CCH drug prefixes, roots, and suffixes

The number of generic and  brand names  keeps exploding  everyday..

 Although it has become a common way to  consult a webportal or a standalone app for  finding  about drugs  you should  try to memorize at least a few hundred most commonly used  drugs

These drug prefixes, roots, and suffixes apply only to generic names.

prefix, root, suffix	examples (generic names)	drug class or drug category
-afil	avanafil; sildenafil; tadalafil; vardenafil	phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor
-asone	betamethasone; dexamethasone; diflorasone; fluticasone; mometasone	corticosteroid
-bicin	doxorubicin; epirubicin; idarubicin; valrubicin	antineoplastic; cytotoxic agent
-bital	butabarbital; butalbital; phenobarbital; secobarbital	barbiturate (sedative)
-caine	bupivacaine; lidocaine; mepivacaine; prilocaine; proparacaine	local anesthetic
cef-, ceph-	cefaclor; cefdinir; cefixime; cefprozil; cephalexin	cephalosporin antibiotic
-cillin	amoxicillin; ampicillin; dicloxacillin; nafcillin; oxacillin	penicillin antibiotic
cort	clocortolone; fludrocortisone; hydrocortisone	corticosteroid
-cycline	demeclocycline; doxycycline; minocycline; tetracycline	tetracycline antibiotic
-dazole	albendazole; mebendazole; metronidazole; tinidazole	anthelmintic; antibiotic; antibacterial
-dipine	amlodipine; felodipine; nifedipine; nimodipine; nisoldipine	calcium channel blocker
-dronate	alendronate; etidronate; ibandronate; risedronate	bisphosphonate; bone resorption inhibitor
-eprazole	esomeprazole; omeprazole; rabeprazole	proton pump inhibitor (PPI)
-fenac	bromfenac; diclofenac; nepafenac	NSAID
-floxacin	besifloxacin; ciprofloxacin; levofloxacin; moxifloxacin; ofloxacin	quinolone antibiotic
-gliptin	saxagliptin; sitagliptin; linagliptin	antidiabetic; inhibitor of the DPP-4 enzyme
-glitazone	pioglitazone; rosiglitazone; troglitazone	antidiabetic; thiazolidinedione
-iramine	brompheniramine; chlorpheniramine; pheniramine	antihistamine
-lamide	acetazolamide; brinzolamide; dorzolamide; methazolamide	carbonic anhydrase inhibitor
-mab	adalimumab; daclizumab; infliximab; omalizumab; trastuzumab	monoclonal antibody
-mustine	carmustine; estramustine; lomustine; bendamustine	alkylating agent (antineoplastic)
-mycin	azithromycin; clarithromycin; clindamycin; erythromycin	antibiotic; antibacterial
-nacin	darifenacin; solifenacin	muscarinic antagonist (anticholinergic)
-nazole	fluconazole; ketoconazole; miconazole; terconazole; tioconazole	antifungal
-olol	atenolol; metoprolol; nadolol; pindolol; propranolol; timolol	beta blocker
-olone	fluocinolone; fluorometholone; prednisolone; triamcinolone	corticosteroid
-olone	nandrolone; oxandrolone; oxymetholone	anabolic steroid
-onide	budesonide; ciclesonide; desonide; fluocinonide; halcinonide	corticosteroid
-oprazole	dexlansoprazole; lansoprazole; pantoprazole	proton pump inhibitor (PPI)
parin; -parin	dalteparin; enoxaparin; fondaparinux; heparin; tinzaparin	antithrombotic; anticoagulant (blood thinner)
-phylline	aminophylline; dyphylline; oxtriphylline; theophylline	xanthine derivative (bronchodilator)
-pramine	clomipramine; desipramine; imipramine; trimipramine	tricyclic antidepressant (TCA)
pred; pred-	loteprednol; prednicarbate; prednisolone; prednisone	corticosteroid
-pril	benazepril; captopril; enalapril; lisinopril; moexipril; ramipril	ACE inhibitor
-profen	fenoprofen; flurbiprofen; ibuprofen; ketoprofen	NSAID
-ridone	iloperidone; paliperidone; risperidone	atypical antipsychotic
-sartan	candesartan; irbesartan; losartan; olmesartan; valsartan	angiotensin II receptor antagonist; ARB
-semide	furosemide; torsemide	loop diuretic (water pill)
-setron	alosetron; dolasetron; granisetron; ondansetron; palonosetron	serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist
-setron	dolasetron; granisetron; ondansetron; palonosetron	antiemetic and antinauseant
-statin	atorvastatin; lovastatin; pitavastatin; pravastatin; rosuvastatin; simvastatin	HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor; statins
sulfa-	sulfacetamide; sulfadiazine; sulfamethoxazole; sulfasalazine	antibiotic; anti-infective; anti-inflammatory
-tadine	cyproheptadine; desloratadine; loratadine; olopatadine	antihistamine
-tadine	amantadine; rimantadine	antiviral; anti-influenza-A
-terol	albuterol; arformoterol; formoterol; levalbuterol; salmeterol	beta agonist; bronchodilator
-thiazide	chlorothiazide; hydrochlorothiazide; methyclothiazide	thiazide diuretic (water pill)
-tinib	crizotinib; dasatinib; erlotinib; gefitinib; imatinib	antineoplastic (kinase inhibitor)
-trel	desogestrel; etonogestrel; levonorgestrel; norgestrel	female hormone (progestin)
tretin-; tretin; -tretin	acitretin; alitretinoin; isotretinoin; tretinoin	retinoid; dermatologic agent; form of vitamin A
-triptan	almotriptan; eletriptan; rizatriptan; sumatriptan; zolmitriptan	antimigraine; selective 5-HT receptor agonist
-tyline	amitriptyline; nortriptyline; protriptyline	tricyclic antidepressant (TCA)
vir; -vir	abacavir; efavirenz; enfuvirtide; nevirapine; ritonavir; tenofovir	antiviral; anti-HIV
vir; -vir	adefovir; entecavir; ribavirin (along with interferon)	antiviral; anti-hepatitis
-vir	acyclovir; famciclovir; penciclovir; valacyclovir	antiviral; anti-herpes
-vir	cidofovir; ganciclovir; valganciclovir	antiviral; anti-CMV
-vir	oseltamivir; zanamivir	antiviral; anti-flu
-vudine	lamivudine; stavudine; telbivudine; zidovudine	antiviral; nucleoside analogues
-zepam	clonazepam; diazepam; flurazepam; lorazepam; temazepam	benzodiazepine
-zodone	nefazodone, trazodone, vilazodone	antidepressant
-zolam	alprazolam; estazolam; midazolam; triazolam	benzodiazepine
-zosin	aFDAlfuzosin; doxazosin; prazosin; terazosin	alpha blocker