Drug suffix list: classes and examples
Use this table as a compact drug suffixes cheat sheet. It combines common endings with one useful prefix pattern. These are learning cues illustrated by the examples shown, not rules that classify every medicine with similar letters.
| Pattern | Class cue | Generic examples |
|---|---|---|
| -pril | ACE inhibitors | lisinopril, benazepril |
| -sartan | Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) | losartan, valsartan |
| -olol | Beta blockers | atenolol, propranolol |
| -dipine | Dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers | amlodipine, nifedipine |
| -statin | HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) | atorvastatin, rosuvastatin |
| -prazole | Proton pump inhibitors | omeprazole, pantoprazole |
| -cillin | Penicillins | amoxicillin |
| cef- / ceph- | Cephalosporins | cefdinir, cephalexin |
| -floxacin | Fluoroquinolones | ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin |
| -cycline | Tetracyclines | doxycycline |
| -gliptin | DPP-4 inhibitors | sitagliptin |
| -gliflozin | SGLT2 inhibitors | dapagliflozin, empagliflozin |
| -glutide | GLP-1 receptor agonists | dulaglutide, semaglutide |
| -glitazone | Thiazolidinediones | pioglitazone |
| -xaban | Direct factor Xa inhibitors | apixaban, rivaroxaban |
| -triptan | Triptans | sumatriptan |
What prefixes and suffixes can tell you
A suffix appears at the end of a word; a prefix appears at the beginning. In pharmacology study, both can help you notice relationships among generic names. The -pril in lisinopril is an ending; the cef- in cefdinir is a beginning.
The pattern usually works on the generic name, not the brand. Lipitor does not show the statin ending, but atorvastatin does. Learn the class clue and the brand–generic pair as connected tasks: Lipitor → atorvastatin → statin.
Some patterns identify a narrower group rather than an entire category. Amlodipine and nifedipine are dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers. Diltiazem and verapamil are also calcium channel blockers, but they do not end in -dipine. The absence of the pattern does not remove them from the broader category.
Many classes also lack one simple pattern. SSRIs and seizure medications are good examples. Use a small name list for those groups instead of trying to find a suffix that will do all the work.
How to study drug suffixes
- Choose three contrasting patternsStart with -pril, -sartan, and -olol. They appear in related coursework but lead to different class labels, so the contrasts are useful.
- Attach a real generic to eachWrite lisinopril—ACE inhibitor, losartan—ARB, and atenolol—beta blocker. Say the full generic rather than memorizing only the ending.
- Add the brandConnect Zestril—lisinopril, Cozaar—losartan, and Tenormin—atenolol. Now each example has a brand, generic, and class.
- Hide a different column each roundFirst recall classes from generics. Next recall generics from brands. Then start with a class and name one example.
- Mix in an exception or contrastAdd carvedilol, a beta blocker whose ending differs from the simple -olol pattern. Explain why it still belongs in the group.
- Return after a gapCheck the same set in a later session before rereading the table. Add more patterns when the first group is distinguishable without hints.
Worked examples
Lisinopril: from ending to class to brand
Look at lisinopril and identify -pril. Recall “ACE inhibitor,” then retrieve a brand: Prinivil or Zestril. If you remember the class but not the brand, keep practicing the pair rather than rereading the suffix rule you already know.
Sitagliptin versus empagliflozin
Both names contain gli-, but the useful patterns are longer. Sitagliptin ends in -gliptin and belongs to the DPP-4 inhibitors; empagliflozin ends in -gliflozin and belongs to the SGLT2 inhibitors. Add Januvia and Jardiance only after making that distinction clear.
Cephalexin versus cefdinir
The ceph- and cef- beginnings point toward cephalosporins. They do not tell you the generation. Add the individual facts: Keflex—cephalexin—first generation; Omnicef—cefdinir—third generation.
Common mistakes when learning drug suffixes
Treating a few letters as a universal rule
Nystatin is an antifungal, not a cholesterol-lowering statin. Aripiprazole is an atypical antipsychotic, not a proton pump inhibitor. Read the whole name and check the actual class when a pattern is ambiguous.
Giving every -mycin drug the same class
Azithromycin is a macrolide; clindamycin is a lincosamide. The similar ending does not identify one shared antibiotic class. Keep the specific class with each example.
Learning only the easy direction
Recognizing -statin in rosuvastatin is easier than recalling rosuvastatin from Crestor. Include both tasks. A suffix chart can organize your study, but it cannot replace learning the brands.
Assuming a pattern tells you how to use a drug
Names can help organize a class. They do not establish dose, formulation, substitution, or which drug belongs in a particular treatment plan. Keep the scope of a suffix exercise clear.