Drug Nomenclature Hints

If it
It is probably a(n) Examples include
contains
-actone Potassium-sparing diuretic aldactone, sprironolactone
-ane General anesthetic cyclohexane, ethane, fluorane
-ase Thombolytic (clot-buster) eminase, retavase, streptokinase
-azole Antifungal butoconazole, econazole, fluconazole
-azosin Alpha blocker (adrenergic antagonist) doxazosin, prazosin, terazosin
-barbital Barbiturates (sedative-hypnotic) amobarbital, pentobarbital, secobarbital
-caine Local anesthetic bupivacaine, cocaine, lidocaine, xylocaine
-calci- Calcium & Vitamin D supplement calciferol, calcitrol, ergocalciferol
cef- Cephalosporin (antibiotic) cefadroxil, cefaclor, cefixime, ceftibuten
ceph- Cephalosporin (antibiotic) cephalexin, cephapirin, cephradine
-ciclovir Antiviral famiciclovir, ganciclovir
-curium Neuromuscular blocker atracurium, doxacurium
-curonium Neuromuscular blocker pancuronium, pepecuronium, rocuronium
-cycline Tetracycline (antibiotic, antibiotic protine synthesis inhibitor) demeclocycline, doxycycline, minocycline
-cyclovir Antiviral acyclovir, valacyclovir
-dipine Calcium channel blocker amlodipine, felodipine, isradipine, nifedipine
-dronate Bisphosphonate alendronate, etidronte, ibandronate, pamidronte
-ergot- Ergotamine (anti-migraine) ergotamine, dihydroxyergotamine
-floxacin Fluoroquinolone (antibiotic) ciprofloxacin, gatifloxacin, levofloxacin
-ine Stimulant amphetamine, caffeine, terbutaline, thophylline
-ipramine Tricyclic antidepressant desipramine, imipramine, trimipramine
-lam Benzodiazepine alpraxolam, midazolam
-lol Beta blocker (adrenergic antagonist) atenolol, propanolol, sodalol
-lone Corticosteroid (anti-inflammatory) methylprednisolone, prednisolone, tramcinolone
-micin Aminoglycoside (antibiotic) gentamicin
-mycin Aminoglycoside/Macrolide (antibiotic) erythromycin, tobramycin, vancomycin
-navir HIV/AIDS antivirals (protease inhibitor) amprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir
-pam Benzodiazepine (anxiolytic) diazepam, lorazepam
-prazole Proton pump inhibitor (anti-ulcer) lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole
-pril ACE inhibitor (antihypertensive) benazepril, captopril, moexipril, quinapril
-profen NSAID (anti-inflammatory) fenoprofen, ibuprofen, ketoprofen
Methylxanthine (bronchodilator, diuretic agent, smooth
-phylline aminophylline, theophylline
muscle relaxant, cardiac muscle/CNS stimulant)
-quine Antiparasitic choroquine, hydroxychloroquine, mefloquine
rifa- Antitubercular rifamate, rifampin, rifapentine, rifater
-sartan Angiotensin-II receptor antagonist candesartan, losartan, telmisartan, valsartan
-setron 5-HT3 receptor antagonist (antiemetic) dolansetron, granisetron, ondansetron
-sone Corticosteroid (anti-inflammatory) cortisone, dexamethasone, prednisone
-stigmine Cholinergic neostigmine, physostigmine, pridostigmine
-stine Antineoplastic (anti-tumor) carmustine, lomustine, vinblastine, vincristine
sulf- Sulfonamide (antibiotic) sulfadiazine, sulfamethazole, sulfisoxazole
-terol Bronchodilator, Beta2 agonist albuterol, bitolterol, lavalbuterol, pirbuterol
-thiazide Potassium-losing diuretic benzthiazide, hydrochlorothiazide
-tidine H2 receptor antagonist (anti-ulcer) cimetidine, famotidine, nizatidine, ranitidine
-triptan Anti-migraine naratriptan, rizatriptan
-triptyline Tricyclic (antidepressant) amitriptyline, mortriptyline, protriptyline
-vastatin Antilipemic (anti-cholesterol) atorvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin
-vir Antiviral abacivir, zanamivir
-vudine HIV/AIDS antiviral lamivudine, stavudine, zidovudine
-zine Phenothiazine (antipsychotic, antiemetic) chloropromazine, perphenazine, prochlorperazine
-zoline Nasal decongestant oxymetazoline, zylometazoline
-zosin postsynaptic alpha 1 antagonist (alpha 1 blocker) doxazosin, prazosin, terazosin