Cheat Sheet for Nurses on Common Drugs, Cheat
Sheet of Pharmacology
Common Drug Name Stems Cheat Sheet
Below is a cheat sheet table that has 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 in the middle of the generic name.
Drug Stem Drug Class and/or Stem Explanation Examples
–alol Combined alpha and beta blockers labetalol, medroxalol
–andr– Androgens nandrolone
–anserin Serotonin 5–HT(sub)2 receptor antagonists altanserin, tropanserin, altanserin
–arabine Antineoplastics (arabinofuranosyl derivatives) fludarabine
–ase Enzymes alglucerase, dornase alfa
–azepam Antianxiety agents (diazepam type) lorazepam
–azosin Antihypertensives (prazosin type) doxazosin
–bactam Beta–lactamase inhibitors sulbactam
–bamate Tranquilizers/antiepileptics meprobamate, felbamate
–barb Barbituric acid derivatives phenobarbital
–butazone Anti–inflammatory analgesics (phenylbutazone type) mofebutazone
–caine Local anesthetics dibucaine
cef– Cephalosporins cefazolin
–cillin Penicillins ampicillin
–conazole Antifungals (miconazole type) fluconazole, oxiconazole
–cort– Cortisone derivatives hydrocortisone
–curium Neuromuscular blocking agents atracurium
–cycline Antibiotics (tetracycline type) minocycline
–dralazine Antihypertensives (hydrazine–phthalazines) hydralazine
–erg– Ergot alkaloid derivative pergolide
Sheet of Pharmacology
Common Drug Name Stems Cheat Sheet
Below is a cheat sheet table that has 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 in the middle of the generic name.
Drug Stem Drug Class and/or Stem Explanation Examples
–alol Combined alpha and beta blockers labetalol, medroxalol
–andr– Androgens nandrolone
–anserin Serotonin 5–HT(sub)2 receptor antagonists altanserin, tropanserin, altanserin
–arabine Antineoplastics (arabinofuranosyl derivatives) fludarabine
–ase Enzymes alglucerase, dornase alfa
–azepam Antianxiety agents (diazepam type) lorazepam
–azosin Antihypertensives (prazosin type) doxazosin
–bactam Beta–lactamase inhibitors sulbactam
–bamate Tranquilizers/antiepileptics meprobamate, felbamate
–barb Barbituric acid derivatives phenobarbital
–butazone Anti–inflammatory analgesics (phenylbutazone type) mofebutazone
–caine Local anesthetics dibucaine
cef– Cephalosporins cefazolin
–cillin Penicillins ampicillin
–conazole Antifungals (miconazole type) fluconazole, oxiconazole
–cort– Cortisone derivatives hydrocortisone
–curium Neuromuscular blocking agents atracurium
–cycline Antibiotics (tetracycline type) minocycline
–dralazine Antihypertensives (hydrazine–phthalazines) hydralazine
–erg– Ergot alkaloid derivative pergolide
