Prefixes and suffixes for Common Medications

-pril: Drug class

ACE inhibitors

-pril: Examples

lisinopril, enalapril

-pril: Used for

hypertension, heart failure

-sartan: Drug class

ARBs (angiotensin II receptor blockers)

-sartan: Examples

losartan, valsartan

-sartan: Used for

hypertension

-olol: Drug class

beta blockers

-olol: Examples

metoprolol, propranolol

-olol: Used for

hypertension, arrhythmias, heart failure

-dipine: Drug class

calcium channel blockers

-dipine: Examples

amlodipine, nifedipine

-dipine: Used for

hypertension, angina

-statin: Drug class

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors

-statin: Examples

Atorvastatin, simvastatin

-statin: Used for

high cholesterol

-thiazide: Drug class

thiazide diuretics

-thiazide: Examples

hydrochlorothiazide

-thiazide: Used for

hypertension, edema

-semide: Drug class

loop diuretics

-semide: Examples

furosemide, torsemide

-semide: Used for

edema, heart failure

-prazole: Drug class

proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)

-prazole: Examples

omeprazole, pantoprazole

-prazole: Used for

GERD, ulcers

-tidine: Drug class

H2 receptor blockers

-tidine: Examples

ranitidine, famotidine

-tidine: Used for

GERD, ulcers

-cillin: Drug class

penicillin antibiotics

-cillin: Examples

amoxicillin, dicloxacillin

-cillin: Used for

bacterial infections

-cycline: Drug class

tetracycline antibiotics

-cycline: Examples

doxycycline, minocycline

-cycline: Used for

bacterial infections

-floxacin: Drug class

fluuroquinolone antibiotics

-floxacin: Examples

Ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin

-floxacin: Used for

bacterial infections

-mycin/-micin: Drug class

macrolide antibiotics

-mycin/-micin: Examples

azithromycin, erythromycin

-mycin/-micin: Used for

bacterial infections

cef-/ceph-: Drug class

cephalosporin antibiotics

cef-/ceph-: Examples

cephalexin, ceftriaxone

cef-/ceph-: Used for

bacterial infections

-vir: Drug class

antivirals

-vir: Examples

acyclovir, oseltamivir

-vir: Used for

viral infections

-azole: Drug class

antifungals

-azole: Examples

fluconazole, ketoconazole

-azole: Used for

fungal infections

-pam/-lam: Drug class

benzodiazepines

-pam/-lam: Examples

diazepam, lorazepam, alprazolam

-pam/-lam: Used for

anxiety, seizures, sedation

-triptan: Drug class

serotonin agonists

-triptan: Examples

sumatriptan, rizatriptan

-triptan: Used for

migraines

-caine: Drug class

local anesthetics

-caine: Examples

lidocaine, bupivacaine

-caine: Used for

local anesthesia

-one: Drug class

corticosteroids

-one: Examples

prednisone, dexamethasone

-one: Used for

inflammation, autoimmune disorders

-ide: Drug class

sulfonylureas (antidiabetics)

-ide: Examples

glipzide, glyburide

-ide: Used for

type 2 diabetes

-gliptin: Drug class

DPP-4 inhibitors (antidiabetics)

-gliptin: Examples

sitagliptin, saxagliptin

-gliptin: Used for

type 2 diabetes

-gliflozin: Drug class

SGLT2 inhibitors (antidiabetics)

-gliflozin: Examples

empagliflozin, dapagliflozin

-gliflozin: Used for

type 2 diabetes

-terol: Drug class

beta2 agonists

-terol: Examples

albuterol, salmeterol

-terol: Used for

asthma, COPD

-tropium: Drug class

anticholinergics (respiratory)

-tropium: Examples

ipratropium, tiotropium

-tropium: Used for

COPD, asthma

-mab: Drug class

monoclonal antibodies

-mab: Examples

adalimumab, trastuzumab

-mab: Used for

autoimmune diseases, cancers

-nib: Drug class

tyrosine kinase inhibitors

-nib: Examples

imatinib, erlotinib

-nib: Used for

cancer

-xaban: Drug class

factor Xa inhibitors (anticoagulants)

-xaban: Examples

rivaroxaban, apixaban

-xaban: Used for

blood clots, stroke prevention

-parin: Drug class

anticoagulants

-parin: Examples

heparin, enoxaparin

-parin: Used for

blood clots