Tips for Remembering Drug Names

(Please note this list is not exhaustive nor is it all inclusive of every drug category) Syllable interpretation Example by generic name -ase, -plase Thrombolytic agent streptokinase anistreoplase -azole Antifungal antimicrobial clotrimazole, miconazole cef-, cephCephalosporin, antibiotic cefazolin, cefazidime -cillin Penicillin, antibiotic Amoxicillin, nafcillin -cycline Tetracycline, antibiotic doxycycline, minocycline -dipine Calcium channel blocker, antianginal, amlodipine, felodipine, nifedipine antihypertensive -dronate Biphosphonate, bone resorption inhibitor alendronate, pamidronate -floxacin Fluoroquinoline, antibiotic ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin -micin, mycin* Aminoglycoside, antibiotic gentamicin, neomycin nitr-, -nitrNitrate, vasodilator, antianginal isosorbide dinitrate, nitroglycerine -olol, -lol Beta adrenergic blocker, atenolol, bisoprolol, nadolol, antihypertensive, antianginal praopranolol, timolol -parin Anticoagulant, heparin or heparinoid ardeparin, danaparoid, enoxaparin -phyline Xanthine type bronchodilator aminophylline, theophylline -prazole Proton pump inhibitor, antiulcer lansoprazole, omeprazole -pril ACE inhibitor, antihypertensive captopril, lisinopril, quinapril sal-, -salContains salicylate (anti-inflammatory) salsalate, sulfasalazine -sartan antihypertensive Candesartan, losartan, valsartan -sone, -lone, Corticosteroid Cortisone, dexamethasone, predprednisolone, prednisone -statin Lipid lowering agent Atorvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin sSulfaSulfonamide, antibiotic sulfacetamide, sulfisoxazole -terol Andrenergic type bronchodilator albuterol, levabuterol, salmetrerol -triptan Vascular headache suppressant almotriptan, naratriptan -vir Antiviral, anti-infective acyclovir, cidofovir, valacyclovir -epam, -zolam Antianxiety, sedative/hypnotic diazepam, lorazepam, alprazolam -zosin Antihypertensive doxazocin, prazosin, terazosin *Does not include erythromycin, azithromycin, or clarithromycin; all of which are macrolide type antibiotics.