Common Drug Suffixes (Part 1)

By taking this quiz, you will become familiar with the common suffixes of drugs. When you have this understanding, you will be able to recognize a drug class and its use.

Quick Review for the Quiz
Suffix Clinical Use Sample Generic Drugs
-afil erectile dysfunction avanafil, sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil
-bicin anticancer doxorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin, valrubicin
-caine local anesthesia bupivacaine, lidocaine, mepivacaine, prilocaine, proparacaine
-gliptin antidiabetic saxagliptin, sitagliptin, linagliptin
-glitazone antidiabetic pioglitazone, rosiglitazone, troglitazone
-mustine anticancer carmustine, estramustine, lomustine, bendamustine
-olone anti-inflammatory fluocinolone, fluorometholone, prednisolone, triamcinolone
-phylline bronchodilator (anti-asthma) aminophylline, dyphylline, oxtriphylline, theophylline
-statin lower cholesterol atorvastatin, lovastatin, pitavastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin
-zepam tranquilizers (anti-anxiety) clonazepam, diazepam, flurazepam, lorazepam, temazepam

  • Question of

    Suffix for corticosteroids.

    • -olone
    • -lamide
    • -caine
    • -eprazole

    Correct Wrong

    -olone is a suffix term for corticosteroids. Corticosteroids treat inflammation. Drugs such as fluocinolone (shown in the image), fluorometholone, prednisolone and triamcinolone are some examples of corticosteroids.

  • Question of

    Suffix for antidiabetic; thiazolidinedione.

    • -glitazone
    • -mustine
    • -ridone
    • -bital

    Correct Wrong

    -glitazone is a suffix term for thiazolidinedione.  Thiazolidinedione (TZD) is an oral antidiabetic drug. Drugs such as pioglitazone (shown in the image), rosiglitazone and troglitazone are some examples of thiazolidinedione.

  • Question of

    Suffix for antineoplastic; cytotoxic agent.

    • -bicin
    • -sartan
    • -olol
    • -dronate

    Correct Wrong

    -bicin is a suffix term for cytotoxic drugs. Cytotoxic drug is an antineoplastic (anticancer) type of drug that kills cells, including cancer cells. Drugs such as doxorubicin (shown in the image), epirubicin, idarubicin and valrubicin are some examples of cytotoxic.

  • Question of

    Suffix for phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor.

    • -afil
    • -thiazide
    • -tyline
    • -mustine

    Correct Wrong

    -afil is a suffix term for phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor. Phosphodiesterase inhibitors are commonly used in the treatment and management of erectile dysfunction (ED). Drugs such as avanafil (shown in the image), sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil are some examples of phosphodiesterase inhibitor.

  • Question of

    Suffix for benzodiazepine.

    • -zepam
    • -mab
    • -floxacin
    • -zepam

    Correct Wrong

    -zepam is a suffix term for benzodiazepine.  Benzodiazepines are a class of medication known as tranquilizers that are primarily used to deal with anxiety. Drugs such as clonazepam (shown in the image), diazepam, flurazepam, lorazepam and temazepam are some examples of benzodiazepines.

  • Question of

    Suffix for xanthine derivative (bronchodilator).

    • -phylline
    • -dipine
    • -sartan
    • -mab

    Correct Wrong

    -phylline is a suffix term for xanthine derivative (bronchodilator).  Xanthine derivatives are bronchodilators, medications used to treat bronchospasm caused by lung conditions such as asthma. Drugs such as aminophylline (shown in the image), dyphylline, oxtriphylline and theophylline are some examples of xanthine derivatives.

  • Question of

    Suffix for an alkylating agent (antineoplastic).

    • -mustine
    • -vudine
    • -bicin
    • -tadine

    Correct Wrong

    -mustine is a suffix term for alkylating agent (antineoplastic).  Alkylating agents are a class of anticancer or antineoplastic drugs that stop DNA transcription into RNA, so they stop protein synthesis. Drugs such as carmustine (shown in the image), estramustine, lomustine and bendamustine are some examples of alkylating agents.

  • Question of

    Suffix for HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor.

    • -statin
    • -onide
    • -asone
    • -dazole

    Correct Wrong

    -statin is a suffix term for HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. A HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor is a statin (a medicine to lower cholesterol), which helps people who are at risk of heart disease. Drugs such as atorvastatin (shown in the image); lovastatin, pitavastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin and simvastatin are some examples of alkylating agents.

  • Question of

    Suffix for local anesthetic.

    • -caine
    • -pramine
    • -sartan
    • -tyline

    Correct Wrong

    -caine is a suffix term for local anesthetic. Local anesthetics are medicines that numb specific areas of the body. Drugs such as bupivacaine (shown in the image), lidocaine, mepivacaine, prilocaine and proparacaine are some examples of local anesthetics.

  • Question of

    Suffix for antidiabetic; inhibitor of the DPP-4 enzyme.

    • -gliptin
    • -profen
    • -triptan
    • -dronate

    Correct Wrong

    -gliptin is a suffix term DPP-4 enzyme inhibitors (gliptins). Gliptins, also known as DPP-4 inhibitors, are a class of oral diabetic medications that treat type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults. Drugs such as saxagliptin (shown in the image), sitagliptin and linagliptin are some examples of DPP-4 inhibitors.