Exam aid · Drugs and therapeutics

Drug Name Stems

Recognise a drug's class from its name. Most generic names carry a stem that gives it away.

Tables to memorise

Cover the right-hand column and test yourself before checking.

Stem	Class (example)
-olol	β blockers (atenolol, propranolol)
-alol	α + β blockers (labetalol); carvedilol is similar
-pril	ACE inhibitors (enalapril, ramipril)
-sartan	Angiotensin receptor blockers (losartan)
-dipine	Dihydropyridine CCBs (amlodipine)
-statin	HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (atorvastatin)
-fibrate	PPAR-α agonists (fenofibrate)
-azosin	α1 blockers (prazosin, doxazosin)
-parin	Heparins (enoxaparin, dalteparin)
-xaban	Factor Xa inhibitors (rivaroxaban, apixaban)
-gatran	Direct thrombin inhibitors (dabigatran)
-grel / -grelor	P2Y12 antagonists (clopidogrel, ticagrelor)
-teplase	Thrombolytics (alteplase, tenecteplase)
-semide / -thiazide	Loop / thiazide diuretics (furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide)

Stem	Class (example)
-azepam / -azolam	Benzodiazepines (diazepam, midazolam)
-barbital	Barbiturates (phenobarbital)
-triptyline / -ipramine	Tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, imipramine)
-oxetine / -aline	SSRIs/SNRIs (fluoxetine, sertraline)
-triptan	5-HT1B/1D agonists (sumatriptan)
-setron	5-HT3 antagonists (ondansetron)
-caine	Local anaesthetics (lidocaine, bupivacaine)
-curium / -curonium	Non-depolarising NM blockers (atracurium, rocuronium)
-terol	β2 agonists (salmeterol, formoterol)
-lukast	Leukotriene receptor antagonists (montelukast)
-tropium	Inhaled antimuscarinics (ipratropium, tiotropium)
-peridol / -apine / -idone	Antipsychotics (haloperidol, olanzapine, risperidone)

Stem	Class (example)
-prazole	Proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole)
-tidine	H2 antagonists (famotidine)
-gliptin	DPP-4 inhibitors (sitagliptin)
-gliflozin	SGLT2 inhibitors (empagliflozin)
-glutide	GLP-1 agonists (liraglutide, semaglutide)
-glitazone	Thiazolidinediones (pioglitazone)
-sone / -olone	Corticosteroids (prednisone, prednisolone)
-dronate	Bisphosphonates (alendronate)
-cillin	Penicillins (amoxicillin)
cef- / ceph-	Cephalosporins (ceftriaxone)
-penem	Carbapenems (meropenem)
-floxacin	Fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin)
-mycin / -micin	Macrolides or aminoglycosides (azithromycin, gentamicin)
-cycline	Tetracyclines (doxycycline)
-conazole	Azole antifungals (fluconazole)
-vir	Antivirals (acyclovir, oseltamivir); -navir = protease inhibitors

Stem	Class (example)
-mab	Monoclonal antibodies (rituximab)
-ximab / -zumab / -umab	Chimeric / humanised / human antibodies
-nib	Kinase inhibitors (imatinib, gefitinib)
-tinib	Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (erlotinib)
-zomib	Proteasome inhibitors (bortezomib)
-cept	Receptor fusion proteins (etanercept)
-taxel	Taxanes (paclitaxel, docetaxel)
-rubicin	Anthracyclines (doxorubicin)
-platin	Platinum agents (cisplatin)
-relix / -relin	GnRH antagonists / agonists (degarelix, leuprorelin)

Carvedilol (-dilol) and labetalol (-alol) block both α1 and β receptors.
Salbutamol breaks the -terol rule; its US name albuterol keeps it.
-mycin covers both macrolides (erythromycin) and aminoglycosides (streptomycin); check the drug.
-navir antivirals are HIV protease inhibitors (ritonavir); -vudine are nucleoside analogues (zidovudine).
-ximab = chimeric (rituximab), -zumab = humanised (trastuzumab), -umab = fully human (adalimumab).
Stems are assigned by WHO's INN programme, so they are the same worldwide.

-pril Prevents, -sartan Stops: -pril blocks ACE (prevents angiotensin II formation); -sartan stops it at the AT1 receptor.
Gliptins Gate, Gliflozins Flush: DPP-4 inhibitors raise incretins; SGLT2 inhibitors flush glucose into urine.

Attempt MCQs on these topics while the sheet is fresh. Anything you get wrong goes to your incorrect list for the next round.