Common Drug Stems Cheat Sheet

Drug Class and/or

Drug Stem Examples
Stem Explanation
–alol Combined alpha and beta blockers labetalol, medroxalol
–andr– Androgens nandrolone
Serotonin 5–HT(sub)2 receptor
–anserin altanserin, tropanserin, altanserin
antagonists
Antineoplastics (arabinofuranosyl
–arabine fludarabine
derivatives)
–ase Enzymes alglucerase, dornase alfa
–azepam Antianxiety agents (diazepam type) lorazepam
–azosin Antihypertensives (prazosin type) doxazosin
–bactam Beta–lactamase inhibitors sulbactam
–bamate Tranquilizers/antiepileptics meprobamate, felbamate
–barb Barbituric acid derivatives phenobarbital
Anti–inflammatory analgesics
–butazone mofebutazone
(phenylbutazone type)
–caine Local anesthetics dibucaine
cef– Cephalosporins cefazolin
–cillin Penicillins ampicillin
–conazole Antifungals (miconazole type) fluconazole, oxiconazole
–cort– Cortisone derivatives hydrocortisone
–curium Neuromuscular blocking agents atracurium
–cycline Antibiotics (tetracycline type) minocycline
Antihypertensives (hydrazine–
–dralazine hydralazine
phthalazines)
–erg– Ergot alkaloid derivatives pergolide
estr– Estrogens estrone
–fibrate Antihyperlipidemics bezafibrate
–flurane Inhalation anesthetics enflurane, isoflurane
–gest– Progestins megestrol
–irudin Anticoagulants desirudin
–leukin Interleukin–2 derivatives teceleukin, aldesleukin
–lukast Leukotriene antagonists montelukast, zafirlukast
capromab, daclizumab,
–mab Monoclonal antibodies
detumomab,
–mantadine Antivirals rimantadine
–monam Monobactam antibiotics gloximonam
 Drug Class and/or
Drug Stem Examples
Stem Explanation
–mustine Antineoplastics carmustine
–mycin Antibiotics (streptomyces strains) lincomycin
–olol Beta–blockers (propranolol type) timolol, atenolol
Steroids (no prednisone
–olone minaxolone
derivatives)
–oxacin Antibiotics (quinolone derivatives) difloxacin, ciprofloxacin
Diuretics (sulfamoylbenzoic acid
–pamide adipamide
derivatives)
–pamil Coronary vasodilators tiapamil
Heparin derivatives and low
–parin molecular weight (or heparin, tinzaparin, dalteparin
depolymerized) heparins
–peridol Antipsychotics (haloperidol type) haloperidol
–poetin Erythropoietins epoetin alfa, epoetin beta
–pramine Antidepressants (imipramine type) lofepramine
–pred Prednisone derivatives prednicarbate, cloprednol
–pril Antihypertensives (ACE inhibitors) enalapril, temocapril, spirapril
Anti–inflammatory/analgesic
–profen flurbiprofen
agents (ibuprofen type)
Antineoplastic antibiotics
–rubicin epirubicin, idarubicin
(daunorubicin type)
–sartan Angiotensin II receptor antagonists losartan, eprosartan
Antibiotics (sulfonamide
–sulfa sulfasalazine
derivatives)
–thiazide Diuretics (thiazide derivatives) chlorothiazide
–tocin Oxytocin derivatives oxytocin, pitocin
Antimetabolites (folic acid
–trexate methotrexate
derivatives)
–triptyline Antidepressants amitriptyline
Uracil derivatives used as thyroid
-uracil fluorouracil
antagonists and as antineoplastics
Antihyperlipidemics (HMG–CoA
–vastatin lovastatin, simvastatin
inhibitors)
Antiviral substances (undefined
vir-, -vir- or -vir viroxime, envirodyne, ganciclovir
group)