The best way of memorizing the use and function of different classes of drugs is to familiarize yourself with its generic name stem. Usually, drugs of the same therapeutic class are given names with the same stem. These stems are mostly placed word-finally (suffix), but in some cases, word-initial (prefix) stems are also used.
Common Drug Stems Cheat Sheet
Below is a cheat sheet table with three columns: Drug Stem, Drug Class, and an Example. Each stem has hyphens at one or both ends of its text to show that it is found at the beginning, end, or middle of the generic name.
| STEM | DEFINITION | EXAMPLES |
|---|---|---|
| –ac | NSAID (acetic acid derivatives) | bromfenac, dexpemedolac |
| –adol– | mixed opiate receptor agonists/antagonists | levonantradol, spiradoline, tazadolene |
| –afil | Inhibitor of PDE5 with vasodilator action | sildenafil (viagra), tadalafil |
| –alol | Combined alpha and beta blockers | labetalol, medroxalol |
| –andr– | Androgens | nandrolone |
| –anib | Angiogenesis inhibitors (inhibits growth of new blood vessels) | Pazopanib, Vandetanib |
| –anserin | Serotonin 5–HT(sub)2 receptor antagonists | altanserin, tropanserin |
| –arabine | Antineoplastics (arabinofuranosyl derivatives) | fludarabine |
| –ase | Enzymes | alglucerase, dornase alfa |
| –atadine | Tricyclic antiasthmatics | olopatadine, loratadine |
| –axine | Antianxiety, antidepressant | venlafaxine |
| –azenil | Benzodiazepine receptor agonists/antagonists | bretazenil, flumazenil |
| –azepam | Antianxiety agents (diazepam type) | lorazepam, diazepam |
| –azepide | Cholecystokinin receptor antagonists | devazepide |
| –azocine | Narcotic antagonists/agonists | quadazocine, ketazocine |
| –azoline | Antihistamines/local vasoconstrictors | antazoline |
| –azosin | Antihypertensives (prazosin type) | doxazosin |
| –bactam | Beta–lactamase inhibitors | sulbactam |
| –bamate | Tranquilizers/antiepileptics | meprobamate, felbamate |
| –barb– | Barbituric acid derivatives | phenobarbital, secobarbital |
| –bersat | Anticonvulsants; antimigraine | carabersat; tidembersat |
| –bufen | NSAID (fenbufen derivatives) | indobufen |
| –butan | Antiseptics | dapabutan, lopbutan |
| –butazone | Anti–inflammatory analgesics (phenylbutazone type) | mofebutazone |
| –caine | Local anesthetics | lidocaine, dibucaine |
| –carbef | Antibiotics (carbacephem derivatives) | loracarbef |
| –cillin | Penicillins | ampicillin, penicillin, oxacillin |
| –cog | blood coagulation factors | eptacog alfa, nonacog alfa, octocog alfa |
| –conazole | Antifungals (miconazole type) | fluconazole, oxiconazole |
| –cort– | Cortisone derivatives | hydrocortisone |
| –curium | Neuromuscular blocking agents | atracurium |
| –cycline | Antibiotics (tetracycline type) | minocycline, tetracycline |
| –dralazine | Antihypertensives (hydrazine–phthalazines) | hydralazine |
| –dronate | Calcium metabolism regulators | etidronate, tiludronate |
| –ectin | Antiparasitics (ivermectin type) | doramectin, moxidectin |
| –erg– | Ergot alkaloid derivatives | pergolide |
| –etanide | Diuretics | bumetanide |
| –fenamic acid | Anti-inflammatory agents | mefenamic acid, flufenamic acid |
| –fentanil | Narcotic analgesics | alfentanil, mirfentanil |
| –fibrate | Antihyperlipidemics | bezafibrate |
| –flurane | Inhalation anesthetics | enflurane, isoflurane |
| –gest– | Progestins | megestrol |
| –giline | MAO-inhibitors, type B | selegiline |
| –gillin | Antibiotics (aspergillus strains) | mitogillin |
| –gliptin | Antihyperglycemics | vildagliptin |
| –glitazar | Antihyperglycemics, PPRA agonists | farglitazar |
| –glizatone | Antihyperglycemics, PPST agonists | ciglitazone, rosiglitazone |
| –grel– | Platelet aggregation inhibitor | clopidogrel, ticagrelor |
| –imex | Immunostimulants | forfenimex, roquinimex |
| –imus | Immunosuppresives | tacrolimus, napirimus, gusperimus |
| –irudin | Anticoagulants | desirudin |
| –leukin | Interleukin–2 derivatives | teceleukin, aldesleukin |
| –lukast | Leukotriene antagonists | montelukast, zafirlukast |
| –mab | Monoclonal antibodies | capromab, daclizumab, detumomab |
| –mantadine | Antivirals | rimantadine |
| –milast | Antiasthmatics/antiallergics; type IV phosphodiesterase inhibitors | piclamilast |
| –monam | Monobactam antibiotics | gloximonam |
| –mustine | Antineoplastics | carmustine |
| –mycin | Antibiotics (streptomyces strains) | lincomycin |
| –olol | Beta–blockers (propranolol type) | timolol, atenolol |
| –olone | Steroids (no prednisone derivatives) | minaxolone |
| –orphan | Narcotic antagonists/agonists | methrophan, dextrorphan |
| –oxacin | Antibiotics (quinolone derivatives) | difloxacin, ciprofloxacin |
| –oxetine | Antidepressants | duloxetine, reboxetine |
| –pamide | Diuretics (sulfamoylbenzoic acid derivatives) | adipamide |
| –pamil | Coronary vasodilators | tiapamil |
| –parin | Heparin derivatives | heparin, tinzaparin, dalteparin |
| –peridol | Antipsychotics (haloperidol type) | haloperidol |
| –peridone | Antispsychotics (risperidone type) | risperidone, iloperidone |
| –pidem | Hypnotics/sedatives (zolpidem) | zolpidem, alpidem |
| –piridine | Cognition enhancers | linopiridine, besipiridine |
| –poetin | Erythropoietins | epoetin alfa, epoetin beta |
| –pramine | Antidepressants (imipramine type) | lofepramine |
| –prazole | Proton-pump inhibitor | omeprazole, lansoprazole |
| –pred– | Prednisone derivatives | prednicarbate, cloprednol |
| –pril | Antihypertensives (ACE inhibitors) | captopril, temocapril, spirapril |
| –profen | Anti–inflammatory/analgesic agents (ibuprofen type) | flurbiprofen |
| –prost– | Prostaglandin analogue | latanoprost, unoprostone |
| –rubicin | Antineoplastic antibiotics (daunorubicin type) | epirubicin, idarubicin |
| –sartan | Angiotensin II receptor antagonists | losartan, eprosartan |
| –statin | Renal dehydropeptidase inhibitor pepsin inhibitor | cilastatin, pepstatin |
| –ster– | Steroids (androgens, anabolics) | testosterone |
| –sulfa | Antibiotics (sulfonamide derivatives) | sulfasalazine |
| –tegrast | Antiasthmatics/antiallergics; integrin antagonists | valategrast |
| –terol | Bronchodilators (phenethylamine derivatives) | albuterol |
| –thiazide | Diuretics (thiazide derivatives) | chlorothiazide |
| –tide | peptides and glycopeptides | Nesiritide, Octreotide |
| –tocin | Oxytocin derivatives | oxytocin, pitocin |
| –trexate | Antimetabolites (folic acid derivatives) | methotrexate |
| –triptyline | Antidepressants | amitriptyline |
| –trodast | Antiasthmatics/antiallergics; thromboxane A2 receptor antagonists | seratrodast |
| –uracil | Uracil derivatives used as thyroid antagonists and as antineoplastics | fluorouracil |
| –vastatin | Antihyperlipidemics (HMG–CoA inhibitors) | lovastatin, simvastatin |
| –zolast | Antiasthmatics/antiallergics; benzoxazole derivatives | eclazolast, ontazolast |
| –zumab | humanized antibodies | natalizumab, bevacizumab |
| bol–, –bol– | Anabolic steroids | bolandiol, mibolerone |
| cef– | Cephalosporins (first-gen) | cefazolin |
| estr– | Estrogens | estrone |
| vir-, -vir- or -vir | Antiviral substances (undefined group) | viroxime, envirodyne, ganciclovir |
Hope you found this table useful.
Take a print out and memorize this. You will never be confused by pharmacology classifications ever again if you master this table.
Yes, it’s a long list and yes, it’s difficult to memorize.
But once you know it, it will be worth it and will make your life easier.
If we missed any drug class, do let us know in the comments below.
