Common Medication Prefixes and Suffixes

Prefix/Suffix Class Examples

cef- Cephalosporins cefadroxil, cefaclor, cefixime,

(antibiotics) ceftibuten

ceph- Cephalosporins cephalexin, cephapirin,

(antibiotics) cephradine

cort- Corticosteroids (anti- cortisone

inflammatory)

rifa- Antituberculines rifamate, rifampin, rifapentine,

rifater

sulf- Sulfonamides (antibiotics) sulfadiazine, sulfamethazole,

sulfisoxazole

-actone Potassium-sparing diuretics aldactone, spironolactone

-ane General anesthetics cyclohexane, ethane, fluorane

-ase Thrombolytics (clot-busters) eminase, retavase, streptokinase

-azole Antifungals butoconazole, econazole,

fluconazole
 -azosin Alpha blockers doxazosin, prazosin, terazosin
(adrenergic antagonists)

-barbital Barbiturates (sedative- amobarbital, pentobarbital,

hypnotics) secobarbital

-caine Local anesthetics bupivacaine, cocaine, lidocaine,

xylocaine

-calci- Calcium & vitamin D calciferol, calcitrol, ergocalciferol

supplements

-cillin Penicillins ampicillin, penicillin

-ciclovir Antivirals famciclovir, ganciclovir

-curium Neuromuscular blockers atracurium

-curonium Neuromuscular blockers vecuronium, pipecuronium,

rocuronium

-cycline Tetracyclines (antibiotics) demeclocycline, doxycycline,

minocycline

-cyclovir Antivirals acyclovir, valacyclovir

-dazole Nitroimidazole metronidazole

Antimicrobial

-dipine Calcium channel blockers amlodipine, felodipine, isradipine,

nifedipine

-dronate Biphosphonates alendronate, etidronate,

pamidronate, risedronate

-ergot- Ergotamines (anti- ergotamine,

migraine) dihydroxyergotamine
-floxacin Fluoroquinolones ciprofloxacin, gatifloxacin,
(antibiotics) levofloxacin

-ine Stimulants amphetamine, caffeine,

terbutaline, theophylline

-lam Benzodiazepines alprazolam, midazolam

(anxiolytics)

-lol Beta blockers (adrenergic atenolol, propanolol, sodalol

antagonists)

-lone Corticosteroids (anti- methylprednisolone,

inflammatory) prednisolone, triamcinolone

-micin Aminoglycosides gentamicin

(antibiotics)

-mycin Aminoglycosides/Macrolid erythromycin, tobramycin,

es (antibiotics) vancomycin

-navir HIV/AIDS antivirals amprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir,

ritonavir

-pam Benzodiazepines diazepam, lorazepam

(anxiolytics)

-parin Anticoagulant enoxiparin

-prazole Proton pump inhibitors (anti- lansoprazole, omeprazole,

ulcer) pantoprazole

-pril ACE inhibitors benazepril, captopril, moexipril,

(antihypertensives) quinapril

-profen NSAIDS (anti-inflammatory) fenoprofen, ibuprofen,

ketoprofen

-quine Antiparasitics chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine,

mefloquine
 -sartan Angiotensin-II receptor candesartan, losartan,
antagonists telmisartan, valsartan

-semide Loop Diuretic furosemide

-setron 5-HT3 receptor antagonists dolansetron, granisetron,

(antiemetics) ondansetron

-sone Corticosteroids (anti- cortisone, dexamethasone,

inflammatory) prednisone

-statin HMG-CoA Reductase rosuvastatin

Inhibitor

-stigmine Cholinergics neostigmine, physostigmine,

pyridostigmine

-stine Antineoplastics (anti- carmustine, lomustine,

tumor) vinblastine, vincristine

-terol Bronchodilators albuterol, bitolterol, levalbuterol,

pirbuterol

-thiazide Thiazide Diuretics benzthiazide, hydrochlorothiazide

-tidine H2 receptor antagonists cimetidine, famotidine, nizatidine,

(anti-ulcer) ranitidine

-triptan Anti-migraines naratriptan, rizatriptan

-triptyline Tricyclics (antidepressants) amitriptyline, nortriptyline,

protriptyline

-vir Antivirals abacivir, zanamivir

-vudine HIV/AIDS antivirals lamivudine, stavudine,

zidovudine
-zepam, -zolam Benzodiazepines alprazolam, midazolam
(anxiolytics)

-zine Phenothiazines chlorpromazine, perphenazine,

(antipsychotics, prochlorperazine
antiemetics)
-zoline Nasal decongestants oxymetazoline, zylometazoline

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