If you’ve ever looked at a drug name on a chart and had no idea what it actually does, you’re not alone. Every generic drug name follows a naming pattern set by the USAN Council, and the ending, or suffix, usually tells you the drug class before you even look anything up. This drug suffix list breaks down the most common endings nursing students and working nurses run into, with the drug class, example medications, and a plain explanation of what each one actually treats. Think of it as a medication suffix list you can actually keep on you instead of digging through a textbook mid-shift.
Each printable table on this page is organized by suffix, class, explanation, and example drugs, so you can scan it fast during clinical or right before an exam. See a drug ending in -afil, like sildenafil? That’s a PDE5 inhibitor with vasodilator action. Once you know the suffix, you don’t need to memorize the individual drug anymore, you already know the family it belongs to and roughly what it’s going to do to your patient.
This drug suffix list pairs well with our Pharmacology Study Sheets if you want to go deeper on mechanisms and dosing, and our Nurse Skills Template for building clinical proficiency. Add the Nursing Clinical Template for practical applications on the floor. If you’re studying by condition rather than by drug class, our Nursing Student Disease Templates connect these drug classes to the diseases they treat, and the Vitals Logs are handy for tracking the side effects you’ll be watching for, like blood pressure drops or a slowing heart rate.
How to Use This Drug Suffix Cheat Sheet
Most generic drug names are built from three parts: a prefix, a root, and a suffix. The suffix is what tells you the class almost every time, which is why it’s the focus of this list. But a few drug families also lean on a recognizable prefix. Cefaclor and cefazolin, for example, both start with “cef-” marking them as cephalosporins, even though their endings differ slightly. Keep an eye on the front of the name too when the suffix alone doesn’t narrow things down enough.
The fastest way to actually retain this stuff is to study by class instead of alphabetically. Learn all the blood pressure suffixes together (-olol, -pril, -sartan, -dipine) as one group rather than jumping around a random list. That’s exactly how we’ve organized the section below, and it’s also how the alphabetical quick reference table further down lets you look up a single drug in seconds once the classes have stuck.
Drug Suffixes by Class
Here are the suffixes you’ll run into the most during clinical rotations, pharmacology exams, and on the NCLEX, grouped by what they treat.
-olol: Beta Blockers
Metoprolol, atenolol, and propranolol all end in -olol. They block beta receptors to slow heart rate and lower blood pressure. Watch for bradycardia and always check pulse before giving a dose.
-pril: ACE Inhibitors
Lisinopril, captopril, and enalapril all end in -pril. ACE inhibitors relax blood vessels by blocking the enzyme that narrows them, which lowers blood pressure and reduces the heart’s workload. The classic side effect to remember is a dry, persistent cough.
-sartan: Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs)
Losartan and valsartan are the two you’ll see most. ARBs work a step further down the same pathway as ACE inhibitors, blocking the receptor instead of the enzyme, and they’re often the swap when a patient can’t tolerate an ACE inhibitor’s cough.
-dipine: Calcium Channel Blockers
Amlodipine and nifedipine relax blood vessel walls by blocking calcium from entering smooth muscle cells. You’ll see these for blood pressure and some arrhythmias. Peripheral edema and flushing are common complaints.
-statin: Cholesterol Medications (HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors)
Atorvastatin and simvastatin lower LDL cholesterol by blocking an enzyme the liver needs to make it. Muscle pain is the side effect patients report most, so ask about it at every follow up.
-azole: Antifungals
Fluconazole and ketoconazole treat fungal infections by disrupting the fungal cell membrane. Liver function is worth monitoring on longer courses.
-cillin: Penicillin Antibiotics
Amoxicillin and ampicillin are the two you’ll administer constantly. Always ask about penicillin allergy before giving anything in this family; a rash or anaphylaxis history changes the whole plan.
-cycline: Tetracycline Antibiotics
Doxycycline and minocycline treat a wide range of infections but shouldn’t be given with dairy, since calcium binds the drug, and aren’t used in pregnancy or young children because of teeth staining.
-floxacin: Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics
Ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin are broad spectrum antibiotics. Tendon rupture risk is the big nursing consideration here, especially in older adults.
-mycin: Macrolide and Aminoglycoside Antibiotics
Azithromycin and erythromycin are macrolides used for respiratory and skin infections. Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside from the same ending family, and it needs peak and trough levels drawn because of kidney and hearing toxicity risk.
Acyclovir and oseltamivir both end in -vir. These interfere with viral replication, acyclovir for herpes family viruses and oseltamivir for influenza.
-prazole: Proton Pump Inhibitors
Omeprazole and pantoprazole reduce stomach acid production for reflux and ulcers. Long term use is linked to lower magnesium and B12, worth flagging on a med review.
-tidine: H2 Blockers
Famotidine also reduces stomach acid, but through a different pathway than the -prazole drugs. It’s a common substitute when a patient needs something gentler or shorter acting.
-pam / -lam: Benzodiazepines
Diazepam, lorazepam, and alprazolam all calm the central nervous system. Respiratory depression is the main risk, especially combined with opioids or alcohol.
-triptan: Migraine Medications
Sumatriptan and rizatriptan narrow blood vessels in the brain to stop a migraine in progress. They’re contraindicated in patients with cardiovascular disease.
-caine: Local Anesthetics
Lidocaine and bupivacaine numb a specific area by blocking nerve signals. You’ll see these constantly for procedures, sutures, and regional blocks.
-done: Opioid Analgesics
Hydrocodone and oxycodone both end in -done. These are strong pain relievers with the same respiratory depression and constipation risks you’d expect from any opioid.
-afil: PDE5 Inhibitors
Sildenafil and tadalafil are vasodilators. Nitrates are an absolute no with anything in this family; the combination can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
-sone / -lone: Corticosteroids
Prednisone and prednisolone suppress inflammation and immune response. Watch blood sugar in diabetic patients, and never stop a longer course abruptly.
-mab: Monoclonal Antibodies
Rituximab and adalimumab are examples of this suffix. These target specific proteins in the immune system and show up often in oncology and autoimmune treatment plans.
Quick Reference: Alphabetical Drug Suffix Table
Once the classes above start to stick, this table is for the moment you’ve got one drug name and need the answer fast. It’s the same suffixes from above, just sorted alphabetically with a quick memory hook for each one.
| Suffix | Drug Class | Example Drug | Memory Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| -afil | PDE5 Inhibitor | Sildenafil | fuller blood flow |
| -azole | Antifungal | Fluconazole | zaps fungus |
| -caine | Local Anesthetic | Lidocaine | can’t feel a thing |
| -cillin | Penicillin Antibiotic | Amoxicillin | ask about the allergy first |
| -cycline | Tetracycline Antibiotic | Doxycycline | skip the dairy |
| -dipine | Calcium Channel Blocker | Amlodipine | dips the pressure |
| -done | Opioid Analgesic | Oxycodone | done with the pain |
| -floxacin | Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic | Ciprofloxacin | watch the tendons |
| -lone / -sone | Corticosteroid | Prednisone | calms the swelling |
| -mab | Monoclonal Antibody | Adalimumab | grabs a target protein |
| -mycin | Macrolide / Aminoglycoside | Azithromycin | mind the drug levels |
| -olol | Beta Blocker | Metoprolol | oh so low, heart rate |
| -pam / -lam | Benzodiazepine | Lorazepam | calm the panic |
| -pril | ACE Inhibitor | Lisinopril | watch for the cough |
| -prazole | Proton Pump Inhibitor | Omeprazole | protects from acid |
| -sartan | ARB | Losartan | swaps in for the cough |
| -statin | Cholesterol Medication | Atorvastatin | stops the cholesterol |
| -tidine | H2 Blocker | Famotidine | tames the acid |
| -triptan | Migraine Medication | Sumatriptan | tightens the vessels |
| -vir | Antiviral | Acyclovir | versus the virus |
How To Download This Free Drug Suffix List Cheat Sheet
Click on the design below that fits how you like to study. It opens as a PDF right in your browser, with 3 pages of drug stems in each version. From there, save it to your phone or laptop, or print it straight from the browser without downloading anything first. All four versions are free for personal use, and you can print as many copies as you want, one for your binder, one for your bag, one to tape inside a locker.
One tip before you print a full set: run a single test page on regular paper first, especially with the shaded or colored versions, so you can check the columns line up and the colors look right before you use your good paper.
