Guide to Drug Prefixes and Suffixes With Mnemonics

Drug Prefixes Guide 

Prefix	Drug Class	Examples	Mnemonic / Background
ar-	The right-handed half of what used to be a 50/50 mix	Armodafinil Arformoterol Arketamine	❖ "ar-" = (R) configuration (right-handed)     ➤ opposite of “es-” = (S) ❖ Usually a cleaner version of an older drug that was a 50:50 mix of (R)- and (S)-
calc-	Vitamin D analogs   ➤ Calcium-related meds	Calcitriol Calcitonin	❖ “CALC = CALCium control”
cef- / ceph-	Cephalosporin antibiotics	Cephalexin Cefdinir	❖ “Ceph = cephalopod tentacles grabbing bacteria”
cyclo-	Molecule that contains one or more rings	Cyclophosphamide Cyclobenzaprine	❖ “CYCLO = Cyclic”
des-	A simplified version with one methyl group (–CH₃) removed	Desvenlafaxine Desipramine Desloratadine	❖ “des-” = desmethylated ❖ Example: desipramine = imipramine minus CH₃
dex-	The version that rotates light to the right	Dextroamphetamine Dexmethylphenidate Dextromethorphan Dexlansoprazole Dexmedetomidine Dexchlorpheniramine	❖ DEX- for dextrous (right-handed)     ➤ opposite of LEVO- ❖ Usually a cleaner version of an older drug that was a 50/50 mix ❖ Not necessarily a right-handed (R)-enantiomer – in some instances the (L)-enantiomer rotates light to the right
epo-	Erythropoiesis- stimulating agents   ➤ ↑ red blood cells (RBCs) to treat anemia	Epoetin Darbepoetin	❖ “EPO = ErythroPOiesis booster” ❖ e-ryth-ro-poi-e-sis = production of erythrocytes (RBCs)
es-	The left-handed half of what used to be a 50/50 mix	Escitalopram Esomeprazole  Esketamine Eszopiclone	❖ “Es-” for (S) =  “sinister” (left-handed)     ➤ opposite of “ar-” = (R) ❖ Usually a cleaner version of an older drug that was a 50:50 mix of (R)- and (S)-
gli- / gly-	Sulfonylureas   ➤ diabetes meds	Glipizide Glyburide	❖ -gly for glycemic = related to glucose
hydroxy-	Has an OH (hydroxyl) group	Hydroxychloroquine Hydroxyurea Hydroxy- progesterone Hydroxyzine	❖ Hydroxyl group usually ↑ water solubility →  less likely to cross the blood-brain barrier ❖ Exception: Hydroxyzine still crosses due to overall lipophilic structure
iso-	Isomer = Molecule with the same chemical formula but a different arrangement of atoms in the molecule	Isosorbide  Isotretinoin Isoflurane Isoniazid Isocarboxazid	❖ Greek isos = “equal” or “same”, ❖ “ISO = Isomer or Identical core, Slight Offset” ❖ “ISO = Similar Structure, Opposite twist”  ❖ “ISO = Same parts, different shape”
levo-	The version that rotates light to the left	Levofloxacin Levothyroxine Levodopa Levonorgestrel Levocetirizine Levomilnacipram	❖ LEVO- for left-handed     ➤ opposite of DEX- ❖ Usually a cleaner version of an older drug that was a 50/50 mix ❖ Not necessarily a left-handed (S)-enantiomer – in some instances the (R)-enantiomer rotates light to the left
nitra- / nitro-	Contains a nitro functional group (–NO₂)	Nitroglycerin Nitrofurantoin Nitroprusside	❖ Often act via nitric oxide (NO) release → blood vessel dilation  ❖ “Knight” or “Night” mnemonics
nor-	N-demethylated form (one fewer methyl group)	Nortriptyline Norepinephrine	❖ Often active metabolites with reduced potency or altered duration
phen-	Refers to a phenyl group (a 6-carbon benzene ring) which helps drugs cross the blood-brain barrier	Phentermine Phenobarbital Phenytoin Phencyclidine	❖ “-phen” drugs affect the brain = central nervous system (CNS) ❖ “PHEN = “PHENomenal CNS effects”
pred-	Corticosteroid	Prednisone Prednisolone	❖ “Predator” mascots
sulfa-	Contain a sulfonamide group (–SO₂NH₂)	Sulfamethoxazole Sulfasalazine	❖ This is a specific sulfur-containing chemical structure, not just any sulfur
tretin-	Retinoid   ➤  Form of Vitamin A	Tretinoin Isotretinoin	❖ t-RETINoid

Drug Suffixes Guide

Suffix	Drug Class	Example(s)	Background / Mnemonics
-afil	Phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors   ➤ Erection meds	Sildenafil Tadalafil Vardenafil	❖ “Fill a phallus” ❖ “Phil, the penis” ❖ “AFIL = Amplifies Flow In Libido”
-androlone	Anabolic steroid	Nandrolone Oxandrolone	❖ “ANDROLONE = androgen loan”
-apine	Atypical antipsychotics	Quetiapine Olanzapine Asenapine Clozapine	❖ "APINE = Atypical psychosis intervention" ❖ Atypical = not a typical D2 dopamine receptor-blocking antipsychotic ❖ From dibenzapine = two benzene rings
-azine	1st-gen antipsychotics / antiemetics	Chlorprom- azine Promethazine Perphenazine	❖ “AZINE = Anti-Zany” ❖ "AZINE = Antipsychotic zone" ❖ From phenothiazine ring structure
-barbital	Barbiturates   ➤ sedatives	Phenobarbital Pentobarbital	❖ "Barbed wire” visual mnemonics ❖ From “barbituric acid”
-benazine	Vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT) inhibitors   ➤ Dopamine depleters for movement disorders	Tetrabenazine Deutetra- benazine  Valbenazine	❖ “Bins” visual mnemonics (recycling bin mascots) ❖ “Benzene suppressing dopamine zings” ❖ From benzene ring + aromatic hydrazine
-caine	Local anesthetics	Lidocaine Bupivacaine Cocaine	❖ "CAINE = Cuts off pain" ❖ From Cocaine (from coca leaves), the first known local anesthetic
-capone	COMT inhibitors   ➤ Parkinson’s Disease	Entacapone Tolcapone	❖ "CAPONE stops COMT cops from busting dopamine”
-cillin	Penicillin antibiotics	Amoxicillin  Penicillin  Ampicillin Oxacillin	❖ "Killin’ bacteria" ❖ “Ceiling” visual mnemonics ❖ Latin penicillus = brush = From brush-shaped mold under microscope
-conazole	Antifungals	Fluconazole Ketoconazole	❖ “CONAZOLE’s goal: fungal control” ❖ From azole ring structure
-cycline	Tetracycline antibiotics	Doxycycline Minocycline Tetracycline	❖ "CYCLINE = cycling through ribosomes" ❖ “Cyclone” visual mnemonics ❖ From 4-ringed cyclic structure
-dazole	Antiparasitic / Antiprotozoal / Anthelmintic / Anaerobic antimicrobial	Metronidazole Albendazole Mebendazole Tinidazole	❖ “DAZOLE = Destroys Anaerobes, Zaps Organisms, Larvae, and Eggs” ❖ “Dazzle parasites with -dazoles” ❖ From azole ring structure
-dipine	Calcium channel blockers, dihydropyridine (DHP) type   ➤ BP meds	Amlodipine Nifedipine Felodipine	❖ "Dipping blood pressure" ❖ “DHP = Dips High Pressure” ❖ From DIhydroPyridINE structure
-dopa	Dopaminergic drugs for Parkinson’s Disease	Levodopa Carbidopa	❖ From dopamine ❖ “Don’t park, son”(Parkinson’s disease)
-dronate	Bisphosphonates    ➤ bone-strengthening	Alendronate Risedronate	❖ "DRONATE = bones dominate" ❖ “DRONATE = drones down osteoclasts”
-fenac	Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, mostly eye drops)	Diclofenac Bromfenac Nepafenac	❖ “FENAC = Fights Eye iNflammation And Cornea” ❖ “FENAC = FEels Nice After Cornea burn”
-fenacin	Muscarinic antagonists    ➤ anticholinergics for overactive bladder	Darifenacin Solifenacin	❖ “FENACIN = FENds off pee spasms” ❖ “Fenced-in” visual mnemonics
-floxacin	Fluoroquinolone antibiotics	Ciprofloxacin Levofloxacin	❖ "FLOX through DNA"
-giline	Monoamine Oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitors	Selegiline Rasagiline	❖ "GILINE = Giving dopamine Life IN Extra-time"
-gliflozin	SGLT2 inhibitors   ➤ diabetes meds	Dapagliflozin Empagliflozin	❖ "FLOZIN = Glucose flows in urine” ❖ “-in” for inhibitor
-gliptin	DPP-4 inhibitors   ➤ diabetes meds	Sitagliptin Linagliptin Saxagliptin	❖ "The opposite of LIPTON sweet tea” → Teabag visual mnemonics  ❖ “-GLiPtIN = GLP-1 intact”
-glitazone	TZDs   ➤ diabetes meds	Pioglitazone Rosiglitazone	❖ "GLITAZONE = Glucose Into Tissues, Activating Zones" ❖ “Glitter zone” visual mnemonic
-idone	Atypical antipsychotics	Risperidone Ziprasidone Lurasidone Ziprasidone  Iloperidone	❖ "Delusions? I’m DONE!” ❖ Atypical = not a typical D2 dopamine receptor-blocking antipsychotic
-ipramine	Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)	Imipramine Desipramine	❖ TCAs are the -triptylines and -ipramines
-lamide	Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs)     ➤ glaucoma meds	acetazolamide brinzolamide dorzolamide	❖ “LAMIDE = Lowers Alkali, Minimal Diuresis” – oral CAIs are mild diuretics that cause bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) loss in urine
-lutamide	Antiandrogens	Enzalutamide Bicalutamide	❖ "LUTAMIDE = Locks Up Testosterone, Tamed”
-mab*	Monoclonal antibodies	See -umab, -ximab, -zumab	❖ "MAB = Monoclonal AntiBody” ❖ “Maybe” in mnemonic phrases
-micin / -mycin	Macrolide or aminoglycoside antibiotics	Gentamicin Azithromycin Clarithromycin Erythromycin	❖ "-Mycin = Might kill microbes” ❖ “Mice in there” visual mnemonics
-mustine	Alkylating agents   ➤ antineoplastic (cancer)	Carmustine Lomustine	❖ “MUSTard gas for cancer” ❖ “MUST kill DNA = alkylating damage”
-nib	Tyrosine kinase inhibitors   ➤ cancer meds	Imatinib Osimertinib	❖ "NIB = Nibbles cell signals” ❖ “Nibbler” visual mnemonics
-nidine	Alpha-2 agonists   ➤ BP meds   ➤ muscle relaxants	Clonidine Tizanidine	❖ Derived from guanine, originally isolated from guano (bird/bat droppings) ❖ “-nidine = Nighttime BP down”
-olol	Beta blockers   ➤ Blood pressure meds	Metoprolol Propranolol	❖ "LOLs lower pressure" ❖ Jester’s hat visual mnemonics
-olone	Corticosteroids	Prednisolone Triamcinolone	❖ “-ONE = Owns inflammation”
-onide	Corticosteroids	Budesonide Fluocinonide	❖ “NIDE = Neutralizes Inflammatory Dermatitis & Edema”
-osin	Αlpha-1 Blockers   ➤ BP meds   ➤ Benign prostatic        hypertrophy (BPH) meds	Prazosin Tamsulosin Doxazosin  Terazosin	❖ An invented suffix with no Latin root ❖ “-osin = Open Sphincter in BPH” (urinary sphincter, allowing urine flow) ❖ “Block α1, or sin”
-oxetine	SNRIs / SSRIs	Fluoxetine Duloxetine	❖ "XETINE = eXiting depression" ❖ “OXETINE = OXygenates mood”
-parin	Anticoagulants   ➤ “blood thinners”	Heparin Enoxaparin	❖ “PARIN = Prevents ARterial INfarcts”
-phenir amine	Antihistamines	Pheniramine  Bromphenir- amine	❖ “PHENIRAMINE = Phenyl + Amine  ❖ “Phenomenally Itchy? Relief Arrives” ❖ “Phriendly to runny nose”
-phylline	Methylxanthines   ➤ bronchodilator	Theophylline Aminophylline	❖ “Feline” visual mnemonics
-piprazole	Partial D2 agonist antipsychotics	Aripiprazole Brexpiprazole	❖ "PIPRAZOLE = Partially Inhibits Psychosis Response"
-prazole	Proton pump inhibitors (stomach acid reducers)	Pantoprazole Omeprazole	❖ "Protons? ¡Olé! ...and they’re gone”
-pril	Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors       ➤ blood pressure (BP) meds	Lisinopril Enalapril Benazepril Quinipril	❖ "April = ACE season" ❖ Easter-themed visual mnemonics  ❖ Latin prilus = attached, because ACE inhibitors bind the enzyme
-profen	Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)	Ibuprofen Ketoprofen  Flurbiprofen	❖ “Proficient pain meds” ❖ “PROFEN = PROstaglandin ENemy” ❖ From propionic acid ❖ “The N said...” visual mnemonics
-relin	Hypothalamic-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists	Goserelin Sermorelin	❖ "RELIN = RELeasing hormone in LINe" ❖ “RELeasing LINe = endocrine stimulator”
-rubicin	Antineoplastic    ➤  Cancer meds	Doxorubicin Idarubicin	❖ “BICIN = Biocidal” – kill cancer cells ❖ “Rude Bison” (buffalo) mascots
-sartan	Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)    ➤ BP meds	Losartan Valsartan Olmesartan  Telmisartan	❖ "SAR(t)AN" → Selective Angiotensin Receptor Antagonist  ❖ The “satans” visual mnemonics
-semide	Loop diuretics   ➤ “water pills”	Furosemide Torsemide	❖ “SEMIDE = See my pee!” ❖ “SEMIDE = Sodium Excretion with My Diuretic”
-sone	Steroids	Prednisone Fluticasone	❖ Steroids “own” inflammation!
-statin	Lipid-lowering agents	Atorvastatin Simvastatin Rosuvastatin	❖ “Statins flatten fat-in arteries” ❖ From Latin “statere” (to stop)  ❖ “-in” for inhibitor
-stigmine	Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors	Neostigmine Rivastigmine	❖ "STIGMINE = Strengthens acetylcholine" ❖ “STIGMINE = Stops acetylcholine’s grim end”
-terol	Beta-2 agonists       ➤ bronchodilators	Albuterol Salmeterol	❖ “TEROL = Take air" ❖ “TEROL = Two lungs, air rolls in”
-tide	GLP-1 agonists   ➤ diabetes meds	Semaglutide Liraglutide	❖ "GLUTIDE = glue tide / glucose tide”
-tidine	H2 antihistamines    ➤ stomach acid reducers	Ranitidine Famotidine	❖ "To dine (without acid)”
-triptan	Migraine relievers	Sumatriptan Rizatriptan	❖ "Tripped on” visual mnemonics  ❖ “Tript” from tryptamine-like structure
-triptyline	Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)	Amitriptyline Nortriptyline	❖ "TRIPtyline = Trippy antidepressant" ❖ From 3-ringed cyclic structure
-umab	Fully human monoclonal antibody	Adalimumab Dupilumab	❖ "u = you = human"
-vir	Antivirals	Acyclovir Oseltamivir	❖ From “virus”
-vudine	Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs)    ➤ HIV meds	Lamivudine Stavudine Telbivudine Zidovudine	❖ “VUDINE = Viral Unzipping INhibitor” → Unzipping is a metaphor for reading/copying the viral RNA into DNA ❖ TelBivudine is for hepatitis B, not for HIV
-xaban	Direct Factor Xa Inhibitors   ➤ Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs)	Apixaban Rivaroxaban Edoxaban	❖ “Bandana-wearing mascots = ‘Xa is banned’”
-ximab	Chimeric monoclonal antibody	Rituximab Abciximab	❖ Chimeric (mouse/human hybrid) ❖ "xi = mixy"
-zepam	Benzodiazepines   ➤ sedatives   ➤ anxiety meds	Lorazepam  Diazepam Clonazepam  Temazepam	❖ "Benzo – never been so calm”  ❖ PAM for Positive Allosteric Modulator (of GABA-A receptors) ❖ “PAM = Peace And Muscle-relaxation”
-zodone	Mixed-action antidepressants	Trazodone Nefazodone Vilazodone	❖ "ZODONE = Zzz + serotonin tone"
-zolam	Benzodiazepines   ➤ sedatives   ➤ anxiety meds	Alprazolam  Midazolam Triazolam	❖ -zolam  benzos are generally shorter-acting than -zepam benzos ❖ “ZOLAM = ZOnes Out LAst Minute stress”
-zumab	Humanized monoclonal antibody	Trastuzumab Lebrikizumab Ocrelizumab	❖ Mostly human, some mouse ❖ "zu = zoo = human in a zoo (still mostly human)”

*In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) revised monoclonal antibody naming conventions, retiring the traditional “-mab” suffix. It was replaced with more descriptive stems such as:

 ❖  “-tug” for unmodified immunoglobulins

 ❖ “-bart” for engineered/artificial antibodies

 ❖ “-mig” for multispecific antibodies

 ❖ “-ment” for antibody fragments lacking an Fc region

This change does not apply retroactively—existing “-mab” antibodies retain their original names.

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