NCLEX Drug Stem Cheat Sheet: 26 Common Stems and Their Definitions
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NCLEX Must-Know: A List of Common Drug Stems and Their Uses
Drugs are often classified according to their mechanism of action, chemical structure, or therapeutic use. Understanding these classifications can help you predict how a drug will work in the body and anticipate potential side effects.
This cheat sheet provides a list of 26 common drug stems, along with their definitions and examples, to help you prepare for the NCLEX exam.
| Drug stem | Definition/class | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -ac | Acidity regulator, such as an antacid | Aluminium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide |
| -adol | Analgesic (pain reliever) | Acetaminophen, aspirin |
| -al | Anesthetic | Propofol, etomidate |
| -ase | Enzyme inhibitor, such as an antihistamine | Cetirizine, loratadine |
| -ate | Salt of a specific acid | Potassium chloride, sodium chloride |
| -caine | Local anesthetic | Lidocaine, procaine |
| -cillin | Penicillin-based antibiotic | Amoxicillin, penicillin |
| -cycline | Tetracycline antibiotic | Doxycycline, tetracycline |
| -dipine | Calcium channel blocker | Amlodipine, nifedipine |
| -ene | Hydrocarbon radical, such as a steroid | Testosterone, estrogen |
| -floxacin | Fluoroquinolone antibiotic | Ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin |
| -formin | Biguanide, used for diabetes management | Metformin, sitagliptin |
| -gra | Selective estrogen receptor modulator | Raloxifene, tamoxifen |
| -glycerol | Alcohol used as a solvent or sweetener | Glycerol, propylene glycol |
| -leukin | Cytokine, such as a growth factor | Filgrastim, sargramostim |
| -mab | Monoclonal antibody | Adalimumab, infliximab |
| -mycin | Antibiotic | Erythromycin, streptomycin |
| -olol | Beta blocker | Metoprolol, propranolol |
| -oprolol | Alpha-beta blocker | Carvedilol, nebivolol |
| -oxacin | Oxazolidinone antibiotic | Linezolid, tedizolid |
| -pam | Benzodiazepine, used for anxiety or sleep | Alprazolam, diazepam |
| -sartan | Angiotensin receptor blocker | Losartan, valsartan |
| -sone | Corticosteroid | Prednisone, hydrocortisone |
| -statin | Cholesterol-lowering drug | Atorvastatin, simvastatin |
| -triptan | Migraine treatment | Sumatriptan, rizatriptan |
| -zepam | Benzodiazepine, used for anxiety or sleep | Lorazepam, clonazepam |
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