Common Drug Suffixes - Pharmacy Test Prep Review for PTCB PTCE and NAPLEX
Amanda PharmD・6 minutes read
Drug suffixes in generic drug names indicate drug classes, such as ACE inhibitors (Prill), ARBs (sartin), Beta blockers (olol), HMG COA reductase inhibitors (Statin), and Benzodiazepines (am), with examples like lisinopril, losartan, metoprolol, atorvastatin, and alprazolam. These suffixes help in understanding the drugs' mechanisms, structures, and indications for conditions like high blood pressure, heart failure, irregular heartbeat, high cholesterol, anxiety, and sleep.
Insights
- Drug suffixes in generic names help categorize drugs based on their class, mechanism of action, and purpose, making it easier to understand their functions and uses.
- Specific suffixes like "Prill," "sartin," "olol," "Statin," and "am" are indicative of drug classes such as ACE inhibitors, ARBs, beta blockers, HMG COA reductase inhibitors, and benzodiazepines, respectively, offering a quick way to recognize the type of medication and its intended treatment.
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Recent questions
What are drug suffixes?
Drug suffixes are word endings in generic drug names that help identify drug classes with similar mechanisms of action, chemical structures, and indications.
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Summary
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Identifying Drug Classes Through Suffixes
- Drug suffixes are word endings found in generic drug names, helping identify drug classes with similar mechanisms of action, chemical structures, and indications.
- ACE inhibitors end with the suffix Prill, used for high blood pressure and heart failure, with an example being lisinopril (brand name: Prinivil or Zestril).
- ARBs end with the suffix sartin, also for high blood pressure and heart failure, with losartan (brand name: Cozaar) as an example.
- Beta blockers end with the suffix olol, for high blood pressure and irregular heartbeat, with metoprolol (brand name: Lopressor) as an example.
- HMG COA reductase Inhibitors end with the suffix Statin, used for high cholesterol, with Atorvastatin (brand name: Lipitor) as an example.
- Benzodiazepines end with the suffix am, for anxiety and sleep, with Alprazolam (brand name: Xanax) as an example.
