An individual can identify a non-proprietary drug’s classification by looking at its
prefix, infix and suffix
Which drug classification is a medication if it has the prefix pred- ?
Steroid
The suffix-olol in atenolol indicates the drug is classified as which drug classification?
β-Blocker
Which suffix identifies the medication is a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) and is indicated for depression?
-oxetine
What type of disorder is treated by a drug that has the suffix-toin?
Seizures
Benzodiazepines are indicated for anxiety and have which suffix?
-azepam and -azolam
By which method(s) is(are) drug(s) classified?
Therapeutic , chemical and neurotransmitter
The proper classification name for the -triptan stem is _________ and is indicated for migraine headaches.
serotonin receptor agonist
Which antidepressant drug classification does sertraline belong?
SSRI
What does the prefix “Gli” or “Gly” indicate?
Sugar
The -cycline suffix indicates the drug is classified as a(n)
antibiotic.
Which of the following suffixes indicates that the medication is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug?
-profen
Which of the following suffixes indicates the drug is an antiviral agent?
-cyclovir and -vir
Dutasteride is classified as a _________ and is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasic.
5a-reductase inhibitor
The stem “estr” indicates the drug is a(n)
estrogen.
The “estr” signifies an estrogen component while “gest” indicates a progesterone.
A -semide suffix as in furosemide indicates the drug is a
loop diuretic.
The -mab suffix indicates the medication is a __________ which inhibits the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha to reduce the inflammatory response.
monoclonal antibody
Many new medications are monoclonal antibodies, which often take the -mab suffix. This stands for monoclonal antibody. These have a very complex naming structure that I’ll briefly go over here with infliximab (Remicade) a gastrointestinal medication for Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. This drug inhibits the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha to reduce the inflammatory response.
Why must a pharmacy technician be careful not to confuse -prazole with -piprazole?
-prazole indicates the medication is a proton pump inhibitor while -piprazole is an anti-psychotic
PPIs mainly treat GERD and peptic ulcers and are generally dosed once daily. Over-the-counter products include esomeprazole (Nexium 24HR), lansoprazole (Prevacid 24HR), omeprazole (Prilosec OTC), and omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate (Zegerid OTC). Careful, there are antipsychotic medications aripiprazole (Aricept) and brexpiprazole (Rexulti) that have the -piprazole stem signifying a type of antipsychotic. These look-alike endings may result in confusion.
Which drug classification is used in treating cardiovascular system diseases?
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Sitagliptin (Januvia) is an example of a __________ indicated in the treatment of diabetes.
dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4)
The dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors sitagliptin (Januvia) have the -gliptin stem and is indicated in the treatment of diabetes.
The “cort” in hydrocortisone is an example of a(n)
infix.
This is an infix, the drug stem is in the interior of the medication name.
Which drug classification does levodopa belong in treating Parkinson disease?
Dopamine receptor agonists
The -dopa stem refers to dopamine receptor agonists.
What is the meaning of the acronym RAAS?
Renin angiotensin aldosterone system
Which organizations makes decisions on the drug names?
USAN Council
United States Adopted Names (USAN) Council is the organization that makes decisions on drug names.
The -triptyline stem in amitriptyline relates to the
chemical structure.
The -triptyline stem in amitriptyline relates to its three-ring structure.