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 |
---|---|---|
โac | NSAID (acetic acid derivatives) | bromfenac, dexpemedolac |
โadolโ | mixed opiate receptor agonists/antagonists | levonantradol, spiradoline, tazadolene |
โafil | Inhibitor of PDE5 with vasodilator action | sildenafil (viagra), tadalafil |
โalol | Combined alpha and beta blockers | labetalol, medroxalol |
โandrโ | Androgens | nandrolone |
โanib | Angiogenesis inhibitors (inhibits growth of new blood vessels) | Pazopanib, Vandetanib |
โanserin | Serotonin 5โHT(sub)2 receptor antagonists | altanserin, tropanserin |
โarabine | Antineoplastics (arabinofuranosyl derivatives) | fludarabine |
โase | Enzymes | alglucerase, dornase alfa |
โatadine | Tricyclic antiasthmatics | olopatadine, loratadine |
โaxine | Antianxiety, antidepressant | venlafaxine |
โazenil | Benzodiazepine receptor agonists/antagonists | bretazenil, flumazenil |
โazepam | Antianxiety agents (diazepam type) | lorazepam, diazepam |
โazepide | Cholecystokinin receptor antagonists | devazepide |
โazocine | Narcotic antagonists/agonists | quadazocine, ketazocine |
โazoline | Antihistamines/local vasoconstrictors | antazoline |
โazosin | Antihypertensives (prazosin type) | doxazosin |
โbactam | Betaโlactamase inhibitors | sulbactam |
โbamate | Tranquilizers/antiepileptics | meprobamate, felbamate |
โbarbโ | Barbituric acid derivatives | phenobarbital, secobarbital |
โbersat | Anticonvulsants; antimigraine | carabersat; tidembersat |
โbufen | NSAID (fenbufen derivatives) | indobufen |
โbutan | Antiseptics | dapabutan, lopbutan |
โbutazone | Antiโinflammatory analgesics (phenylbutazone type) | mofebutazone |
โcaine | Local anesthetics | lidocaine, dibucaine |
โcarbef | Antibiotics (carbacephem derivatives) | loracarbef |
โcillin | Penicillins | ampicillin, penicillin, oxacillin |
โcog | blood coagulation factors | eptacog alfa, nonacog alfa, octocog alfa |
โconazole | Antifungals (miconazole type) | fluconazole, oxiconazole |
โcortโ | Cortisone derivatives | hydrocortisone |
โcurium | Neuromuscular blocking agents | atracurium |
โcycline | Antibiotics (tetracycline type) | minocycline, tetracycline |
โdralazine | Antihypertensives (hydrazineโphthalazines) | hydralazine |
โdronate | Calcium metabolism regulators | etidronate, tiludronate |
โectin | Antiparasitics (ivermectin type) | doramectin, moxidectin |
โergโ | Ergot alkaloid derivatives | pergolide |
โetanide | Diuretics | bumetanide |
โfenamic acid | Anti-inflammatory agents | mefenamic acid, flufenamic acid |
โfentanil | Narcotic analgesics | alfentanil, mirfentanil |
โfibrate | Antihyperlipidemics | bezafibrate |
โflurane | Inhalation anesthetics | enflurane, isoflurane |
โgestโ | Progestins | megestrol |
โgiline | MAO-inhibitors, type B | selegiline |
โgillin | Antibiotics (aspergillus strains) | mitogillin |
โgliptin | Antihyperglycemics | vildagliptin |
โglitazar | Antihyperglycemics, PPRA agonists | farglitazar |
โglizatone | Antihyperglycemics, PPST agonists | ciglitazone, rosiglitazone |
โgrelโ | Platelet aggregation inhibitor | clopidogrel, ticagrelor |
โimex | Immunostimulants | forfenimex, roquinimex |
โimus | Immunosuppresives | tacrolimus, napirimus, gusperimus |
โirudin | Anticoagulants | desirudin |
โleukin | Interleukinโ2 derivatives | teceleukin, aldesleukin |
โlukast | Leukotriene antagonists | montelukast, zafirlukast |
โmab | Monoclonal antibodies | capromab, daclizumab, detumomab |
โmantadine | Antivirals | rimantadine |
โmilast | Antiasthmatics/antiallergics; type IV phosphodiesterase inhibitors | piclamilast |
โmonam | Monobactam antibiotics | gloximonam |
โmustine | Antineoplastics | carmustine |
โmycin | Antibiotics (streptomyces strains) | lincomycin |
โolol | Betaโblockers (propranolol type) | timolol, atenolol |
โolone | Steroids (no prednisone derivatives) | minaxolone |
โorphan | Narcotic antagonists/agonists | methrophan, dextrorphan |
โoxacin | Antibiotics (quinolone derivatives) | difloxacin, ciprofloxacin |
โoxetine | Antidepressants | duloxetine, reboxetine |
โpamide | Diuretics (sulfamoylbenzoic acid derivatives) | adipamide |
โpamil | Coronary vasodilators | tiapamil |
โparin | Heparin derivatives | heparin, tinzaparin, dalteparin |
โperidol | Antipsychotics (haloperidol type) | haloperidol |
โperidone | Antispsychotics (risperidone type) | risperidone, iloperidone |
โpidem | Hypnotics/sedatives (zolpidem) | zolpidem, alpidem |
โpiridine | Cognition enhancers | linopiridine, besipiridine |
โpoetin | Erythropoietins | epoetin alfa, epoetin beta |
โpramine | Antidepressants (imipramine type) | lofepramine |
โprazole | Proton-pump inhibitor | omeprazole, lansoprazole |
โpredโ | Prednisone derivatives | prednicarbate, cloprednol |
โpril | Antihypertensives (ACE inhibitors) | captopril, temocapril, spirapril |
โprofen | Antiโinflammatory/analgesic agents (ibuprofen type) | flurbiprofen |
โprostโ | Prostaglandin analogue | latanoprost, unoprostone |
โrubicin | Antineoplastic antibiotics (daunorubicin type) | epirubicin, idarubicin |
โsartan | Angiotensin II receptor antagonists | losartan, eprosartan |
โstatin | Renal dehydropeptidase inhibitor pepsin inhibitor | cilastatin, pepstatin |
โsterโ | Steroids (androgens, anabolics) | testosterone |
โsulfa | Antibiotics (sulfonamide derivatives) | sulfasalazine |
โtegrast | Antiasthmatics/antiallergics; integrin antagonists | valategrast |
โterol | Bronchodilators (phenethylamine derivatives) | albuterol |
โthiazide | Diuretics (thiazide derivatives) | chlorothiazide |
โtide | peptides and glycopeptides | Nesiritide, Octreotide |
โtocin | Oxytocin derivatives | oxytocin, pitocin |
โtrexate | Antimetabolites (folic acid derivatives) | methotrexate |
โtriptyline | Antidepressants | amitriptyline |
โtrodast | Antiasthmatics/antiallergics; thromboxane A2 receptor antagonists | seratrodast |
โuracil | Uracil derivatives used as thyroid antagonists and as antineoplastics | fluorouracil |
โvastatin | Antihyperlipidemics (HMGโCoA inhibitors) | lovastatin, simvastatin |
โzolast | Antiasthmatics/antiallergics; benzoxazole derivatives | eclazolast, ontazolast |
โzumab | humanized antibodies | natalizumab, bevacizumab |
bolโ, โbolโ | Anabolic steroids | bolandiol, mibolerone |
cefโ | Cephalosporins (first-gen) | cefazolin |
estrโ | 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 #1 BEST SELLER!
Test-yourself review cards put critical clinical information for nearly 400 of the top generic medications at your fingertips. And, you can count on them for accuracy, because each card is based on content from Davis’s Drug Guide for Nurses. Increase your test scores in pharmacology class.

Focus on Pharmacology (8th Edition)
Focus on Nursing Pharmacology makes challenging concepts more approachable. Engaging learning features cultivate your clinical application, critical thinking and patient education capabilities. This updated 8th edition builds on your knowledge of physiology, chemistry and nursing fundamentals to help you conceptualize need-to-know information about each group of drugs.

Pharmacology Made Incredibly Easy (Incredibly Easy! Seriesยฎ)
Nursing pharmacology guide offers step-by-step guidance so you can grasp the fundamentals in enjoyable Incredibly Easy style. This is the perfect supplement to class materials, offering solid preparation for NCLEXยฎ as well as a handy refresher for experienced nurses. Colorfully illustrated chapters offer clear, concise descriptions of crucial nursing pharmacology concepts and procedures.

Lehne’s Pharmacology for Nursing Care (11th Edition)
The Eleventh Edition of Lehne’s Pharmacology for Nursing Care provides a thorough understanding of key drugs and their implications for nursing care. This text, written by renowned nursing educators, helps you comprehend and apply pharmacology principles. A clear and engaging writing style simplifies complex concepts, making even the most challenging pharmacology content enjoyable. We recommend this book if you want a comprehensive nursing pharmacology guide.

Nursing Drug Handbook
Nursing2023 Drug Handbookโdelivers evidence-based, nursing-focused drug monographs for nearly 3700 generic, brand-name, and combination drugs. With a tabbed, alphabetical organization and a “New Drugs” section, NDH2023 makes it easy to check drug facts on the spot.

Pharmacology and the Nursing Process
The 10th edition of Pharmacology and the Nursing Process offers practical, user-friendly pharmacology information. The photo atlas contains over 100 unique illustrations and photographs depicting drug administration techniques. Updated drug content reflects the most recent FDA drug approvals, withdrawals, and therapeutic uses.

Mosby’s Pharmacology Memory NoteCards: Visual, Mnemonic, and Memory Aids for Nurses
The 6th edition of Mosby’s Pharmacology Memory NoteCards: Visual, Mnemonic, & Memory Aids for Nurses incorporates illustrations and humor to make studying easier and more enjoyable. This unique pharmacology review can be utilized as a spiral-bound notebook or as individual flashcards, making it ideal for mobile study.

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
Thank you so much! :) This will be helpful to my upcoming NCLEX exam. :)
Thank you for your great work.
Thank you.
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Realy, you did a good job. I used a lot of documents.
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Thank U
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I Just wanted to say thank you for everything that you are doing.
Hi Jennifer,
You’re welcome! It’s truly heartening to hear such kind words. If there’s anything more I can do to assist or any questions you have, please feel free to ask. Your support and feedback mean a lot.
Thank you very much Matt