Prefix Suffix Drug Classification

Prefix/Suffix

Drug Classification

Example(s)

-afil

PDE-5 inhibitor (erectile dysfunction)

Sildenafil, Tadalafil

-asone

Corticosteroid (anti-inflammatory)

Fluticasone, Mometasone, Betamethasone

-azepam

Benzodiazepine (anxiety, sedative)

Diazepam, Lorazepam

-azolam

Benzodiazepine (anxiety, sedative)

Alprazolam, Midazolam

-bicin

Antineoplastic; cytotoxic agent

Doxorubicin, Epirubicin

-bital

Barbiturate (sedative)

Phenobarbital, Butalbital

Cef- / Ceph-

Cephalosporin antibiotic

Cefazolin, Cephalexin, Cefdinir

-cillin

Penicillin antibiotic

Amoxicillin, Penicillin, Ampicillin

-cort-

Corticosteroid (anti-inflammatory)

Hydrocortisone

-cycline

Tetracycline antibiotic

Doxycycline, Tetracycline, Minocycline

-dipine

Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blocker (hypertension)

Amlodipine, Nifedipine, Felodipine

-dronate

Bisphosphonate (osteoporosis)

Alendronate, Risedronate

-eprazole

Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) (acid reflux)

Esomeprazole, Omeprazole

-fenac

NSAID (anti-inflammatory, pain)

Diclofenac, Bromfenac

-floxacin

Fluoroquinolone antibiotic

Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, Moxifloxacin

-gliptin

DPP-4 inhibitor (diabetes)

Sitagliptin, Saxagliptin

-glitazone

Thiazolidinedione (TZD) (diabetes)

Pioglitazone, Rosiglitazone

-gliflozin

SGLT2 inhibitor (diabetes)

Canagliflozin, Dapagliflozin

-iramine

Antihistamine

Brompheniramine, Chlorpheniramine

-lukast

Leukotriene receptor antagonist (asthma)

Montelukast, Zafirlukast

-mab

Monoclonal antibody (various uses, e.g., autoimmune, cancer)

Adalimumab, Trastuzumab

-mycin

Macrolide or Aminoglycoside antibiotic (can vary)

Azithromycin (macrolide), Clindamycin (lincosamide), Gentamicin (aminoglycoside)

-nacin

Muscarinic antagonist (anticholinergic) (overactive bladder)

Solifenacin, Darifenacin

-nazole

Antifungal

Fluconazole, Ketoconazole, Miconazole

-olol

Beta-blocker (hypertension, angina, arrhythmia)

Metoprolol, Atenolol, Propranolol

-olone

Corticosteroid (anti-inflammatory)

Prednisolone, Methylprednisolone

-onide

Corticosteroid (anti-inflammatory)

Budesonide, Ciclesonide

-oprazole

Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) (acid reflux)

Lansoprazole, Pantoprazole

-parin

Anticoagulant (low molecular weight heparin)

Enoxaparin, Dalteparin

-phylline

Xanthine derivative (bronchodilator)

Theophylline, Aminophylline

-prazole

Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) (acid reflux)

Omeprazole, Lansoprazole

Pred-

Corticosteroid (anti-inflammatory)

Prednisone, Prednisolone

-pril

ACE Inhibitor (hypertension, heart failure)

Lisinopril, Enalapril, Ramipril

-profen

NSAID (anti-inflammatory, pain)

Ibuprofen, Ketoprofen

-sartan

Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB) (hypertension, heart failure)

Losartan, Valsartan, Candesartan

-semide

Loop diuretic (edema, hypertension)

Furosemide, Torsemide

-setron

5-HT3 receptor antagonist (anti-emetic)

Ondansetron, Granisetron

-statin

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (high cholesterol)

Atorvastatin, Simvastatin, Rosuvastatin

Sulfa-

Sulfonamide (antibiotic, diuretic, hypoglycemic)

Sulfamethoxazole (antibiotic), Sulfasalazine

-tadine

Antihistamine

Loratadine, Desloratadine

-terol

Beta-2 agonist (bronchodilator for asthma/COPD)

Albuterol, Salmeterol, Formoterol

-thiazide

Thiazide diuretic (hypertension, edema)

Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), Chlorthalidone

-tidine

H2 receptor antagonist (acid reflux)

Famotidine, Cimetidine

-triptan

Serotonin (5-HT1) receptor agonist (migraine)

Sumatriptan, Rizatriptan

-tyline

Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA)

Amitriptyline, Nortriptyline

-vir

Antiviral (general; can specify subclasses)

Acyclovir (herpes), Oseltamivir (flu), Ritonavir (HIV)

-zosin

Alpha-1 blocker (hypertension, BPH)

Prazosin, Doxazosin, Terazosin