Why suffixes help
Generic names are built from official stems chosen by naming committees such as the USAN Council. Learning the stem lets you recognize the class, the main action and the key nursing checks of a drug you have never seen, which is exactly what pharmacology and NCLEX-style questions test.
Stems are a starting point, not a rule: a few drugs share an ending by coincidence. Always confirm with a drug reference.
Cardiovascular and blood
| Stem | Class | Examples | Nursing point |
|---|---|---|---|
| -olol, -alol, -ilol | Beta blockers | Metoprolol, atenolol, labetalol, carvedilol | Apical pulse and blood pressure before each dose |
| -pril | ACE inhibitors | Lisinopril, enalapril, captopril | Dry cough, hyperkalemia, angioedema |
| -sartan | Angiotensin II receptor blockers | Losartan, valsartan, irbesartan | Hyperkalemia; no cough; avoid in pregnancy |
| -dipine | Dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers | Amlodipine, nifedipine, nicardipine | Peripheral edema, headache, hypotension |
| -semide, -etanide | Loop diuretics | Furosemide, torsemide, bumetanide | Potassium loss; daily weight |
| -thiazide | Thiazide diuretics | Hydrochlorothiazide, chlorothiazide | Low potassium and sodium; high glucose and uric acid |
| -statin | HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors | Atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin | Report muscle pain |
| -parin | Heparins | Heparin, enoxaparin, dalteparin | Bleeding; platelets; protamine reverses |
| -xaban | Factor Xa inhibitors | Apixaban, rivaroxaban, edoxaban | Bleeding; no routine INR |
| -gatran | Direct thrombin inhibitors (oral) | Dabigatran | Bleeding; idarucizumab reverses |
| -grel | P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs | Clopidogrel, prasugrel, ticagrelor | Do not stop early after a stent |
| -teplase | Thrombolytics | Alteplase, tenecteplase, reteplase | Major bleeding risk; strict neuro checks |
Endocrine
| Stem | Class | Examples | Nursing point |
|---|---|---|---|
| -gliptin | DPP-4 inhibitors | Sitagliptin, linagliptin | Low hypoglycemia risk alone; report severe abdominal pain |
| -gliflozin | SGLT2 inhibitors | Empagliflozin, dapagliflozin | Genital infections, dehydration, ketoacidosis |
| -glutide | GLP-1 receptor agonists | Semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide | Nausea; pancreatitis warning |
| -glitazone | Thiazolidinediones | Pioglitazone | Fluid retention; avoid in heart failure |
| gli-, gly- | Sulfonylureas | Glipizide, glyburide, glimepiride | Hypoglycemia; do not skip meals |
| -sone, -olone | Corticosteroids | Prednisone, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone | Hyperglycemia, infection, taper |
| -dronate | Bisphosphonates | Alendronate, risedronate, ibandronate | Plain water, empty stomach, upright 30 minutes |
Respiratory, GI and allergy
| Stem | Class | Examples | Nursing point |
|---|---|---|---|
| -terol | Beta-2 agonists | Albuterol, salmeterol, formoterol | Tachycardia and tremor; short-acting is the rescue drug |
| -tropium | Inhaled anticholinergics | Ipratropium, tiotropium | Dry mouth; caution in glaucoma and urinary retention |
| -lukast | Leukotriene receptor antagonists | Montelukast, zafirlukast | Mood and behavior changes |
| -prazole | Proton pump inhibitors | Omeprazole, pantoprazole, esomeprazole | Long-term: C. difficile, fractures, low magnesium |
| -tidine | H2 receptor antagonists | Famotidine, cimetidine | Confusion in older adults |
| -setron | 5-HT3 antiemetics | Ondansetron, granisetron | QT prolongation |
| -tadine, -atadine | Second-generation antihistamines | Loratadine, desloratadine, olopatadine | Less sedation than first-generation drugs |
Brain and behavior
| Stem | Class | Examples | Nursing point |
|---|---|---|---|
| -azepam, -azolam | Benzodiazepines | Lorazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, midazolam | Respiratory depression; flumazenil reverses |
| -oxetine | SSRIs and SNRIs | Fluoxetine, paroxetine, duloxetine | Suicide warning; serotonin syndrome |
| -triptyline, -pramine | Tricyclic antidepressants | Amitriptyline, nortriptyline, imipramine | Anticholinergic effects; lethal in overdose |
| -apine | Atypical antipsychotics | Olanzapine, quetiapine, clozapine | Metabolic syndrome; neutropenia with clozapine |
| -idone | Atypical antipsychotics | Risperidone, ziprasidone, lurasidone | Weight gain, prolactin, QT |
| -azine | Phenothiazines | Chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine, promethazine | Extrapyramidal symptoms, sedation |
| -triptan | Serotonin 5-HT1 agonists (migraine) | Sumatriptan, rizatriptan | Avoid in coronary artery disease |
| -codone, -morphone | Opioid agonists | Oxycodone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone | Respiratory rate and sedation; naloxone reverses |
Anti-infectives
| Stem | Class | Examples | Nursing point |
|---|---|---|---|
| -cillin | Penicillins | Amoxicillin, ampicillin, piperacillin | Ask about allergies |
| cef-, ceph- | Cephalosporins | Cefazolin, ceftriaxone, cephalexin | Ceftriaxone and calcium solutions |
| -penem | Carbapenems | Meropenem, imipenem, ertapenem | Seizure risk; allergy check |
| -floxacin | Fluoroquinolones | Ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin | Tendon rupture; separate from antacids |
| -mycin, -micin | Aminoglycosides (some) and macrolides (-thromycin) | Gentamicin, tobramycin, azithromycin | Aminoglycosides: kidneys and hearing |
| -cycline | Tetracyclines | Doxycycline, minocycline | Upright with water; sun protection |
| -azole | Azole antifungals | Fluconazole, voriconazole | Liver function; drug interactions |
| -vir, -ciclovir | Antivirals | Acyclovir, valacyclovir, oseltamivir | Hydration with IV acyclovir |
Other useful stems
| Stem | Class | Examples | Nursing point |
|---|---|---|---|
| -mab | Monoclonal antibodies | Adalimumab, pembrolizumab, omalizumab | Infusion reactions; infection risk |
| -nib | Kinase inhibitors | Imatinib, ibrutinib | Many drug interactions |
| -curonium | Nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers | Rocuronium, vecuronium | Paralysis without sedation; airway support |
| -caine | Local anesthetics | Lidocaine, bupivacaine | Systemic toxicity: lipid emulsion |
| -profen | NSAIDs (propionic acids) | Ibuprofen, ketoprofen | GI bleeding; kidney injury |
| -osin | Alpha-1 blockers | Tamsulosin, doxazosin, prazosin | First-dose orthostatic hypotension |
Frequently asked questions
What does the suffix -olol mean?
Drugs ending in -olol, such as metoprolol, atenolol and propranolol, are beta blockers. Before giving one, check the apical pulse and the blood pressure.
Which drugs end in -pril and -sartan?
-pril drugs (lisinopril, enalapril) are ACE inhibitors and -sartan drugs (losartan, valsartan) are angiotensin II receptor blockers. Both lower blood pressure, both can raise potassium, and both are avoided in pregnancy.
Do all drugs with the same suffix belong to the same class?
Usually, but not always. Stems are a memory aid; confirm the class in a drug reference before acting on it.