Common Drug Stems Cheat Sheet

Flashcards of drug name stems, their corresponding chemical or therapeutic classes, and representative examples.

–alol

Combined alpha and beta blockers; examples: labetalol, medroxalol

–andr–

Androgens; example: nandrolone

–anserin

Serotonin $\text{5–HT}_2$ receptor antagonists; examples: altanserin, tropanserin, altanserin

–arabine

Antineoplastics (arabinofuranosyl derivatives); example: fludarabine

–ase

Enzymes; examples: alglucerase, dornase alfa

–azepam

Antianxiety agents (diazepam type); example: lorazepam

–azosin

Antihypertensives (prazosin type); example: doxazosin

–bactam

Beta–lactamase inhibitors; example: sulbactam

–bamate

Tranquilizers/antiepileptics; examples: meprobamate, felbamate

–barb

Barbituric acid derivatives; example: phenobarbital

–butazone

Anti–inflammatory analgesics (phenylbutazone type); example: mofebutazone

–caine

Local anesthetics; example: dibucaine

cef–

Cephalosporins; example: cefazolin

–cillin

Penicillins; example: ampicillin

–conazole

Antifungals (miconazole type); examples: fluconazole, oxiconazole

–cort–

Cortisone derivatives; example: hydrocortisone

–curium

Neuromuscular blocking agents; example: atracurium

–cycline

Antibiotics (tetracycline type); example: minocycline

–dralazine

Antihypertensives (hydrazine–phthalazines); example: hydralazine

–erg–

Ergot alkaloid derivatives; example: pergolide

estr–

Estrogens; example: estrone

–fibrate

Antihyperlipidemics; example: bezafibrate

–flurane

Inhalation anesthetics; examples: enflurane, isoflurane

–gest–

Progestins; example: megestrol

–irudin

Anticoagulants; example: desirudin

–leukin

Interleukin–2 derivatives; examples: teceleukin, aldesleukin

–lukast

Leukotriene antagonists; examples: montelukast, zafirlukast

–mab

Monoclonal antibodies; examples: capromab, daclizumab, detumomab

–mantadine

Antivirals; example: rimantadine

–monam

Monobactam antibiotics; example: gloximonam

–mustine

Antineoplastics; example: carmustine

–mycin

Antibiotics (streptomyces strains); example: lincomycin

–olol

Beta–blockers (propranolol type); examples: timolol, atenolol

–olone

Steroids (no prednisone derivatives); example: minaxolone

–oxacin

Antibiotics (quinolone derivatives); examples: difloxacin, ciprofloxacin

–pamide

Diuretics (sulfamoylbenzoic acid derivatives); example: adipamide

–pamil

Coronary vasodilators; example: tiapamil

–parin

Heparin derivatives and low molecular weight (or depolymerized) heparins; examples: heparin, tinzaparin, dalteparin

–peridol

Antipsychotics (haloperidol type); example: haloperidol

–poetin

Erythropoietins; examples: epoetin alfa, epoetin beta

–pramine

Antidepressants (imipramine type); example: lofepramine

–pred

Prednisone derivatives; examples: prednicarbate, cloprednol

–pril

Antihypertensives (ACE inhibitors); examples: enalapril, temocapril, spirapril

–profen

Anti–inflammatory/analgesic agents (ibuprofen type); example: flurbiprofen

–rubicin

Antineoplastic antibiotics (daunorubicin type); examples: epirubicin, idarubicin

–sartan

Angiotensin II receptor antagonists; examples: losartan, eprosartan

–sulfa

Antibiotics (sulfonamide derivatives); example: sulfasalazine

–thiazide

Diuretics (thiazide derivatives); example: chlorothiazide

–tocin

Oxytocin derivatives; examples: oxytocin, pitocin

–trexate

Antimetabolites (folic acid derivatives); example: methotrexate

–triptyline

Antidepressants; example: amitriptyline

-uracil

Uracil derivatives used as thyroid antagonists and as antineoplastics; example: fluorouracil

–vastatin

Antihyperlipidemics ($\text{HMG–CoA}$ inhibitors); examples: lovastatin, simvastatin

vir-, -vir- or -vir

Antiviral substances (undefined group); examples: viroxime, envirodyne, ganciclovir