needs a source. For a new drug, tell us the brand name and which system/class tag it belongs under.

Rule #2: give a real rationale. One to three words is not a rationale. Explain what is wrong and why the change helps everyone using the deck. The more detail, the better, and the faster it gets accepted.

Rule #3: pass the ward test. Before suggesting an addition, ask if the suggestion would this help someone on rounds?

Rule #4: match the deck’s formatting. Ensure no terminal periods, bold only on Class:/Use:, organisms italicized, comma-separated lists

Rule #5: don’t paste verbatim. Copying text directly out of UpToDate, AMBOSS, or a PI is not acceptable. You may paraphrase as needed.

---

5. Maintainers & Contributors

A huge thank you to the amazing maintainers for the creation and maintenance of this deck!

@Dam_Doc, @beejumm, @Ahmed7, and @TheAnKing

Special thanks to u/bone-wizard for the initial base deck creation!

---

6. Disclaimer

This deck is intended solely for educational purposes. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and alignment with online sources, we are not legally responsible for any outcomes, errors, or consequences resulting from the use of this deck.

Always verify information and consult official resources, guidelines, and institutional protocols before making any clinical decisions. This deck is a study aid, not a clinical reference tool.

Brand names are the trademarks of their respective owners. They appear here for identification and educational purposes only. This deck is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with any pharmaceutical manufacturer, the FDA, or the NLM.

Brand names and their availability change. A drug listed here may have been discontinued, reformulated, or renamed since the last update; always confirm against a current label.

[saguarocatcus]

Hey @Dam_Doc, appreciate you putting this deck together, one of my personal favorites to keep up with! Would you be open to allowing someone else to help with the deck in terms of adding new drugs and new brand names? I’m also in the middle of clinical rotations and have some free time to work on the deck.

[Dam_Doc]

@saguarocatcus Your timing is impeccable! I was literally thinking last night how I felt like this deck needed more attention. I will add you as a maintainer. DM me and we can talk more

[saguarocatcus]

Sounds good, went ahead and DMed you!

[Ahmed7]

I’d also be interested in helping maintain this deck!

I’ve noticed that not all drugs are present in this deck, what is the main goal for this deck? Should virtually every relevant drug be added?

[Dam_Doc]

Hey, I’d love your help! Yes, this deck is very incomplete and I would love to add as many relevant drugs as possible. I just want to make sure any new cards/drugs suggested are appropriately tagged by system/disease. I think I will probably edit the tag hierarchies to make it more organized.

I think having people of different specialties/interests is great because we can add the relevant drugs from our fields of interest. For example, I will be adding a ton of oncology related drugs.

[Ahmed7]

I can probably make a excel and we can add every drug out there separated by system.

Then sort it out by “added to deck: yes / no”, “tagged: cardio, pulm etc”, so its easier to track what needs to be added

How does that sound?

[Dam_Doc]

That could be useful! But if it turns into too much of a time sink, don’t feel obligated to do it. We can find other ways to add new meds

[Mo.Barri]

I have downloaded this deck but there are no cards in it !!

[Dam_Doc]

Are you still having this problem?

[adelopod]

Hey, how does the card media linked in the deck page get associated with cards when downloaded?

[j_wang]

Hi @Dam_Doc, thank you so much for putting together the deck :)) Just wondering if there’s a chance we could have a new field to put our own notes in? Thanks.

[beejumm]

We just added a new field called ‘Personal Notes’ to give everyone a space to add their own notes!