If you are studying nursing pharmacology, a great way of understanding and memorizing the use and function of medication is to familiarize yourself with its generic name stem. Usually, drugs of the same therapeutic class are given names with the same stem. These stems are mostly placed word-finally (suffix), but in some cases, word-initial (prefix) stems are also used.
Stems are useful for making communication of drugs more precise to avoid prescribing errors. Having an unambiguous standard of names for each drug is important because many different brand names may sell a drug, or a branded medication may contain more than one drug.
Common Drug Stems Cheat Sheet
Below is a cheat sheet table with three columns: Drug Stem, Drug Class, and an Example. Each stem has hyphens at one or both ends of its text to show that it is found at the beginning, end, or middle of the generic name. You can also download the cheat sheet below.
| STEM | DEFINITION | EXAMPLES |
|---|---|---|
| –ac | NSAID (acetic acid derivatives) | bromfenac, dexpemedolac |
| –adol– | mixed opiate receptor agonists/antagonists | levonantradol, spiradoline, tazadolene |
| –afil | Inhibitor of PDE5 with vasodilator action | sildenafil (viagra), tadalafil |
| –alol | Combined alpha and beta blockers | labetalol, medroxalol |
| –andr– | Androgens | nandrolone |
| –anib | Angiogenesis inhibitors (inhibits growth of new blood vessels) | Pazopanib, Vandetanib |
| –anserin | Serotonin 5–HT(sub)2 receptor antagonists | altanserin, tropanserin |
| –arabine | Antineoplastics (arabinofuranosyl derivatives) | fludarabine |
| –ase | Enzymes | alglucerase, dornase alfa |
| –atadine | Tricyclic antiasthmatics | olopatadine, loratadine |
| –axine | Antianxiety, antidepressant | venlafaxine |
| –azenil | Benzodiazepine receptor agonists/antagonists | bretazenil, flumazenil |
| –azepam | Antianxiety agents (diazepam type) | lorazepam, diazepam |
| –azepide | Cholecystokinin receptor antagonists | devazepide |
| –azocine | Narcotic antagonists/agonists | quadazocine, ketazocine |
| –azoline | Antihistamines/local vasoconstrictors | antazoline |
| –azosin | Antihypertensives (prazosin type) | doxazosin |
| –bactam | Beta–lactamase inhibitors | sulbactam |
| –bamate | Tranquilizers/antiepileptics | meprobamate, felbamate |
| –barb– | Barbituric acid derivatives | phenobarbital, secobarbital |
| –bersat | Anticonvulsants; antimigraine | carabersat; tidembersat |
| –bufen | NSAID (fenbufen derivatives) | indobufen |
| –butan | Antiseptics | dapabutan, lopbutan |
| –butazone | Anti–inflammatory analgesics (phenylbutazone type) | mofebutazone |
| –caine | Local anesthetics | lidocaine, dibucaine |
| –carbef | Antibiotics (carbacephem derivatives) | loracarbef |
| –cillin | Penicillins | ampicillin, penicillin, oxacillin |
| –cog | blood coagulation factors | eptacog alfa, nonacog alfa, octocog alfa |
| –conazole | Antifungals (miconazole type) | fluconazole, oxiconazole |
| –cort– | Cortisone derivatives | hydrocortisone |
| –curium | Neuromuscular blocking agents | atracurium |
| –cycline | Antibiotics (tetracycline type) | minocycline, tetracycline |
| –dralazine | Antihypertensives (hydrazine–phthalazines) | hydralazine |
| –dronate | Calcium metabolism regulators | etidronate, tiludronate |
| –ectin | Antiparasitics (ivermectin type) | doramectin, moxidectin |
| –erg– | Ergot alkaloid derivatives | pergolide |
| –etanide | Diuretics | bumetanide |
| –fenamic acid | Anti-inflammatory agents | mefenamic acid, flufenamic acid |
| –fentanil | Narcotic analgesics | alfentanil, mirfentanil |
| –fibrate | Antihyperlipidemics | bezafibrate |
| –flurane | Inhalation anesthetics | enflurane, isoflurane |
| –gest– | Progestins | megestrol |
| –giline | MAO-inhibitors, type B | selegiline |
| –gillin | Antibiotics (aspergillus strains) | mitogillin |
| –gliptin | Antihyperglycemics | vildagliptin |
| –glitazar | Antihyperglycemics, PPRA agonists | farglitazar |
| –glizatone | Antihyperglycemics, PPST agonists | ciglitazone, rosiglitazone |
| –grel– | Platelet aggregation inhibitor | clopidogrel, ticagrelor |
| –imex | Immunostimulants | forfenimex, roquinimex |
| –imus | Immunosuppresives | tacrolimus, napirimus, gusperimus |
| –irudin | Anticoagulants | desirudin |
| –leukin | Interleukin–2 derivatives | teceleukin, aldesleukin |
| –lukast | Leukotriene antagonists | montelukast, zafirlukast |
| –mab | Monoclonal antibodies | capromab, daclizumab, detumomab |
| –mantadine | Antivirals | rimantadine |
| –milast | Antiasthmatics/antiallergics; type IV phosphodiesterase inhibitors | piclamilast |
| –monam | Monobactam antibiotics | gloximonam |
| –mustine | Antineoplastics | carmustine |
| –mycin | Antibiotics (streptomyces strains) | lincomycin |
| –olol | Beta–blockers (propranolol type) | timolol, atenolol |
| –olone | Steroids (no prednisone derivatives) | minaxolone |
| –orphan | Narcotic antagonists/agonists | methrophan, dextrorphan |
| –oxacin | Antibiotics (quinolone derivatives) | difloxacin, ciprofloxacin |
| –oxetine | Antidepressants | duloxetine, reboxetine |
| –pamide | Diuretics (sulfamoylbenzoic acid derivatives) | adipamide |
| –pamil | Coronary vasodilators | tiapamil |
| –parin | Heparin derivatives | heparin, tinzaparin, dalteparin |
| –peridol | Antipsychotics (haloperidol type) | haloperidol |
| –peridone | Antispsychotics (risperidone type) | risperidone, iloperidone |
| –pidem | Hypnotics/sedatives (zolpidem) | zolpidem, alpidem |
| –piridine | Cognition enhancers | linopiridine, besipiridine |
| –poetin | Erythropoietins | epoetin alfa, epoetin beta |
| –pramine | Antidepressants (imipramine type) | lofepramine |
| –prazole | Proton-pump inhibitor | omeprazole, lansoprazole |
| –pred– | Prednisone derivatives | prednicarbate, cloprednol |
| –pril | Antihypertensives (ACE inhibitors) | captopril, temocapril, spirapril |
| –profen | Anti–inflammatory/analgesic agents (ibuprofen type) | flurbiprofen |
| –prost– | Prostaglandin analogue | latanoprost, unoprostone |
| –rubicin | Antineoplastic antibiotics (daunorubicin type) | epirubicin, idarubicin |
| –sartan | Angiotensin II receptor antagonists | losartan, eprosartan |
| –statin | Renal dehydropeptidase inhibitor pepsin inhibitor | cilastatin, pepstatin |
| –ster– | Steroids (androgens, anabolics) | testosterone |
| –sulfa | Antibiotics (sulfonamide derivatives) | sulfasalazine |
| –tegrast | Antiasthmatics/antiallergics; integrin antagonists | valategrast |
| –terol | Bronchodilators (phenethylamine derivatives) | albuterol |
| –thiazide | Diuretics (thiazide derivatives) | chlorothiazide |
| –tide | peptides and glycopeptides | Nesiritide, Octreotide |
| –tocin | Oxytocin derivatives | oxytocin, pitocin |
| –trexate | Antimetabolites (folic acid derivatives) | methotrexate |
| –triptyline | Antidepressants | amitriptyline |
| –trodast | Antiasthmatics/antiallergics; thromboxane A2 receptor antagonists | seratrodast |
| –uracil | Uracil derivatives used as thyroid antagonists and as antineoplastics | fluorouracil |
| –vastatin | Antihyperlipidemics (HMG–CoA inhibitors) | lovastatin, simvastatin |
| –zolast | Antiasthmatics/antiallergics; benzoxazole derivatives | eclazolast, ontazolast |
| –zumab | humanized antibodies | natalizumab, bevacizumab |
| bol–, –bol– | Anabolic steroids | bolandiol, mibolerone |
| cef– | Cephalosporins (first-gen) | cefazolin |
| estr– | Estrogens | estrone |
| vir-, -vir- or -vir | Antiviral substances (undefined group) | viroxime, envirodyne, ganciclovir |
Download Drug Stem Cheat Sheet
Need to download our drug stem cheat sheets? Click on the images below to see the high-quality resolution of the image. Please feel free to print, share, and use it in your presentation or reports!
Recommended Resources
Our recommended nursing pharmacology resources and books:
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Pharm Phlash! Pharmacology Flash Cards
Pocket-size flash cards covering drug classes, actions, side effects, and nursing considerations. The 2023 edition is handy for quick review between classes and clinicals.
Karch’s Focus on Nursing Pharmacology
The 2026 edition of this easy-to-follow nursing pharmacology text, organized by body system with a focus on safe medication administration and client teaching.
Pharmacology Made Incredibly Easy!
The 2026 edition of the Incredibly Easy! series breaks down drug classes with cartoons, memory aids, and quick-review checkpoints.
Lehne’s Pharmacology for Nursing Care
A comprehensive pharmacology text (2024 edition) that explains how drugs work and connects each drug class to nursing implications and client safety.
Nursing2027-2028 Drug Handbook
The newest edition of the Nursing Drug Handbook, with up-to-date monographs on dosing, adverse reactions, and nursing considerations for thousands of drugs.
Davis’s Drug Guide for Nurses
The 2026 edition of this trusted drug reference, with clear monographs, high-alert warnings, and client teaching points for each medication.
Mosby’s Pharmacology Memory NoteCards
Visual, mnemonic, and memory aids for nursing pharmacology (2024 edition). Great for remembering drug classes and key side effects for exams and the NCLEX.
See Also
Here are other nursing pharmacology study guides:
- Nursing Pharmacology – Study Guide for Nurses
Our collection of topics related to nursing pharmacology - Pharmacology Nursing Mnemonics & Tips
These nursing mnemonics aim to simplify the concepts of pharmacology through the use of a simple, concise guide. - Generic Drug Name Stems Cheat Sheet
Learn about these generic drug name stems to help you make sense of drugs easier! - Common Drugs and Their Antidotes
A guide to drug antidotes that nurses should be familiar about. - IV Fluids and Solutions Guide & Cheat Sheet
Get to know the different types of intravenous solutions or IV fluids in this guide and cheat sheet. - Drug Dosage Calculations NCLEX Practice Questions (100+ Items)
Care to take the challenge? This quiz aims to help students and registered nurses alike grasp and master the concepts of medication calculation.
We have a pill for that…
Drug Guides NEW!
Individual drug guides and nursing considerations for the most common medications used in nursing pharmacology:
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Aspirin
- Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
- Enoxaparin (Lovenox)
- Furosemide (Lasix)
- Gabapentin
- Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
- Lisinopril
- Metoprolol
- Morphine
Gastrointestinal System Drugs
Respiratory System Drugs
- Antihistamines
- Bronchodilators and Antiasthmatics
- Decongestants
- Expectorants and Mucolytics
- Inhaled Steroids
- Lung Surfactants
Endocrine System Drugs
- Adrenocortical Agents
- Antidiabetic Agents
- Glucose-Elevating Agents
- Hypothalamic Agents
- Insulin
- Parathyroid Agents: Bisphosphonates, Calcitonins
- Pituitary Drugs
- Sulfonylureas
- Thyroid Agents
Autonomic Nervous System Drugs
- Adrenergic Agonists (Sympathomimetics)
- Adrenergic Antagonists (Sympatholytics)
- Anticholinergics (Parasympatholytics)
- Cholinergic Agonists (Parasympathomimetics)
Immune System Drugs
Chemotherapeutic Agents
- Anthelmintics
- Anti-Infective Drugs
- Antibiotics
- Antifungals
- Antineoplastic Agents
- Antiprotozoal Drugs
- Antiviral Drugs
Reproductive System Drugs
Nervous System Drugs
- Antidepressants
- Antiparkinsonism Drugs
- Antiseizure Drugs
- Anxiolytics and Hypnotic Drugs
- General and Local Anesthetics
- Muscle Relaxants
- Narcotics, Narcotic Agonists, and Antimigraine Agents
- Neuromuscular Junction Blocking Agents
- Psychotherapeutic Drugs
Cardiovascular System Drugs
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