Table of Contents
Deciphering generic drug names using the World Health Organization international nonproprietary names system
Drugs have several types of names, as described in How are drugs named.
Briefly, a drug’s tradename (E.g. Advil, Nexium, or Herceptin) is owned by a specific company and describes that company’s version of the drug (just as Coca Cola and Pepsi are tradenames for cola products). The ‘generic’ name for a drug (Advil’s generic name is ibuprophen; Nexium is esomeprazole, and; Herceptin is trastuzumab).
The generic names for drugs are essential, because they provide standardization, making it possible to easily identify a drug which may be sold by many different brand names, or branded medicines which contain more than one drug. Generic names stem from a global standard, which has been coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 1953.
The names issued by the WHO are called international nonproprietary names (INNs), and they are issued in English, Latin, French, Russian, Spanish, Arabic, and Chinese. While the roots of the INNs are often similar between languages there tend to be subtle spelling or pronunciation differences. For example the English INN paracetamol is paracetamolum in latin, paracétamol in French, and парацетамол in Russian.
Each drug’s has a unique INN is, but the composition of the INN is designed so that similar drug INNS contain common word stems. For example, the -profen in ibuprofen indicates “anti-inflammatory agents,” the -prazole in esomeprazole indicates “antiulcer, benzimidazole derivatives,” and the -mab in trastuzumab indicates that the drug is a monoclonal antibody.
The table below presents a list of generic INN drug name stems used by the WHO.
A comprehensive list of generic INN drug naming stems
| -abine (see -arabine and -citabine) | arabinofuranosyl derivatives; nucleosides antiviral or antineoplastic agents, cytarabine or azacitidine derivatives |
| -ac | anti-inflammatory agents, ibufenac derivatives |
| -acetam (see -racetam) | amide type nootrope agents, piracetam derivatives |
| -actide | synthetic polypeptide with a corticotropin-like action |
| -adol/-adol- | analgesics |
| -adom | analgesics, tifluadom derivatives |
| -afenone | antiarrhythmics, propafenone derivatives |
| -afil | inhibitors of phosphodiesterase PDE5 with vasodilator action |
| -aj- | antiarrhythmics, ajmaline derivatives |
| -al | aldehydes |
| -aldrate | antacids, aluminium salts |
| -alol (see -olol) | aromatic ring related to –olols |
| -alox (see -ox) | antacids, aluminium derivatives |
| -amivir (see vir) | neuraminidase inhibitors |
| -ampanel | antagonists of the ionotropic non-NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) glutamate receptors (Namely the AMPA (amino-hydroxymethyl-isoxazole-propionic acid) and/or KA (kainite antagonist) receptors) |
| andr | steroids, androgens |
| -anib | angiogenesis inhibitors |
| -anserin | serotonin receptor antagonists (mostly 5-HT2) |
| -antel | anthelminthics |
| -antrone | antineoplastics; anthraquinone derivatives |
| -apine (see -pine) | tricyclic compounds |
| -apt- | aptamers, classical and mirror ones |
| -(ar)abine | arabinofuranosyl derivatives |
| -arit | antiarthritic substances, acting like clobuzarit and lobenzarit, (mechanism different from anti-inflammatory type substances, e.g. -fenamates or – profens) |
| -arol | anticoagulants, dicoumarol derivatives |
| -arotene | arotinoid derivatives |
| arte- | antimalarial agents, artemisinin related compounds |
| -ase | enzymes |
| -ast | antiasthmatics or antiallergics, not acting primarily as antihistaminics |
| -astine | antihistaminics |
| -asvir (see –vir) | antivirals, Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) NS5A inhibitors |
| -azam (see -azepam) | diazepam derivatives |
| -azenil | benzodiazepine receptor antagonists/agonists (benzodiazepine derivatives) |
| -azepam | diazepam derivatives |
| -azepide | cholecystokinin receptor antagonists, benzodiazepine derivatives |
| -azocine | narcotic antagonists/agonists related to 6,7-benzomorphan |
| -azolam (see -azepam) | diazepam derivatives |
| -azoline | antihistaminics or local vasoconstrictors, antazoline derivatives |
| -azone (see -buzone) | anti-inflammatory analgesics, phenylbutazone derivatives |
| -azosin | antihypertensive substances, prazosin derivatives |
| -bacept (see -cept) | B-cell activating factor receptors |
| -bactam | β-lactamase inhibitors |
| -bamate | tranquillizers, propanediol and pentanediol derivatives |
| barb | hypnotics, barbituric acid derivatives |
| -begron | β3-adrenoreceptor agonists |
| -benakin (see -kin) | interleukin-1 analogues and derivatives |
| -bendan (see -dan) | cardiac stimulants, pimobendan derivatives |
| -bendazole | anthelminthics, tiabendazole derivatives |
| -bercept (see -cept) | target: VEGF receptors |
| -bermin (see -ermin) | vascular endothelial growth factors |
| -bersat | anticonvulsants, benzoylamino-benzpyran derivatives |
| -betasol (see pred) | prednisone and prednisolone derivatives |
| bol | anabolic steroids |
| -bradine | bradycardic agents |
| -brate (see -fibrate) | clofibrate derivatives |
| -bufen | non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, arylbutanoic acid derivatives |
| -bulin | antineoplastics; mitotic inhibitor, tubulin binder |
| -butazone (see -buzone) | anti-inflammatory analgesics, phenylbutazone derivatives |
| -buvir (see vir) | RNA polymerase (NS5B) inhibitors |
| -buzone | anti-inflammatory analgesics, phenylbutazone derivatives |
| -caine | local anaesthetics |
| -cain- | class I antiarrhythmics, procainamide and lidocaine derivatives |
| calci | vitamin D analogues/derivatives |
| -capone | catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors |
| carbef | antibiotics, carbacephem derivatives |
| -carnil (see -azenil) | benzodiazepine receptor antagonists/agonists (carboline derivatives) |
| -castat (see -stat) | dopamine-hydroxylase inhibitors |
| -cavir (see vir) | carbocyclic nucleosides |
| cef- | antibiotics, cefalosporanic acid derivatives |
| cell-/cel- | cellulose derivatives |
| -cel | cell therapy products |
| cell-ate (see cell-/cel-) | cellulose ester derivatives for substances containing acidic residues |
| -cellose (see cell-/cel-) | cellulose ether derivatives |
| -cept | receptor molecules, native or modified (a preceding infix should designate the target) |
| -cic | hepatoprotective substances with a carboxylic acid group |
| -ciclib | cyclin dependant kinase inhibitors |
| -ciclovir (see vir) | antivirals, bicyclic heterocycles compounds |
| -cidin | naturally occurring antibiotics (undefined group) |
| -ciguat | guanylate cyclase activators and stimulators |
| -cillide (see -cillin) | antibiotics, 6-aminopenicillanic acid derivatives |
| -cillin | antibiotics, 6-aminopenicillanic acid derivatives |
| -cillinam (see -cillin) | santibiotics, 6-aminopenicillanic acid derivatives |
| -cilpine (see -pine) | tricyclic compounds |
| -cisteine (see -steine) | mucolytics, other than bromhexine derivatives |
| -citabine | nucleosides antiviral or antineoplastic agents, cytarabine or azacitidine derivatives |
| -citinib (see –tinib) | Janus kinase inhibitors, antineoplastics |
| -clidine/-clidinium | muscarinic receptor agonists/antagonists |
| -clone | hypnotic tranquillizers |
| -cocept (see -cept) | complement receptors |
| -cog | blood coagulation factors |
| -cogin | blood coagulation cascade inhibitors |
| -conazole | systemic antifungal agents, miconazole derivatives |
| cort | corticosteroids, except prednisolone derivatives |
| -coxib | selective cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors |
| -crinat | diuretics, etacrynic acid derivatives |
| -crine | acridine derivatives |
| -cromil | antiallergics, cromoglicic acid derivatives |
| -curium (see -ium) | curare-like substances |
| -cycline | antibiotics, protein-synthesis inhibitors, tetracycline derivatives |
| -dan | cardiac stimulants, pimobendan derivatives |
| -dapsone | antimycobacterials, diaminodiphenylsulfone derivatives |
| -decakin (see -kin) | interleukin-10 analogues and derivatives |
| -degib | SMO receptor antagonists |
| -denoson | adenosine A receptor agonists |
| -dermin (see -ermin) | epidermal growth factors |
| -dil | vasodilators |
| -dilol (see -dil) | vasodilators |
| -dipine | calcium channel blockers, nifedipine derivatives |
| -dismase (see -ase) | enzymes with superoxide dismutase activity, see -ase item V |
| -distim (see -stim) | combination of two different types of colony stimulating factors |
| -dodekin (see -kin) | interleukin-12 analogues and derivatives |
| -dopa | dopamine receptor agonists, dopamine derivatives, used as antiparkinsonism/prolactin inhibitors |
| -dox (see -ox/-alox) | antibacterials, quinazoline dioxide derivatives |
| -dotin | synthetic derivatives of dolastatin series |
| -dotril (see –tril/trilat) | endopeptidase inhibitors |
| -dox (see –ox/-alox) | antacisa, aluminium derivatives (see also -aldrate) |
| -dralazine | antihypertensives, hydrazinephthalazine derivatives |
| -drine | sympathomimetics |
| -dronic acid | calcium metabolism regulator, pharmaceutical aid |
| -dutant (see -tant) | neurokinin NK2 receptor antagonist |
| -dyl (see -dil) | vasodilators |
| -ectin | antiparasitics, ivermectin derivatives |
| -elestat (see -stat) | elastase inhibitors |
| -elvekin (see -kin) | interleukin-11 analogues and derivatives |
| -emcinal | erythromycin derivatives lacking antibiotic activity, motilin agonists |
| -enicokin (see -kin) | interleukin-21 human analogues and derivatives |
| -entan | endothelin receptor antagonists |
| (-)eptacog (see -cog) | blood coagulation VII |
| erg | ergot alkaloid derivatives |
| -eridine | analgesics, pethidine derivatives |
| -ermin | growth factors |
| estr | estrogens |
| -etanide (see -anide) | diuretics, piretanide derivatives |
| -ethidine (see -eridine) | analgesics, pethidine derivatives |
| -exakin (see -kin) | interleukin-6 analogues and derivatives |
| -exine | mucolytic, bromhexine derivatives |
| -farcept (see -cept) | subgroup of interferon receptors |
| -fenamate (see -fenamic acid) | “fenamic acid” derivatives |
| -fenacin | muscarinic receptor antagonists |
| -fenamic | acid anti-inflammatory, anthranilic acid derivatives |
| -fenin | diagnostic aids; (phenylcarbamoyl)methyl iminodiacetic acid derivatives |
| -fenine | analgesics, glafenine derivatives (subgroup of fenamic acid group) |
| -fensine | norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine reuptake inhibitors |
| -fentanil | opioid receptor agonists, analgesics, fentanyl derivatives |
| -fentrine | inhibitors of phosphodiesterases |
| -fermin (see -ermin) | fibroblast growth factors |
| -fiban | fibrinogen receptor antagonists (glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists) |
| -fibrate | clofibrate derivatives |
| -filermin (see -ermin) | leukemia-inhibiting factor |
| -flapon | 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (FLAP) inhibitor |
| -flurane | halogenated compounds used as general inhalation anaesthetics |
| -formin | antihyperglycaemics, phenformin derivatives |
| fos | insecticides, anthelminthics, pesticides etc., phosphorous derivatives |
| -fosfamide (see -fos) | alkylating agents of the cyclophosphamide group |
| -fosine (see -fos) | cytostatic |
| -fovir (see vir) | phosphonic acid derivatives |
| -fradil | calcium channel blockers acting as vasodilators |
| -frine (see -drine) | sympathomimetic, phenethyl derivatives |
| -fungin | antifungal antibiotics |
| -fylline | N-methylated xanthine derivatives |
| gab | gabamimetic agents |
| gado- | diagnostic agents, gadolinium derivatives |
| -gatran | thrombin inhibitor, antithrombotic agent |
| -gene | gene therapy products |
| gest | steroids, progestogens |
| -gestr- | (see estr) estrogens |
| -giline | monoamine oxydase (MAO)-inhibitors type B |
| -gillin | antibiotics produced by Aspergillus strains |
| gli | antihyperglycaemics |
| -gliflozin (see gli) | sodium glucose co-transporter inhibitors, phlorizin derivatives |
| -gliptin (see gli) | dipeptidyl aminopeptidase–IV inhibitors |
| -glitazar (see gli) | peroxisome proliferator activating receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) agonists |
| -glitazone (see gli) | peroxisome proliferator activating receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) agonists, thiazolidinedione derivatives |
| -glumide | cholecystokinin (CCK) antagonists, antiulcer, anxiolytic agent |
| -glurant | metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonists / negative allosteric modulators |
| -glutide (see -tide) | Glucagon-Like Peptide (GLP) analogues |
| -golide | dopamine receptor agonists, ergoline derivatives |
| -gosivir (see vir) | glucoside inhibitors |
| -gramostim (see -stim) | granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) types substances |
| -grastim (see -stim) | granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) type substances |
| -grel-/-grel | platelet aggregation inhibitors |
| guan- | antihypertensives, guanidine derivatives |
| -ibine (see -ribine) | ribofuranyl-derivatives of the “pyrazofurin” type |
| -icam | anti-inflammatory, isoxicam derivatives |
| -ifene | antiestrogens or estrogen receptor modulators, clomifene and tamoxifen derivatives |
| -igetide (see -tide) | peptides and glycopeptides |
| -ilide | class III antiarrhythmics, sematilide derivatives |
| imex | immunostimulants |
| -imibe | antihyperlipidaemics, acyl CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) inhibitors |
| -imod | immunomodulators, both stimulant/suppressive and stimulant |
| -imus | immunosuppressants (other than antineoplastics) |
| -ine | alkaloids and organic bases |
| -inostat (see stat) | histone deacetylase inhibitors |
| io- | iodine-containing contrast media |
| iod-/-io- | iodine-containing compounds other than contrast media |
| -irudin | thrombin inhibitors, hirudin derivatives |
| -isant | histamine H3 receptor antagonists |
| -isomide | class I antiarrhythmics, disopyramide derivatives |
| -ium | quaternary ammonium compounds |
| -izine (-yzine) | diphenylmethyl piperazine derivatives |
| -kacin | antibiotics, kanamycin and bekanamycin derivatives (obtained from Streptomyces kanamyceticus) |
| -kalant | potassium channel blockers |
| -kalim | potassium channel activators, antihypertensive |
| -kef- | enkephalin agonists |
| -kin | interleukin type substances |
| -ki(n)- (see -mab) | target: interleukin |
| -kinra (see -kin) | interleukin receptor antagonists |
| -kiren | renin inhibitors |
| -lefacept (see -cept) | lymphocyte function-associated antigen 3 receptors |
| -leukin (see -kin) | interleukin-2 analogues and derivatives |
| -lisib | phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors, antineoplastics |
| -listat (see –stat) | gastrointestinal lipase inhibitors |
| -lubant | leukotriene B4 receptor antagonist |
| -lukast (see –ast) | leukotriene receptor antagonists |
| -lutamide | non-steroid antiandrogens |
| -lutril (see –tril/trilat) | endopeptidase inhibitors |
| -mab | monoclonal antibodies |
| -mantadine | adamantane derivatives |
| -mantine (see -mantadine) | adamantane derivatives |
| -mantone (see -mantadine) | adamantane derivatives |
| -mapimod (see -imod) | mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitors |
| -mastat (see -stat) | matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors |
| -meline | cholinergic agents (muscarine receptor agonists/partial antagonists used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease) |
| mer-/-mer | mercury-containing drugs, antimicrobial or diuretic |
| -mer | polymers |
| -mesine | sigma receptor ligands |
| -mestane | aromatase inhibitors |
| -metacin | anti-inflammatory, indometacin derivatives |
| -met(h)asone (see pred) | prednisone and prednisolone derivatives |
| -metinib (see –tinib) | MEK (MAPK kinase) tyrosine kinase inhibitors |
| -micin | aminoglycosides, antibiotics obtained from various Micromonospora |
| -mifene (see -ifene) | antiestrogens, clomifene and tamoxifen derivatives |
| -milast (see -ast) | phosphodiesterase IV (PDE IV) inhibitors |
| mito- | antineoplastics, nucleotoxic agents |
| -monam | monobactam antibiotics |
| -morelin (see -relin) | growth hormone release-stimulating peptides |
| -mostat (see -stat) | proteolytic enzyme inhibitors |
| -mostim (see -stim) | macrophage stimulating factors (M-CSF) type substances |
| -motide (see -tide) | immunological agents for active immunization |
| -motine | antivirals, quinoline derivatives |
| -moxin | monoamine oxidase inhibitors, hydrazine derivatives |
| -mulin | antibacterials, pleuromulin derivatives |
| -mustine | antineoplastic, alkylating agents, (β-chloroethyl)amine derivatives |
| -mycin | antibiotics, produced by Streptomyces strains (see also -kacin) |
| nab | cannabinoid receptors agonists |
| -nabant | cannabinoid receptors antagonists |
| -nacept (see -cept) | interleukin-1 receptors |
| -nakin (see -kin) | interleukin-1 analogues and derivatives |
| -nakinra (see -kin) | interleukin-1 receptor antagonists |
| nal- | opioid receptor antagonists/agonists related to normorphine |
| -naritide (see -tide) | peptides and glycopeptides |
| -navir | (see vir) Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) protease inhibitors |
| -nepag | prostaglandins receptors agonists, non-prostanoids |
| -nermin (see -ermin) | tumour necrosis factor |
| -nercept (see -cept) | tumour necrosis factor receptors |
| -nertant (see -tant) | neurotensin antagonists |
| -netant (see -tant) | neurokinin NK3 receptor antagonists |
| -nicate (see nico-) | antihypercholesterolaemic and/or vasodilating nicotinic acid esters |
| -nicline | nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonists / agonists |
| nico-/nic-/ni- | nicotinic acid or nicotinoyl alcohol derivatives |
| -nidazole | antiprotozoals and radiosensitizers, metronidazole derivatives |
| -nidine (see -onidine) | antihypertensives, clonidine derivatives |
| nifur- | 5-nitrofuran derivatives |
| -nil (see -azenil) | benzodiazepine receptor antagonists/agonists (benzodiazepine derivatives) |
| nitro-/nitr-/nit-/ni-/-ni- | NO2 – derivatives |
| -nixin | anti-inflammatory, anilinonicotinic acid derivatives |
| (-)nonacog (see -cog) | blood factor IX |
| octakin (see -kin) | interleukin-8 analogues and derivatives |
| -octadekin (see -kin) | interleukin-18 human analogues and derivatives |
| (-)octocog (see -cog) | blood factor VIII |
| -ol | for alcohols and phenols |
| -olol | β-adrenoreceptor antagonists |
| -olone (see pred) | steroids other than prednisolone derivatives |
| -onakin (see -kin) | interleukin-1 analogues and derivatives |
| -one | ketones |
| -onide | steroids for topical use, acetal derivatives |
| -onidine | antihypertensives, clonidine derivatives |
| -onium (see -ium) | quaternary ammonium compounds |
| -opamine (see -dopa) | dopaminergic agents dopamine derivatives used as cardiac stimulant/antihypertensives/diuretics |
| -orex | anorexics |
| -orph- (see orphan) | opioid receptor antagonists/agonists, morphinan derivates |
| orphan | opioid receptor antagonists/agonists, morphinan derivates |
| -otermin (see -ermin) | bone morphogenetic proteins |
| -ox/-alox | antacids, aluminium derivatives |
| -oxacin | antibacterials, nalidixic acid derivatives |
| -oxan(e) | benzodioxane derivatives |
| -oxanide (see -anide) | antiparasitics, salicylanilides and analogues |
| -oxef (see cef-) | antibiotics, oxacefalosporanic acid derivatives |
| -oxepin (see -pine) | tricyclic compounds |
| -oxetine | serotonin and/or norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, fluoxetine derivatives |
| -oxicam (see -icam) | anti-inflammatory, isoxicam derivatives |
| -oxifene (see -ifene) | antiestrogens or estrogen receptor modulators, clomifene and tamoxifen derivatives |
| -oxopine (see -pine) | tricyclic compounds |
| -pafant | platelet-activating factor antagonists |
| -pamide | diuretics, sulfamoylbenzoic acid derivatives (could be sulfamoylbenzamide) |
| -pamil | calcium channel blocker, verapamil derivatives |
| -parcin | for glycopeptide antibiotics |
| -parib | poly-ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors |
| -parin | heparin derivatives including low molecular mass heparins |
| -parinux (see -parin) | synthetic heparinoids |
| -pendyl (see -dil) | vasodilators |
| -penem | analogues of penicillanic acid antibiotics modified in the five-membered ring |
| perfl(u)- | perfluorinated compounds used as blood substitutes and/or diagnostic agents |
| -peridol (see -perone) | antipsychotics, haloperidol derivatives |
| -peridone (see -perone) | antipsychotics, risperidone derivatives |
| -perone | tranquillizers, neuroleptics, 4′-fluoro-4-piperidinobutyrophenone derivatives |
| -pidem | hypnotics/sedatives, zolpidem derivatives |
| -pin(e) | tricyclic compounds |
| -piprant | prostaglandin receptors antagonists, non-prostanoids |
| -piprazole (see -prazole) | psychotropics, phenylpiperazine derivatives |
| -pirone (see -spirone) | anxiolytics, buspirone derivatives |
| -pirox (see -ox/-alox) | antimycotic pyridone derivatives |
| -pitant (see -tant) | neurokinin NK1 (substance P) receptor antagonist |
| -plact | platelet factor 4 analogues and derivatives |
| -pladib | phospholipase A2 inhibitors |
| -planin | glycopeptide antibacterials (Actinoplanes strains) |
| -plase (see -ase) | enzymes |
| -plasmid (see -gene) | gene therapy products |
| -platin | antineoplastic agents, platinum derivatives |
| -plermin (see -ermin) | platelet-derived growth factor |
| -plestim (see -stim and -kin) | interleukin-3 analogues and derivatives |
| -plon | imidazopyrimidine or pyrazolopyrimidine derivatives, used as anxiolytics, sedatives, hypnotics |
| -poetin | erythropoietin type blood factors |
| -porfin | benzoporphyrin derivatives |
| -poride | Na+/H+ antiport inhibitor |
| -pramine | substances of the imipramine group |
| -prazole | antiulcer, benzimidazole derivatives |
| -piprazole | psychotropics, phenylpiperazine derivatives |
| -prazan | proton pump inhibitors, not dependent on acid activation |
| pred | prednisone and prednisolone derivatives |
| -prenaline (see -terol) | bronchodilators, phenethylamine derivatives |
| -pressin | vasoconstrictors, vasopressin derivatives |
| -previr (see vir) | Hepatitis Virus C (HVC) protease inhibitors |
| -pride | sulpiride derivatives |
| -pril | angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors |
| -prilat (see -pril) | angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors |
| -prim | antibacterials, dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) inhibitors, trimethoprim derivatives |
| -pris- | steroidal compounds acting on progesterone receptors (excluding -gestcompounds) |
| -pristin | antibacterials, streptogramins, protein synthesis inhibitors, pristinamycin derivatives |
| -profen | anti-inflammatory agents, ibuprofen derivatives prost prostaglandins |
| -prostil (see prost) | prostaglandins, anti-ulcer |
| -quidar | drugs used in multidrug resistance, quinoline derivatives |
| -quin(e) | quinoline derivatives |
| -quinil (see -azenil) | benzodiazepine receptor agonists, also partial or inverse (quinoline derivatives) |
| -racetam | amide type nootrope agents, piracetam derivatives |
| -racil | uracil type antineoplastics |
| -rafenib | RAF (rapidely accelerated fibrosarcoma) kinase inhibitors |
| -relin | pituitary hormone-release stimulating peptides |
| -relix | gonadotropin-releasing-hormone (GnRH) inhibitors, peptides |
| -renone | aldosterone antagonists, spironolactone derivates |
| -restat (see -stat) | aldose reductase inhibitors |
| retin | retinol derivatives |
| -ribine | ribofuranyl-derivatives of the “pyrazofurin” type |
| rifa- | antibiotics, rifamycin derivatives |
| -rinone | cardiac stimulants, amrinone derivatives |
| -ritide (see –tide) | natriuretic peptides |
| -rixin | chemokine CXCR receptors antagonists |
| -rizine (see -izine) | antihistaminics/cerebral (or peripheral) vasodilators |
| -rolimus (see -imus) | immunosuppressants, rapamycin derivatives |
| -rozole | aromatase inhibitors, imidazole-triazole derivatives |
| -rsen | antisense oligonucleotides |
| -rubicin | antineoplastics, daunorubicin derivatives |
| sal | salicylic acid derivatives |
| salazo- | phenylazosalicylic acid derivatives antibacterial |
| -salan | brominated salicylamide derivatives disinfectant |
| -sartan | angiotensin II receptor antagonists, antihypertensive (non-peptidic) |
| -semide | diuretics, furosemide derivatives |
| -sermin (see -ermin) | insulin-like growth factors |
| -serod | serotonin receptor antagonists and partial agonists |
| -serpine | derivatives of Rauwolfia alkaloids |
| -sertib | serine/threonine kinase inhibitors |
| -setron | serotonin receptor antagonists (5-HT3) not fitting into other established groups of serotonin receptor antagonists |
| -siran | small interfering RNA |
| som- | growth hormone derivatives |
| -sopine (see -pine) | tricyclic compounds |
| -spirone | anxiolytics, buspirone derivatives |
| -stat/-stat- | enzyme inhibitors |
| -steine | mucolytics, other than bromhexine derivatives |
| -ster- | androgens/anabolic steroids |
| -steride (see -ster-) | androgens/anabolic steroids |
| -stigmine | acetylcholinesterase inhibitors |
| -stim | colony stimulating factors |
| sulfa- | anti-infectives, sulfonamides |
| -sulfan | antineoplastic, alkylating agents, methanesulfonates |
| -tacept (see -cept) | cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) receptors |
| -tadine | tricyclic histamine-H1 receptor antagonists, tricyclic compounds |
| -tansine | maytansinoid derivatives, antineoplastics |
| -tant | neurokinin (tachykinin) receptor antagonists |
| -tapide | microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) inhibitors |
| -taxel | antineoplastics; taxane derivatives |
| -tecan | antineoplastics, topoisomerase I inhibitors |
| -tepa | antineoplastics, thiotepa derivatives |
| -tepine (see -pine) | tricyclic compounds |
| -teplase (see -ase) | tissue type plasminogen activators, see -ase item VI |
| -tercept (see -cept) | transforming growth factors receptors |
| -termin (see -ermin) | transforming growth factor |
| -terol | bronchodilators, phenethylamine derivatives |
| -terone | antiandrogens |
| -thiouracil (see -racil) | uracil derivatives used as thyroid antagonists |
| -tiazem | calcium channel blockers, diltiazem derivatives |
| -tibant | bradykinin receptor antagonists |
| -tide | peptides and glycopeptides (for special groups of peptides see -actide, -pressin, -relin, -tocin) |
| -tidine | histamine-H2-receptor antagonists, cimetidine derivatives |
| -tilide (see -ilide) | class III antiarrhythmics, sematilide derivatives |
| -tiline (see -triptyline) | antidepressants, dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptane or cyclopheptene derivatives |
| -tinib | tyrosine kinase inhibitors |
| -tirelin (see -relin) | thyrotropin releasing hormone analogues |
| -tizide | diuretics, chlorothiazide derivatives |
| -tocin | oxytocin derivatives |
| -toin | antiepileptics, hydantoin derivatives |
| -tolimod (see –imod) | toll-like receptors (TLR) agonists |
| -trakin (see -kin) | interleukin-4 analogues and derivatives |
| -trakinra (see -kinra) | interleukin-4 receptor antagonists |
| -traline | serotonin reuptake inhibitors |
| -tredekin (see -kin) | interleukin-13 analogues and derivatives |
| -trexate | folic acid analogues |
| -trexed | antineoplastics; thymidilate synthetase inhibitors |
| -tricin | antibiotics, polyene derivatives |
| -tril/trilat | endopeptidase inhibitors |
| -triptan | serotonin (5-HT1) receptor agonists, sumatriptan derivatives |
| -triptyline | antidepressants, dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptane or cyclopheptene derivatives |
| -troban | thromboxane A2-receptor antagonists; antithrombotic agents |
| -trodast (see -ast) | thromboxane A2-receptor antagonists, antiasthmatics |
| trop | atropine derivatives |
| -uplase (see -ase) | urokinase type plasminogen activator, see -ase item VII |
| -ur (see -uridine) | uridine derivatives used as antiviral agents and as antineoplastics |
| -uridine | uridine derivatives used as antiviral agents and as antineoplastics |
| -vaptan | vasopressin receptor antagonists |
| -vastatin (see -stat) | antihyperlipidaemic substances, HMG CoA reductase inhibitors |
| -vec (see -gene) | gene therapy product |
| -verine | spasmolytics with a papaverine-like action |
| vin-/-vin- | vinca alkaloids |
| vir | antivirals (undefined group) |
| -vircept (see -cept) | antiviral receptors |
| -virine (see vir) | non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) |
| -viroc (see -vir) | CCR5 (Chemokine CC motif receptor 5) receptor antagonists |
| -virsen | antisense oligonucleotides |
| -vos (see fos) | insecticides, anthelminthics, pesticides etc., phosphorus derivatives |
| -vudine (see -uridine) | uridine derivatives used as antiviral agents and as antineoplastics |
| -xaban | blood coagulation factor XA inhibitors, antithrombotics |
| -xanox (see -ox/-alox) | anti-allergics, tixanox group |
| -xetan | chelating agents |
| -yzine (see -izine) | diphenylmethyl piperazine derivatives |
| -zafone | alozafone derivatives |
| -zepine | (see -pine) tricyclic compounds |
| -zolast (see -ast) | leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitors |
| -zomib | proteasome inhibitors |
| -zone (see -buzone) | anti-inflammatory analgesics, phenylbutazone derivatives |
| -zotan | 5-HT1A receptor agonists / antagonists acting primarily as neuroprotectors |
Source: World Health Organization
