8 Medications With Multiple Uses Based on Dosage

Medications are often FDA approved with different strengths (doses), formulations, and uses. For example, the antibiotic cephalexin (Keflex) comes in 250 mg, 500 mg, and 750 mg strengths. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) comes in tablet, capsule, and liquid formulations. And montelukast (Singulair) has approved uses for both asthma and allergic rhinitis.

But some medications have indications (approved uses) that depend on the medication strength. Often, those uses are tied to a certain brand name or version of a drug. In the future, we may see more medications that have multiple uses. Let’s take a look at eight popular examples here.

1. Tadalafil (Cialis, Adcirca)

Tadalafil is often prescribed under the brand names Cialis and Adcirca. It is a phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE-5) inhibitor. It helps relax and widen certain blood vessels in different parts of the body. This means it can treat some health conditions that include narrowed blood vessels as a contributing factor.

Promotional Disclosureinfo_outlined

SPECIAL OFFER

Save over 40% on Qsymia with GoodRx

Discover the once daily Qsymia for weight management. Qsymia is for adults and children 12-17 in combination with a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Save now

Tadalafil comes in four different tablet doses:

• 2.5 mg

• 5 mg

• 10 mg

• 20 mg

At the highest tablet strength (20 mg), Adcirca is approved to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), or high blood pressure in the lungs.

Cialis, which also contains tadalafil, is approved to treat a separate set of health conditions. All four doses are approved to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). In addition, Cialis 5 mg tablets are approved to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), an enlargement of the prostate that can cause problems with urination.

Both brand names and lower-cost generic versions are available for all four doses of tadalafil.

2. Sildenafil (Viagra, Revatio)

Like tadalafil, sildenafil is a PDE-5 inhibitor. It also has multiple uses and comes in four different tablet doses:

• 20 mg

• 25 mg

• 50 mg

• 100 mg

The lowest strength (20 mg) is branded as Revatio. This dose is approved to treat PAH.

The other three doses are known by a very recognizable brand name — Viagra. Sildenafil 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg are approved to treat ED. Unlike tadalafil, sildenafil isn’t approved at any dose to treat BPH.

All four doses of sildenafil are available as both brand-name and generic medications.

3. Finasteride (Proscar, Propecia)

Finasteride is available in two different doses: 1 mg and 5 mg. Each tablet strength has a specific purpose. The lower dose (branded as Propecia) is approved to treat hair loss in men. The higher dose (Proscar) is approved to treat BPH.

Finasteride acts as a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor. It works by decreasing the production of a chemical in the body called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). High levels of DHT can cause hair loss and prostate growth.

Both doses of finasteride can be purchased under their brand names. Lower-cost generic versions are also available.

4. Bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban, Forfivo)

Bupropion is a well-known antidepressant. It was approved under six different brand names. Each brand has its own specific uses and options for doses and formulations:

• Zyban (brand name no longer available)

• Wellbutrin (brand name no longer available)

• Wellbutrin SR

• Wellbutrin XL

• Aplenzin (no generic version available)

• Forfivo XL (no generic version available)

Zyban is a 150 mg extended-release (ER) tablet. It’s approved for smoking cessation.

Wellbutrin is an immediate-release (IR) tablet that comes in 75 mg and 100 mg doses. Wellbutrin SR is a sustained-release (SR) tablet available in 100 mg, 150 mg, and 200 mg doses. Wellbutrin IR and SR are approved to treat depression.

Wellbutrin XL is an ER tablet. It’s available in 150 mg and 300 mg doses. Wellbutrin XL is approved to treat depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Aplenzin is an ER tablet that contains a slightly different form of bupropion called bupropion hydrobromide. It comes in 174 mg, 348 mg, and 522 mg doses. It’s approved to treat depression and SAD.

Forfivo XL is a 450 mg ER tablet. It’s approved to treat depression. Unlike the other bupropion products above, Forfivo XL isn’t meant for initial treatment. A person should already be taking at least 300 mg of bupropion per day for at least 2 weeks before switching to Forfivo XL.

5. Paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR, Brisdelle)

Paroxetine is another well-known antidepressant. Most doses are approved for depression and other mental health conditions. But low-dose paroxetine (Brisdelle) is approved for hot flashes related to menopause. Paroxetine is available as four different brand names, each with their own doses.

Paxil comes as IR tablets, controlled-release (CR) tablets, and an oral liquid. They all have generic versions available. However, the three forms don’t share the same uses.

Paxil IR tablets come in doses ranging from 10 mg to 40 mg. The liquid is available in a 10 mg/5 mL dose. Both versions are approved to treat:

• Depression

• Panic disorder

• Social anxiety disorder

• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Paxil CR tablets come in 12.5 mg, 25 mg, and 37.5 mg tablets. It’s approved to treat:

• Depression

• Panic disorder

• Social anxiety disorder

• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

Pexeva is an IR tablet that’s very similar to Paxil IR, but has different uses. It offers the same doses as Paxil IR tablets. But it doesn’t have a generic version available yet. Pexeva is approved to treat:

• Depression

• Panic disorder

• OCD

• GAD

Brisdelle is a 7.5 mg IR capsule that’s available as both a brand-name and generic medication. It’s only approved to treat hot flashes related to menopause.

6. Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy)

Injectable semaglutide is prescribed under two brand names: Ozempic and Wegovy. Semaglutide is in a class of medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists. Many GLP-1 agonists, including Ozempic, are approved to lower blood glucose (sugar) for people with Type 2 diabetes. But under the brand name Wegovy, semaglutide is approved for weight loss.

Ozempic for diabetes is a weekly injection that comes in the following doses:

• 0.25 mg

• 0.5 mg — this is the standard dose that many people take.

• 1 mg

• 2 mg

Wegovy for weight loss comes as a weekly injection in the following doses:

• 0.25 mg

• 0.5 mg

• 1 mg

• 1.7 mg

• 2.4 mg — this is the target dose that most people take.

Ozempic and Wegovy are currently only available as brand-name medications.

7. Liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda)

Like semaglutide, liraglutide is another injectable GLP-1 agonist. It also comes as two brand names: Victoza and Saxenda. Victoza is approved for Type 2 diabetes, while Saxenda is approved for weight loss.

The dose of Victoza for diabetes usually starts at 0.6 mg once a day. Victoza doses may be increased over a period of a few weeks to a maximum of 1.8 mg once a day.

Saxenda for weight loss also starts at a dose of 0.6 mg once a day. Over time, this dose is gradually increased to 3 mg per day.

Victoza and Saxenda are both brand-name medications that don’t have generic versions available yet.

8. Denosumab (Prolia, Xgeva)

Denosumab is a monoclonal antibody that treats two different conditions: osteoporosis and bone problems related to cancer. It’s available as an injection in two different doses: 60 mg and 120 mg.

Denosumab 60 mg, as brand name Prolia, is approved to treat osteoporosis and bone loss due to certain medications. Prolia slows the breakdown of bone, lowering risk of broken bones. You receive one injection every 6 months.

Denosumab 120 mg, as brand name Xgeva, is approved to treat bone problems that result from certain cancers. It blocks a protein made by some tumors that can break down bone. Starting Xgeva can slow this breakdown and lower your risk of weakened or broken bones. This medication is typically injected once every 4 weeks.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Nicole E. Cieri-Hutcherson, PharmD, BCPS, NCMP

Nicole E. Cieri-Hutcherson, PharmD, BCPS, NCMP, has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist, professor, and researcher. She was a full-time clinical professor in the pharmacy practice department at D’Youville School of Pharmacy before subsequently joining the faculty of the pharmacy practice department at the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts