drugsuffix

A drug suffix is a common ending attached to the generic (INN) name of a pharmaceutical agent that often signals its therapeutic class or mechanism of action. Suffixes are used in pharmacology and medicine to help identify the expected pharmacology of a drug, aid in naming, and support communication among clinicians and researchers. They are most visible in nonproprietary names and can reflect historical naming conventions as well as contemporary classifications.

Several well-known suffixes illustrate how this system works. -mab denotes monoclonal antibodies, as in adalimumab or rituximab. -nib often indicates small-molecule targeted therapies, such as imatinib or gefitinib. -statin marks HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, like simvastatin. -pril designates ACE inhibitors (for example, enalapril), while -sartan marks angiotensin II receptor blockers (losartan). -olol is used for beta-blockers (propranolol, metoprolol). -prazole signals proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole, pantoprazole). -tidine refers to H2 receptor antagonists (famotidine, ranitidine). -cillin is typical of penicillins (amoxicillin). -cef or -ceph indicate cephalosporins (cephalexin). -cycline covers tetracyclines (doxycycline). -mycin or -micin appear in many antibiotics (erythromycin, gentamicin). -azole occurs in antifungals (fluconazole, itraconazole). -vir is common among antivirals (acyclovir). -glitazone and -glinide denote certain antidiabetic drugs (pioglitazone, repaglinide). -tide is used for peptide drugs and hormone analogs (liraglutide).

Usage and limitations: suffixes aid classification but are not always definitive, as naming conventions vary by region and history, and exceptions exist. They provide a helpful, though not absolute, guide to a drug’s likely class and mechanism.