Common Drug Suffixes (Part 5)

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 the suffixes for drug classes and their use.

Quick Review for the Quiz
Suffix Clinical Use Sample Generic Drugs
-olone synthetic testosterone nandrolone, oxandrolone, oxymetholone
-pramine antidepressant clomipramine, desipramine, imipramine, trimipramine
-ridone schizophrenia and other mental disorders iloperidone, paliperidone, risperidone
-setron antiemetic (for nausea & vomiting) alosetron, dolasetron, granisetron, ondansetron, palonosetron
-tadine (antiviral and antiparkinson) or anti allergy (amantadine, rimantadine), (cyproheptadine, desloratadine, loratadine, olopatadine)
-thiazide diurectic (increases urine production) chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, methyclothiazide
-tinib anticancer crizotinib, dasatinib, erlotinib, gefitinib, imatinib
-triptan migraine headaches almotriptan, eletriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, zolmitriptan
-zodone antidepressant nefazodone, trazodone, vilazodone

  • Question of

    Suffix for an anabolic steroid.

    • -olone
    • -lamide
    • -oprazole
    • -semide

    Correct Wrong

    -olone is a suffix term for anabolic steroid. Anabolic steroids are synthetic forms of testosterone commonly used for performance enhancement. It is also used to treat hormone issues in men, late puberty, and certain diseases that cause muscle wasting. Drugs such as nandrolone (shown in the image), oxandrolone and oxymetholone are some examples of anabolic steroids.

  • Question of

    Suffix for tricyclic antidepressant (TCA).

    • -pramine
    • -glitazone
    • -caine
    • -nacin

    Correct Wrong

    -pramine is a suffix term for tricyclic antidepressant (TCA). A tricyclic antidepressant is a class of drug primarily prescribed as an antidepressant. Drugs such as clomipramine (shown in the image), desipramine, imipramine and trimipramine are some examples of tricyclic antidepressant (TCA).

  • Question of

    Suffix for serotonin 5-HT receptor agonist (antimigraine).

    • -triptan
    • -dazole
    • -eprazole
    • -glitazone

    Correct Wrong

    -triptan is a suffix term for serotonin 5-HT receptor agonist. Serotonin 5-HT-receptor agonists are a type of medication that is used for the treatment of mild to moderate migraine headaches. Drugs such as almotriptan (shown in the image), eletriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan and zolmitriptan are some examples of serotonin 5-HT receptor agonist.

  • Question of

    Suffix for antineoplastic (kinase inhibitor).

    • -tinib
    • -oprazole
    • -olone
    • -dazole

    Correct Wrong

    -tinib is a suffix term for antineoplastic (kinase inhibitor). Antineoplastic tyrosine kinase inhibitors target specific types of cancer cells while causing less damage to normal cells. It treats patients with localized or metastatic medullary thyroid cancer. Drugs such as crizotinib (shown in the image), dasatinib, erlotinib, gefitinib and imatinib are some examples of antineoplastic (kinase inhibitor).

  • Question of

    Suffix for serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist.

    • -setron
    • -pramine
    • -tadine
    • -vudine

    Correct Wrong

    -setron is a suffix term for serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist. Serotonin (5-HT3) receptor antagonists belong to a class of antiemetic drugs used to prevent nausea and vomiting during cancer treatment. Drugs such as alosetron (shown in the image), dolasetron, granisetron, ondansetron and palonosetron are some examples of serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist.

  • Question of

    Suffix for adamantanes (antiviral and antiparkinson drug) or antihistamines.

    • -tadine
    • -eprazole
    • -olone
    • -dronate

    Correct Wrong

    -tadine can be classified as either antihistamines or adamantanes (antiviral and antiparkinson drugs). Adamantanes are a class of drugs used for treating influenza A and Parkinson's disease. On the other hand, antihistamines belong to a class of medications that are often prescribed for allergic conditions such as allergic rhinitis, the common cold, influenza, and other allergies. Amantadine (shown in image) and rimantadine are examples of adamantanes, and cyproheptadine, desloratadine, loratadine, and olopatadine are examples of antihistamines.

  • Question of

    Suffix for an antidepressant.

    • -zodone
    • -tadine
    • -setron
    • -phylline

    Correct Wrong

    -zodone is a suffix term for antidepressant. The term "antidepressants" refers to a class of medicines that are used to treat or prevent depression. Drugs such as nefazodone (shown in the image), trazodone and vilazodone ​​​are some examples of antidepressants.

  • Question of

    Suffix for atypical antipsychotics.

    • -ridone
    • -phylline
    • -bital
    • -triptan

    Correct Wrong

    -ridone is a suffix term for atypical antipsychotics. Atypical antipsychotics are a class of medications commonly used in the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other mental disorders. They work by reducing dopamine levels in the brain. Drugs such as iloperidone (shown in the image), paliperidone and risperidone ​​​are some examples of atypical antipsychotics.

  • Question of

    Suffix for thiazide diuretic (water pill).

    • -thiazide
    • -profen
    • -onide
    • -lamide

    Correct Wrong

    -thiazide is a suffix term for thiazide diuretic (water pill). Thiazide diuretics (water pills) treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and reduce fluid retention. Their action is to reduce kidney reabsorption of salt and water, resulting in increased urine output (diuresis). Drugs such as chlorothiazide (shown in the image), hydrochlorothiazide and methyclothiazide ​​​are some examples of thiazide diuretic (water pill).