NRSG 332 1

Drug Names Categorized by Class, Sub-class, Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes

1. Focus on first three columns, understanding and memorizing which prefix/root/suffix is associated with what drug class and/or sub-class (e.g., cole- or chole- is antilipidemic agent, -cycline is antibiotic, -lone or -olone is steroids or anti-inflammatory drugs).

2. The third column lists the drug examples to help you make the link between the prefix/suffix/root and the drug class/sub-class.3. There will be 47 to 50 questions on drug name exam, primarily multiple choices, 2 or 3 matching questions:

Example:

Temazepam

A. antihistamineB. antibioticsC. antiemeticD. Benzodiazepine

1. First, you need find prefix/suffix/root in the drug name provided, it is “–pam”. 2. You remember “–pam”is the suffix for Benzodiazepine3. You pick D

PREFIX, ROOT, SUFFIX

CLASS or USE SUB-CLASS by MOA (Mechanism of Action)

EXAMPLES(Generic And Brand Names)

NOTES

-actone Diuretics Potassium-sparing diuretics aldactone, spironolactone-afil Drugs to treat erectile

dysfunction (impotence)phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor

sildenafil; tadalafil; vardenafil

-ane General anesthetics cyclohexane, ethane, fluorane-arin Antithrombotic

Anticoagulant (blood thinner)Enoxaparin (Lovenox); fondaparinux (Arixtra); heparin; tinzaparin, warfarin (Coumadin)

-ase Thrombolytics (clot-busters) eminase, retavase, streptokinase enzyme-azole Antifungals butoconazole, econazole, fluconazole-azosin-osin-zosin

Drugs to treat hypertension and BPH (benign prostate hypertrophy)

Alpha blockers (α-adrenergic receptor antagonists)

Alfuzosin, doxazosin, prazosin, terazosintamsulosin

-bicin antineoplastic doxorubicin; epirubicin; idarubicin; valrubicin

NRSG 332 2

-barbital Sedative-hypnotic drugs barbiturate butabarbital; butalbital; phenobarbital; secobarbital; amobarbital, pentobarbital,

-caine local anesthetic bupivacaine; lidocaine; mepivacaine; prilocaine; proparacaine; cocaine; xylocaine

-capone Drug to treat Parkinson’s disease

COMT (catechol-O-methyl transferase) inhibitors

Entacapone (Comtan)Tolcapone (Tasmar)Nitecapone

cef-, ceph- Antibacterial Subcategory of cell wall synthesis inhibitors: Cephalosporins

cefazolin (Ancef, Kefzol), cephalexin (Biocef, Keflex) Cefadroxil, cefaclor; cefdinir (Ominicef); cefixime (Suprax); cefprozil; ceftibuten; cephapirin; cephradine, cefoxitin (Cefoxitin, Mefoxini),cefuroxime (Ceftin, Kefurox, Zinacef), Ceftriaxone (Rocephin),Cefepime (Maxipime)

-calci- Suplementes Calcium & vitamin D calciferol, calcitrol, ergocalciferol Calcium-ciclovir-cyclovir

Antiviral drugs famciclovir, ganciclovir; acyclovir, valacyclovir

virals

NRSG 332 3

PREFIX, ROOT, SUFFIX

CLASS or USE SUB-CLASS by MOA (Mechanism of Action)

EXAMPLES(Generic And Brand Names)

NOTES

-cillin Antibacterial drugs Subcategory of cell wall synthesis inhibitors: Penicillins

Amoxicillin (Amoxil); Amoxicillin/Clavulanate (Augmentin), Ampicillin; dicloxacillin; nafcillin; oxacillin

-codone Analgesics Opioids oxycodone with acetaminophen (Endocet, Percocet);oxycodone with aspirin (Endodan, Oxycodan, Percodan);oxycodone (OxyContin),hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin),hydrocodone w/Tylenol (Vicodin)

Cole-Chole-

Antilipidemic drugs Bile acid sequestrants (Resins) Cholestyramine (Questran);Colesevelam (Welchol);Colestipol (Colestid)

-cox- NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)

COX2 (Cyclooxygenase) inhibitor

Celecoxib (Celebrex)

-cort- Anti-inflammatory Drugs or hormone replacement

corticosteroid clocortolone; fludrocortisone; hydrocortisone

-curium,-curonium

Anaesthetic Neuromuscular blockers pancuronium, pipecuronium, rocuronium

-cycline Antibacterial drugs tetracycline antibiotic demeclocycline; doxycycline; minocycline; tetracycline

-dine Anti-inflammatory Drugs Antihistamines Fexofenadine (Allegra)

-done Antidepressants Serotonin Antagonist and Reuptake Inhibitors (SARIs)

Nefazodone (Serzone),Trazadone (Desyrel): causing moderate and severe drowsiness

-dopa Anti-Parkinson drugs Caridopa/Levodopa (Sinemet, Sinemet CR)-dazole Anthelmintic;

Antibacterialalbendazole; mebendazole; metronidazole; tinidazole

-dipine Anti-hypertensive drugs Calcium channel blocker Amlodipine (Norvasc); felodipine; Nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia); Nimodipine (Nimotop); nisoldipine (Sular)

pamil: verapamil (Calan)zem: diltiazem (Cardizem)

-ergot- Analgesics Ergotamines (anti-migraine) ergotamine, dihydroxyergotamine-faxine Anti-depressants Serotonin-norepinephrine

reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)venlafaxine(Effexor), Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)

-xetine: Duloxetine (Cymbalta)

NRSG 332 4

PREFIX, ROOT, SUFFIX

CLASS or USE SUB-CLASS by MOA (Mechanism of Action)

EXAMPLES(Generic And Brand Names)

NOTES

-fenac Anti-inflammatory Drugs NSAID (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)

bromfenac; diclofenac; nepafenac

-fibr- Antilipidemic drugs Fibric acid (Fibrates) Fenofibrate (Tricor) , Gemfibrozil (Lopid)

-floxacin Anti-Bacterial Drugs Subcategory of DNA synthesis inhibitors: Fluoroquinolone

ciprofloxacin (Cipro), levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox); ofloxacin (Floxin)

-gliptin Antidiabetic; DPP-4 inhibitor saxagliptin; sitagliptin (Januvia); vildagliptin-glitazone Antidiabetic; Thiazolidinedione (TZD) Rosiglitazone (Avandia), Pioglitazone

(Actos); troglitazone (Rezulin)-ine Stimulants amphetamine, caffeine, terbutaline,

theophyllinecaffeine

-iramine-mine

Anti-inflammatory Drugs antihistamine brompheniramine; chlorpheniramine; pheniramine, scopolamine (L-hyoscine)

-lamide Anti-glaucoma drugs carbonic anhydrase inhibitor acetazolamide; brinzolamide; dorzolamide; methazolamide

-limus Immunosuppressant pimecrolimus; sirolimus; tacrolimus-giline Drugs to treat Parkinson’s

diseaseMonoamine Oxidase B Inhibitors (MAO-BIs)

lazabemide (Pakio, Tempium), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Deprenyl, Eldepryl, Emsam)

-mine, -zine, -zid

Antidepressants Monoamine Oxidase A Inhibitors (MAO-AIs)

Tranylcypromine (Parnate)Phenelzine (Nardil)Isocarboxazid (Marplan)

-lol-olol

Anti-hypertensive drugs, cardio-protective drugs

Beta blockers (adrenergic antagonists)

atenolol, propanolol, sodalol

-lone-olone-solone

Anti-inflammatory Drugs Corticosteroids methylprednisolone, prednisolone, triamcinolone; fluocinolone; fluorometholone; rimexolone; triamcinolone; nandrolone; oxandrolone; oxymetholone

-luk –leu- Anti-inflammatory Drugs Leukotriene inhibitor Leukotriene modifier

Zafirlukast ( Accolate ), Montelukast ( Singulair),Zileuton (Zyflo),

-mab Anti-inflammatory Drugs monoclonal antibody daclizumab; infliximab; omalizumab; trastuzumab

NRSG 332 5

PREFIX, ROOT, SUFFIX

CLASS or USE SUB-CLASS by MOA (Mechanism of Action)

EXAMPLES(Generic And Brand Names)

NOTES

-morphone Analgesic Opioids hydromorphone (Dilaudid), oxymorphone (Opana, Numorphan)

-mustine Antineoplastic drugs alkylating agent carmustine; estramustine; lomustine-micin-mycin

Antibacterial Protein synthesis inhibitors gentamicin(Gentacidin)streptomycin, azithromycin(Zithromax); clarithromycin (Biaxin); clindamycin (cleocin); erythromycin, doxycycline (vibramycin), tetracycline (Tetracon); linezolid (Zyvox)

-mycin Antibacterial Cell wall synthesis inhibitors Vancomycin (Vancocin)-nacin Anti-parkinsonian drugs antimuscarinic

(anticholinergic)darifenacin; solifenacin

-navir Antiviral drugs Anti-HIV/AIDS agents amprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir-nazole Antifungal drugs fluconazole; ketoconazole; miconazole;

terconazole-nib Antineoplastic dasatinib; erlotinib; imatinib; sorafenib

-penem;-apenem

Antibacterial Cell wall synthesis inhibitors-Carbapenems

Ertapenem (Invanz)

-peridone-idone-apine

Atypical antipsychotics Serotonin-dopamine antagonists(5-HT2A receptor antagonists)

Paliperidone (Invega)Risperidone (Risperdal Consta, M-Tabs)Ziprasidone (Geodon)Clozapine (Clozaril)Olanzapine (Zyprexa, Zydis)Quetiapine (Seroquel)

-prazole: Aripiprazole (Abilify)

-pram Antidepressants Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

Citalopram (Celexa),Escitalopram (Lexapro),

-mine: Fluvoxamine (Luvox),-line: Sertraline (Zoloft)

-pramide Antiemetic Drugs Dopamine antagonists (treat GERD)

metoclopramide ( Reglan)

-oxetine Antidepressants Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

Fluoxetine (Prozac),Paroxetine (Paxil),

-phine Analgesics Opioids morphine (Morphine Sulfate, Roxanol, MS Contin)

NRSG 332 6

PREFIX, ROOT, SUFFIX

CLASS or USE SUB-CLASS by MOA (Mechanism of Action)

EXAMPLES(Generic And Brand Names)

NOTES

-phylline Bronchodilator xanthine derivative aminophylline; dyphylline; oxtriphylline; theophylline

-pramine Antidepressants tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) clomipramine; desipramine; imipramine; trimipramine

zaprine: Cyclobenzaprine (Flexaril)

-prazole Anti-acid drugs proton pump inhibitor (PPI) Dexlansoprazole (Kapidex, Dexilant); Lansoprazole (Prevacid) , Omeprazole (Prilosec), Esomeprazole (Nexium), Pantoprazole (Protonix), Rabeprazole (Aciphex)

-pred-pred- Anti-inflammatory drugs corticosteroid loteprednol; prednicarbate; prednisolone; prednisone

-pril Antihypertensive drugs ACE inhibitor benazepril; captopril; enalapril (Vasotech); lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril); moexipril; ramipril (Altace)

-profen Anti-inflammatory drugs NSAID (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)

fenoprofen; flurbiprofen; ibuprofen; ketoprofen

-quine Anti-infective agents Antiparasitics chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, mefloquine

rifa- Anti-infective agents Antituberculars rifamate, rifampin, rifapentine, rifater-ride-zide-nide

Oral anti-diabetic drugs Oral insulin secretagogues Glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Diabeta, Glynase), Nateglinide (Starlix), repaglinide (Prandin)

-sartan Antihypertensive drugs angiotensin II receptor antagonist; ARB

candesartan; irbesartan (Avapro); losartan (Cozaar); olmesartan; valsartan (Diovan)

-semide Diuretics loop diuretics furosemide; torsemide-setron Antiemetic drugs serotonin 5-HT3 receptor

antagonistalosetron; dolasetron; granisetron; ondansetron; palonosetron

-sone Anti-inflammatory Drugs Corticosteroid beclomethasone; dexamethasone; fluticasone; mometasone

-stigmine Cholinergics (used to treat Alzheimer’s disease)

CholinesteraseAcetylcholinesterase Inhibitors

Neostigmine (Prostigmin), physostigmine (Calabar bean), pyridostigmine (Mestinon), Rivastigmine (Exelon pill or patch)

-zil: Donepezil (Aricept)-mine: Galantamine (Razadyne)-onium: Ambenonium (Mytelase), Edrophonium (Tensilon)

-stine Antineoplastics (anti-tumor) carmustine, lomustine, vinblastine, vincristine

NRSG 332 7

PREFIX, ROOT, SUFFIX

CLASS or USE SUB-CLASS by MOA (Mechanism of Action)

EXAMPLES(Generic And Brand Names)

NOTES

-statin Antilipidemic drugs HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor; statins

Atorvastatin (Lipitor); lovastatin (Mevacor); pravastatin (Pravachol); rosuvastatin (Crestor); simvastatin (Zocor)

Sulf- Anti-Bacterial Drugs Metabolism inhibitors Sulfadiazine; Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SMX-TMP, Bactrim)

-tadine Anti-inflammatory Drugs (treat allergy reactions)

H1 blocker (H1 antagonist or histamine 1 antagonist or antihistamine

Cyproheptadine (Periactin); Desloratadine (Clarinex), Fexofenadine (Allegra), Loratadine (Claritin); olopatadine (Patanol); Rupatadine (Rupafin)

-tadine Antiviral drugs anti-influenza-A amantadine; rimantadine,-tanyl Analgesics Opioids fentanyl transdermal (Duragesic)-terol Bronchodilators Beta-adrenergic agonist;

bronchodilatorAlbuterol (Proventil); arformoterol; formoterol (Foradil); levalbuterol (Xopenex); salmeterol (Serevent)

-thiazide Diuretics thiazide diuretic chlorothiazide; hydrochlorothiazide; methyclothiazide

-tidine Anti-acid agents H2 receptor antagonists (anti-ulcer)

Cimetidine (Tagamet), Famotidine (Pepcid), Nizatidine (Axid), Ranitidine (Zantac)

-trate Antianginals Isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur)Isosorbide Dinitrate (Isordil)

-trel Hormonal replacement female hormone (progestin) desogestrel; etonogestrel; levonorgestrel; norgestrel

-tretintretin--tretin-

dermatologic agent retinoid; form of vitamin A acitretin; alitretinoin; isotretinoin; tretinoin

-triptan Analgesics antimigraine; selective 5-HT receptor agonist

almotriptan; eletriptan; rizatriptan; sumatriptan; zolmitriptan

-tropium Bronchodilators Anticholinergic Bronchodilators

Ipratropium (Atreovent)Tiotropium (Sprivia)

-triptyline or-tyline

Anti-depressants Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) Amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil).

vir; -vir Antiviral drugs anti-HIV abacavir; efavirenz; enfuvirtide; nevirapine; ritonavir; tenofovir

NRSG 332 8

PREFIX, ROOT, SUFFIX

CLASS or USE SUB-CLASS by MOA (Mechanism of Action)

EXAMPLES(Generic And Brand Names)

NOTES

vir; -vir Antiviral drugs anti-hepatitis adefovir; entecavir; ribavirin (along with interferon)

-vir Antiviral drugs anti-herpes acyclovir; famciclovir; penciclovir; valacyclovir

-vir Antiviral drugs anti-CMV cidofovir; ganciclovir; valganciclovir-vir Antiviral drugs anti-flu oseltamivir; zanamivir-vudine Antiviral drugs nucleoside analogues lamivudine; stavudine; telbivudine;

zidovudine-zepam-zepine

AnticonvulsantsAntidepressants or Anxiolytics

benzodiazepine clonazepam (Klonopin); diazepam (Valium); flurazepam (Dalmane); halazepam (Paxipam), lorazepam (Ativan), oxazepam (Serax); temazepam (Restoril); quazepam (Doral) (Can be used to treat insomnia)carbamazepine (Tegretol), Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)

Other Anticonvulsants:Divalproex (depakote), Gabapentin (Neurontin), Lamotrigine (Lamictal), pregabalin (Lyrica), Tiagabine (Gabitril), Topiramate (Topamax), Valproic acid (Depakote), Valproate (Depacon)

-zepoxide Antidepressants or Anxiolytics Benzodiazepines chlordiazepoxide (Librium), chlordiazepoxide (Librium)

-zepate Antidepressants or Anxiolytics Benzodiazepines clorazepate (Tranxene)-zolam Antidepressants or Anxiolytics Benzodiazepines Alprazolam (Xanax), Midazolam (Versed),

Estazolam (ProSom), triazolam (Halcion),-zine-mine

Anti-inflammatory Drugs Antihistamines diphenhydramine (Benadryl), hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril), Cetirizine (Zyrtec), meclizine (Antivert, Bonamine), Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)

-zine or-azine

Antipsychotics, Antiemetics Phenothiazines chlorpromazine, perphenazine, prochlorperazine (Compazine), promethazine (Phenergan)

-zoline Nasal decongestants oxymetazoline, zylometazolinehttp://druginfo.nlm.nih.gov/drugportal/jsp/drugportal/DrugNameGenericStems.jsphttp://www.takerx.com/class.html