Medication Nomenclature - Pharmacology

                        Overview
                    
                    
                    
                






 
    
                        Prefix, Root, or Suffix
Medication Class
Example Medications
-afilPhosphodiesterase inhibitor (erectile dysfunction)
Vardenafil, sildenafil
-aneInhalational general anestheticHalothane, desflurane
-asoneCorticosteroidDexamethasone, hydrocortisone
-azepamBenzodiazepineDiazepam, clonazepam
-azinePhenothiazine
Chlorpromazine, promethazine
-azoleAntifungalKetoconazole, fluconazole
-bitalBarbituratePhenobarbital, secobarbital
-caineLocal anestheticLidocaine, mepivacaine
-cillinPenicillin antibiotic
Methicillin, amoxicillin
-cyclineTetracycline antibiotic (protein synthesis inhibitor)
Doxycycline, tetracycline
-dazoleAntihelminthic, antibioticAlbendazole, metronidazole
-dipineCalcium channel blockerAmlodipine, nifedipine
-dronateBisphosphonate (bone resorption inhibitor)Alendronate, etidronate
-eprazoleProton pump inhibitor (PPI)
Omeprazole, esomeprazole
-etineSSRIFluoxetine, paroxetine
-fenacNSAIDDiclofenac, bromfenac
-floxacinFluoroquinolones (antibiotic)
Ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin
-gliptinInhibitor of DPP-4 enzyme (antidiabetic)Saxagliptin, sitagliptin
-glitazoneThiazolidinedione (antidiabetic)Pioglitazone, rosiglitazone
-ipramineTCAImipramine, clomipramine
-iramineAntihistamineChlorpheniramine, pheniramine
-lamideCarbonic anhydrase inhibitorAcetazolamide, dorzolamide
-mabMonoclonal antibodyAdalimumab, omalizumab
-mustineAlkylating agent (antineoplastic)Carmustine, lomustine
-mycinMacrolide antibiotic (protein synthesis inhibitor)Azithromycin, erythromycin
-nacinMuscarinic antagonist (anticholinergic)Darifenacin, solifenacin
-navirProtease inhibitorSaquinavir, ritonavir
-ololβ antagonistPropranolol, metoprolol
-oloneCorticosteroidPrednisolone, triamcinolone
-operidolButyrophenone (neuroleptic)Haloperidol, droperidol
-oxinCardiac glycoside (inotropic agent)Digoxin, digitoxin
-parinAntithrombotic/anticoagulantEnoxaparin, heparin
-phyllineXanthine (bronchodilator)
Theophylline, aminophylline
-prilACE inhibitorCaptopril, ramipril
-profenNSAIDIbuprofen, fenoprofen
-sartanAngiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB)
Losartan, candesartan
-semideLoop diureticFurosemide, torsemide
-setron5-HT3 receptor antagonistOndansetron, granisetron
sulfa-Antibiotic, anti-inflammatorySulfamethoxazole, sulfasalazine
-tadineAntiviral (anti-influenza)Amantadine, rimantadine
-terolβ2 agonist (bronchodilator)
Albuterol, salmeterol
-tidineH2 antagonistCimetidine, ranitidine
-thiazideDiureticHydrochlorothiazide, chlorothiazide
-tinibKinase inhibitor (anti-neoplastic)Imatinib, gefitinib
-trelFemale hormonesNorgestrel, levonorgestrel
-triptan5-HT1B/1D agonist (migraine)Sumatriptan, zolmitriptan
-triptylineTCAAmitriptyline, nortriptyline
-tropinPituitary hormoneSomatotropin
-vir, -virinAntiviral (anti-HIV, hepatitis, herpes, CMV, influenza)Abacavir, ribavirin, valacyclovir, ganciclovir, oseltamivir
-vudineAntiviral (nucleoside analogues)Lamivudine, zidovudine
-zolamBenzodiazepineAlprazolam, triazolam
-azosinα1 antagonistPrazosin, terazosin (exception: tamulosin)

                    
                    
                    
                

                    

Action	Numeric Key	Letter Key	Function Key
Show Bullets		S	Enter (frontside only)
20%	1	N
40%	2	H
60%	3	F	Enter (backside only)
80%	4	E
100%	5	M
Toss	0	T

Prefix, Root, or Suffix	Medication Class	Example Medications
-afil	Phosphodiesterase inhibitor (erectile dysfunction)	Vardenafil, sildenafil
-ane	Inhalational general anesthetic	Halothane, desflurane
-asone	Corticosteroid	Dexamethasone, hydrocortisone
-azepam	Benzodiazepine	Diazepam, clonazepam
-azine	Phenothiazine	Chlorpromazine, promethazine
-azole	Antifungal	Ketoconazole, fluconazole
-bital	Barbiturate	Phenobarbital, secobarbital
-caine	Local anesthetic	Lidocaine, mepivacaine
-cillin	Penicillin antibiotic	Methicillin, amoxicillin
-cycline	Tetracycline antibiotic (protein synthesis inhibitor)	Doxycycline, tetracycline
-dazole	Antihelminthic, antibiotic	Albendazole, metronidazole
-dipine	Calcium channel blocker	Amlodipine, nifedipine
-dronate	Bisphosphonate (bone resorption inhibitor)	Alendronate, etidronate
-eprazole	Proton pump inhibitor (PPI)	Omeprazole, esomeprazole
-etine	SSRI	Fluoxetine, paroxetine
-fenac	NSAID	Diclofenac, bromfenac
-floxacin	Fluoroquinolones (antibiotic)	Ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin
-gliptin	Inhibitor of DPP-4 enzyme (antidiabetic)	Saxagliptin, sitagliptin
-glitazone	Thiazolidinedione (antidiabetic)	Pioglitazone, rosiglitazone
-ipramine	TCA	Imipramine, clomipramine
-iramine	Antihistamine	Chlorpheniramine, pheniramine
-lamide	Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor	Acetazolamide, dorzolamide
-mab	Monoclonal antibody	Adalimumab, omalizumab
-mustine	Alkylating agent (antineoplastic)	Carmustine, lomustine
-mycin	Macrolide antibiotic (protein synthesis inhibitor)	Azithromycin, erythromycin
-nacin	Muscarinic antagonist (anticholinergic)	Darifenacin, solifenacin
-navir	Protease inhibitor	Saquinavir, ritonavir
-olol	β antagonist	Propranolol, metoprolol
-olone	Corticosteroid	Prednisolone, triamcinolone
-operidol	Butyrophenone (neuroleptic)	Haloperidol, droperidol
-oxin	Cardiac glycoside (inotropic agent)	Digoxin, digitoxin
-parin	Antithrombotic/anticoagulant	Enoxaparin, heparin
-phylline	Xanthine (bronchodilator)	Theophylline, aminophylline
-pril	ACE inhibitor	Captopril, ramipril
-profen	NSAID	Ibuprofen, fenoprofen
-sartan	Angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB)	Losartan, candesartan
-semide	Loop diuretic	Furosemide, torsemide
-setron	5-HT3 receptor antagonist	Ondansetron, granisetron
sulfa-	Antibiotic, anti-inflammatory	Sulfamethoxazole, sulfasalazine
-tadine	Antiviral (anti-influenza)	Amantadine, rimantadine
-terol	β₂ agonist (bronchodilator)	Albuterol, salmeterol
-tidine	H₂ antagonist	Cimetidine, ranitidine
-thiazide	Diuretic	Hydrochlorothiazide, chlorothiazide
-tinib	Kinase inhibitor (anti-neoplastic)	Imatinib, gefitinib
-trel	Female hormones	Norgestrel, levonorgestrel
-triptan	5-HT_1B/1D agonist (migraine)	Sumatriptan, zolmitriptan
-triptyline	TCA	Amitriptyline, nortriptyline
-tropin	Pituitary hormone	Somatotropin
-vir, -virin	Antiviral (anti-HIV, hepatitis, herpes, CMV, influenza)	Abacavir, ribavirin, valacyclovir, ganciclovir, oseltamivir
-vudine	Antiviral (nucleoside analogues)	Lamivudine, zidovudine
-zolam	Benzodiazepine	Alprazolam, triazolam
-azosin	α₁ antagonist	Prazosin, terazosin (exception: tamulosin)