Pharma revision

πŸ’Š Pharmacology: 100 Drug Names by Ending

1. Cardiovascular drugs

Ending Class How it affects Examples β†’ use

-pril ACE inhibitors ↓ Ang II, ↑ bradykinin Enalapril β†’ HTN/HF

-sartan ARBs Blocks AT₁ receptor β†’ ↓ Ang II effect Losartan β†’ HTN

-olol Ξ²-blockers ↓ HR, ↓ contractility Propranolol β†’ HTN, tremor

-dipine DHP CCBs Vasodilation by blocking L-type Ca²⁺ channels Amlodipine β†’ HTN

-statin HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors ↓ hepatic cholesterol synthesis β†’ ↓ LDL Atorvastatin β†’ dyslipidemia

-semide Loop diuretics Blocks NKCC2 β†’ powerful diuresis Furosemide β†’ edema/HF

-xaban Factor Xa inhibitors Direct Xa inhibition Apixaban β†’ anticoagulation

-gatran Direct thrombin inhibitors Blocks IIa Dabigatran β†’ anticoagulation

-parin Heparin-type anticoagulants Activates antithrombin Enoxaparin β†’ DVT prophylaxis

-plase Thrombolytics Plasminogen β†’ plasmin Alteplase β†’ acute ischemic stroke

-fylline Methylxanthines PDE inhibition β†’ ↑ cAMP Theophylline β†’ asthma/COPD

⭐ Remember

PRIL = ACE inhibitor

SARTAN = ARB

OLOL = Ξ²-blocker

DIPINE = DHP CCB

STATIN = ↓ cholesterol

XABAN = Xa

GATRAN = thrombin

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2. Diabetes

Ending Class Mechanism Example

-gliptin DPP-4 inhibitor ↑ incretin effect β†’ ↑ insulin, ↓ glucagon Sitagliptin

-gliflozin SGLT2 inhibitor ↑ urinary glucose loss Dapagliflozin

-glutide GLP-1 receptor agonist ↑ insulin, ↓ glucagon, slows gastric emptying Semaglutide

-gliptin DPP-4 inhibitor Prevents GLP-1/GIP breakdown Linagliptin

Exceptions

Metformin β†’ ↓ hepatic gluconeogenesis

Pioglitazone β†’ PPAR-Ξ³ agonist β†’ ↑ insulin sensitivity

Acarbose β†’ Ξ±-glucosidase inhibitor

Glimepiride β†’ sulfonylurea β†’ ↑ insulin release

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3. Respiratory drugs

Ending Class Mechanism Example

-terol Ξ²β‚‚ agonist Bronchodilation Salbutamol is an exception; Salmeterol

-tropium Antimuscarinic Blocks M3 β†’ bronchodilation Tiotropium

-lukast Leukotriene receptor antagonist Blocks CysLT₁ Montelukast

-mab Biologic Target-specific immune pathway Omalizumab β†’ IgE

-mab Biologic Target-specific Mepolizumab β†’ IL-5

⚠ Important

Salbutamol does NOT end in -terol, despite being a Ξ²β‚‚ agonist.

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4. Gastrointestinal drugs

Ending Class Mechanism Example

-prazole PPI Irreversibly inhibits H⁺/K⁺ ATPase Omeprazole

-tidine Hβ‚‚ blocker ↓ gastric acid secretion Famotidine

-setron 5-HT₃ antagonist Antiemetic Ondansetron

-prostone Prostaglandin analogue ↑ intestinal secretion Lubiprostone

-glutide GLP-1 agonist Delays gastric emptying Liraglutide

Exception

Misoprostol β†’ PGE₁ analogue β†’ prevents NSAID-induced ulcers.

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5. CNS drugs

Ending Class Mechanism Example

-triptyline TCA Blocks 5-HT/NE reuptake Amitriptyline

-oxetine SSRI Blocks serotonin reuptake Fluoxetine

-pram SSRI Blocks serotonin reuptake Escitalopram

-azepam Benzodiazepine ↑ GABA-A frequency Diazepam

-zolam Benzodiazepine ↑ GABA-A frequency Alprazolam

-barbital Barbiturate ↑ GABA-A duration Phenobarbital

-triptan 5-HT₁B/1D agonist Cranial vasoconstriction Sumatriptan β†’ migraine

-done Variable ⚠ Not a reliable class Haloperidol, methadone, etc.

Important exception

Bupropion β†’ NDRI

Mirtazapine β†’ NaSSA

Lithium β†’ mood stabilizer

These cannot be reliably identified from suffix.

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6. Antiepileptic drugs

Ending Class/use Example

-zepine Various anticonvulsants Carbamazepine

-barb Barbiturate Phenobarbital

-gab Gabapentinoid Gabapentin

-gabalin Gabapentinoid Pregabalin

-lamotrigine Na⁺ channel blocker Lamotrigine

-acetam SV2A ligand Levetiracetam

-suximide Absence seizure drug Ethosuximide

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7. Antibiotics

Ending Class Mechanism Example

-cillin Penicillin Inhibits cell-wall synthesis Amoxicillin

-cef/-ceph Cephalosporin Inhibits cell-wall synthesis Ceftriaxone

-cycline Tetracycline 30S inhibitor Doxycycline

-floxacin Fluoroquinolone Inhibits DNA gyrase/topoisomerase Ciprofloxacin

-thromycin Macrolide 50S inhibitor Azithromycin is exception

-mycin Various ⚠ Not a reliable class Gentamicin, Vancomycin

-penem Carbapenem Cell-wall synthesis inhibitor Meropenem

-bactam Ξ²-lactamase inhibitor Protects Ξ²-lactam antibiotic Sulbactam

-vancin Glycopeptide Cell-wall synthesis inhibitor Vancomycin

-zolid Oxazolidinone 50S initiation inhibition Linezolid

πŸ”₯ High-yield

CYCLINE β†’ 30S

FLOXACIN β†’ DNA gyrase

CILLIN/CEF β†’ cell wall

PENEM β†’ cell wall

ZOLID β†’ 50S

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8. Antifungals

Ending Class Mechanism Example

-azole Azole antifungal Inhibits ergosterol synthesis Fluconazole

-conazole Azole ↓ ergosterol Itraconazole

-fungin Echinocandin Inhibits Ξ²-1,3-glucan synthesis Caspofungin

-tericin Polyene Binds ergosterol β†’ membrane pores Amphotericin B

Exception

Amphotericin B β€” classic antifungal but doesn't follow the -azole pattern.

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9. Antivirals

Ending Class Example

-vir Antiviral Acyclovir

-ciclovir Anti-herpes Valacyclovir

-navir HIV protease inhibitor Ritonavir

-tegravir HIV integrase inhibitor Dolutegravir

-vudine NRTI Zidovudine

-fovir Nucleotide analogue Tenofovir

-amivir Influenza neuraminidase inhibitor Oseltamivir

🧠 HIV memory

-NAVIR β†’ Protease

-TEGRAVIR β†’ Integrase

-VUDINE β†’ NRTI

-FOVIR β†’ nucleotide analogue

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10. Anticancer drugs

Ending Class Mechanism Example

-taxel Taxane Stabilizes microtubules Paclitaxel

-platin Platinum DNA cross-linking Cisplatin

-rubicin Anthracycline DNA intercalation + topo II inhibition Doxorubicin

-blastine Vinca alkaloid Prevents microtubule polymerization Vinblastine

-cristine Vinca alkaloid Prevents microtubule polymerization Vincristine

-trexate Antimetabolite DHFR inhibition Methotrexate

-ciclib CDK inhibitor Blocks cell-cycle progression Palbociclib

-tinib Tyrosine kinase inhibitor Blocks kinase signalling Imatinib

-parib PARP inhibitor Blocks DNA repair Olaparib

-mab Monoclonal antibody Target-specific Rituximab

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11. Monoclonal antibodies β€” VERY HIGH YIELD

This is particularly useful for your β€œsuffix β†’ what it means” strategy.

Ending

-omab β†’ murine

-ximab β†’ chimeric

-zumab β†’ humanized

-umab β†’ fully human

Examples

Drug Meaning Main target/use

Rituximab Chimeric CD20 β†’ lymphoma

Infliximab Chimeric TNF-Ξ± β†’ IBD/RA

Trastuzumab Humanized HER2 β†’ breast cancer

Omalizumab Humanized IgE β†’ allergic asthma

Adalimumab Fully human TNF-Ξ± β†’ RA/IBD

Pembrolizumab Humanized PD-1 β†’ cancer

Nivolumab Fully human PD-1 β†’ cancer

Bevacizumab Humanized VEGF β†’ cancer

Fusion proteins

-cept β†’ receptor/antibody fusion protein

Examples:

Etanercept β†’ TNF inhibitor

Abatacept β†’ T-cell costimulation blocker

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12. Endocrine drugs

Ending Class Example

-thyr- Thyroid-related Levothyroxine

-glutide GLP-1 agonist Semaglutide

-parathyroid PTH analogue Teriparatide

-prost Prostaglandin analogue Misoprostol

-pressin Vasopressin analogue Desmopressin

-relin GnRH-related Goserelin

-treotide Somatostatin analogue Octreotide

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🚨 20 "ABNORMAL" DRUGS YOU SHOULD MEMORIZE

These cannot be reliably guessed from their endings:

1. Metformin β†’ biguanide β†’ ↓ hepatic gluconeogenesis

2. Warfarin β†’ vitamin K antagonist

3. Heparin β†’ antithrombin activation

4. Aspirin β†’ irreversible COX inhibition

5. Clopidogrel β†’ P2Y12 blocker

6. Digoxin β†’ Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase inhibition

7. Amiodarone β†’ Class III antiarrhythmic

8. Atropine β†’ muscarinic antagonist

9. Naloxone β†’ opioid antagonist

10. Flumazenil β†’ benzodiazepine antagonist

11. Pralidoxime β†’ reactivates AChE

12. Levodopa β†’ dopamine precursor

13. Carbidopa β†’ peripheral DOPA-decarboxylase inhibitor

14. Rifampicin β†’ RNA polymerase inhibitor

15. Isoniazid β†’ mycolic acid synthesis inhibitor

16. Ethambutol β†’ arabinosyl transferase inhibitor

17. Praziquantel β†’ ↑ parasite Ca²⁺ permeability

18. Ivermectin β†’ glutamate-gated Cl⁻ channel opener

19. Ketamine β†’ NMDA antagonist

20. Propofol β†’ GABA-A potentiator

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🧠 Ultra-fast NEET-PG suffix map

Cardio:

-PRIL β†’ ACEi | -SARTAN β†’ ARB | -OLOL β†’ Ξ² blocker | -DIPINE β†’ DHP | -STATIN β†’ lipid

Diabetes:

-GLIPTIN β†’ DPP4 | -GLIFLOZIN β†’ SGLT2 | -GLUTIDE β†’ GLP1

Respiratory:

-TEROL β†’ Ξ²2 agonist | -TROPIUM β†’ antimuscarinic | -LUKAST β†’ leukotriene antagonist

GI:

-PRAZOLE β†’ PPI | -TIDINE β†’ H2 blocker | -SETRON β†’ 5HT3 antagonist

Antibiotics:

-CILLIN β†’ penicillin | -CEF β†’ cephalosporin | -CYCLINE β†’ 30S | -FLOXACIN β†’ DNA gyrase | -PENEM β†’ carbapenem

Antifungal:

-AZOLE β†’ ergosterol synthesis ↓ | -FUNGIN β†’ glucan synthesis ↓

HIV:

-NAVIR β†’ protease | -TEGRAVIR β†’ integrase | -VUDINE β†’ NRTI

Cancer:

-PLATIN β†’ DNA crosslink | -TAXEL β†’ microtubule stabilization | -RUBICIN β†’ topo II | -PARIB β†’ PARP

mAbs:

-XIMAB β†’ chimeric | -ZUMAB β†’ humanized | -UMAB β†’ fully human | -CEPT β†’ fusion protein