NCLEX Medication Endings

The ending "-pril"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: ACE Inhibitor

Use: HTN, HF

Common Side Effects: Dry cough, dizziness

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Angioedema, hyperkalemia

Example Med: Lisinopril, Enalapril

The ending "-sartan"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: ARBs (Angiotension II Receptor blockers)

Use: HTN, HF

Common Side Effects: Dizziness, Fatigue

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Hyperkalemia, no cough

Example Med: Losartan, Valsartan

The ending "-olol"

Class:

Use:

Common Side

Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: Beta Blocker

Use: HTN, Angina, HF

Common Side Effects: Bradycardia, Fatigue

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Don't give if HR <60, masks hypoglycemia

Example Med: Metoprolol, Propanolol

The ending "-dipine"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: Calcium Channel Blockers

Use: HTN, Angina

Common Side Effects: Peripheral Edema, Dizziness

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Monitor BP/HR, Avoid grapefruit

Example Med: Amlodipine, Nifedipine

The ending "-statin"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: Cholesterol Reducers

Use: Hyperlipidemia

Common Side Effects: Muscle Pain, GI Upset

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Rhabdomyolysis, Liver Toxicity

Example Med: Atorvastatin, Simvastatin

The ending "-ide / -zide"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: Loop / Thiazide Diuretics

Use: HTN, Edema

Common Side Effects: Polyuria, Hypotension Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Hypokalemia, Ototoxicity

Example Med: Furosemide, Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)

The ending "-actone"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: K+ Sparing Diuretics

Use: HF, HTN

Common Side Effects: Hyperkalemia, Gynecomastia

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Avoid K+ supplements, monitor ECG

Example Med: Spironolactone

The ending "-cillin"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: Penicillin Antibiotics

Use: Infections

Common Side Effects: GI Upset, Rash

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Anaphylaxis, cross allergy with cephalosporins

Example Med:

Amoxicillin, Penicillin

The ending "cef / - ceph"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: Cephalosporins

Use: Infection

Common Side Effects: Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Cross allergy with penicillin, C. Diff Risk

Example Med:

Ceftriaxone, Cephalexin

The ending "-mycin"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: Macrolides

Use: Infections

Common Side Effects: GI Upset

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: QT Prolongation, hepatoxicity

Example Med:

Azirheomycin, Clarithromycin

The ending "-floxacin"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: Fluoroquinolone

Use: UTI, Respiratory

Common Side Effects: GI Upset

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Tendon rupture, photosensitivity

Example Med:

Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin

The ending "-azole"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: Antifungals

Use: Fungal infections

Common Side Effects:

Nausea, headache

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Liver toxicity

Example Med:

Fluconazole, Ketoconazole

The ending "-vir"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: Antivirals

Use: Herpes, flu

Common Side Effects:

Nausea, HA

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Nephrotoxicity

Example Med:

Acyclovir, Oseltamivir

The ending "-pam / -lam"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Antidote:

Class: Benzodiazepines

Use: Anxiety, seizure

Common Side Effects:

drowsy, dizzy

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Resp. depression

Example Med:

Lorazepam, Diazepam, Alprazolam

ANTIDOTE: Flumazenile

The ending "-barbital"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: Barbiturates

Use: Seizures, sedation

Common Side Effects:

sedation

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Resp. depression, dependence

Example Med:

Phenobarbital

The ending "-caine"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: Local anesthetics

Use: Pain/ numbness

Common Side Effects:

Tingling, Redness

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: CNS Depression, arrythmias

Example Med:

Lidocaine, Bupivacaine

The ending "tidine"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: H2 Blockers (Reduces stomach acid)

Use: GERD, Ulcers

Common Side Effects: HA Diarrhea

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Can mask gastric cancer symptoms

Example Med:

Famotidine

The ending "-prazole"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: PPIs

Use: GERD, Ulcers

Common Side Effects: HA, GI upset

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Decreased Mg, Decreased B12, Fractures, C. Diff risk

Example Med:

Omeprazole, Pantoprazole

The ending "-dronate"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: Bisphosphonates

Use: Osteoporosis

Common Side Effects: Esophagitis, GI Upset

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Sit upright after, empty stomach

Example Med:

Alendronate, Risedronate

The ending "-terol"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: Beta-2 Agonisit

Use: Asthma, COPD

Common Side Effects:

Tachycardia, jittery

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Overuse to rebound bronchospasm

Example Med:

Albuterol, Salmeterol

The ending "-tropium"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: Anticholinergic Bronchodialators

Use: COPD, asthma

Common Side Effects:

Dry mouth, bitter taste

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Not for acute attacks

Example Med:

Ipratropium, Tiotropium

The ending "-asone / - olone"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: Corticosteroids

Use: Inflammation, autoimmune

Common Side Effects:

Weight gaiin, mood swings

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Increased BS, Decreased immunity. TAPER OFF DO NOT STOP ABRUPTLY

Example Med:

Prednisone, Dexamethasone, Methylprednisolone

The ending "-mab"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: Monoclonal antibodies

Use: Autoimmune diseases

Common Side Effects:

Injection site (rxn) rotation

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Immunosuppression

Example Med:

Adalimumab, Infliiximab

The ending "-parin"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Antidote

Example Med:

Class: Anticoagulants

Use: DVT, PE

Common Side Effects: Bleeding, bruising

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Monitor aPTT,

ANTIDOTE:

Protamine sulfate

Example Med:

Heparin, Enoxaparin

The ending "-xaban"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: Anticoagulants

Use: Stroke, Clot prevention

Common Side Effects:

Bleeding

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

No lab monitoring, no antidote

Example Med:

Rivaroxaban, Apixaban

The ending "-ine / -pram"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: SSRIs

Use: Depression, anxiety

Common Side Effects:

Insomnia, weight gain

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Serotonin Syndrome, Suicidal ideation

Example Med:

Sertraline, Fluoxetine, Citalopram

The ending "-triptyline"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: TCAs

Use: Depression, sleep

Common Side Effects: sedation, dry mouth

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Cardiotixicity, OD risk

Example Med:

Amitriptyline

The ending "-zine"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: Antipsychotics/antiemetics

Use: N/V, Psychosis

Common Side Effects:

Sedation, dry mouth

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

EPS, (Extrapyramidal Symptoms - dystonia (inv. muscle contractions) akathisia (restlessness), Parkinsonism (tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia), tardive dyskinesia (inv. repetitive movements)),

NMS (Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome - high fever, muscle rigidity, altered mental status, increased CK)(Fever + rigidity)

Example Med:

Promethazine, Chlorpromazine

The ending "-done / - pine"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: Atypical antipsychotics

Use: Schizophrenia, bipolar

Common Side Effects: weight gain, sedation Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: NMS, EPS, Increased BS & lipids

Example Med: Risperidone, Olanzapine, Quetiapine

The ending "-lone / -sone"

Class:

Use:

Common Side Effects: Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts:

Example Med:

Class: Steroids

Use: Inflammation

Common Side Effects:

Mood swings, increased appetitie

Adverse Effects / Nursing Alerts: Cushing's if on long term (pituitary tumor that overproduces ACTH which stimulates cortisol production - elevated cortisol levels.) MUST TAPER OFF.

Example Med:

Prenisone, Methylprednisolone, Hydrocortisone,