Pharmaceutical Drug Classes and Their Suffixes

Antifungal and Antibacterial-Antiparasitic Drugs

• -azole:
  • Indicates azole-type antifungal or antibacterial-antiparasitic drugs.
  • Examples: fluconazole, metronidazole.

Local Anesthetics

• -caine:
  • Indicates local anesthetics.
  • Examples: lidocaine.

Antimigraine Drugs

• -triptan:
  • Indicates serotonin 5-HT1B/1D agonist antimigraine drugs.
  • Examples: sumatriptan.

Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers

• -sartan:
  • Indicates angiotensin II receptor blockers.
  • Examples: losartan.

COX-2 Inhibitors

• -coxib:
  • Indicates selective COX-2 inhibitors.
  • Examples: celecoxib.

β-Adrenergic Receptor Blockers

• -olol:
  • Indicates β-adrenergic receptor blockers.
  • Examples: propranolol.

α1-Adrenergic Receptor Blockers

• -osin:
  • Indicates α1-adrenergic receptor blockers.
  • Examples: prazosin.

β and α1-Adrenergic Receptor Blockers

• -ilol or -alol:
  • Indicates β-adrenergic receptor blockers that also block α1-adrenergic receptors.
  • Examples: carvedilol, labetalol.

Benzodiazepine Antianxiety Agents or Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs

• -pam or -lam:
  • Indicates benzodiazepine antianxiety agents or sedative-hypnotic drugs.
  • Examples: diazepam, triazolam.

Antiviral Drugs

• -vir:
  • Indicates antiviral drugs.
  • Examples: acyclovir.

Antilipid Drugs

• -statin:
  • Indicates HMG CoA reductase inhibitors antilipid drugs.
  • Examples: lovastatin.

Monoclonal Antibodies

• -mab:
  • Indicates monoclonal antibodies.
  • Examples: infliximab.