Drug Suffixes Are the Single Fastest Way to Learn NCLEX Pharmacology

You do not need to memorize 300 individual drug names for the NCLEX. You need to memorize about 25 suffixes. Every drug name follows a pattern: the suffix tells you the drug class, the drug class tells you the mechanism, and the mechanism tells you the nursing considerations.

This cheat sheet covers every high-yield suffix tested on the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN, organized by body system.

Cardiovascular Drug Suffixes

-olol (Beta-Blockers)
Drugs: metoprolol, atenolol, propranolol, carvedilol
Action: Block beta-adrenergic receptors, reduce heart rate and blood pressure
Nursing: Hold if HR < 60 or BP < 90/60. Monitor for bradycardia, hypotension, bronchospasm
Memory trick: "-olol = Oh LOw heart rate"

-pril (ACE Inhibitors)
Drugs: lisinopril, enalapril, captopril, ramipril
Action: Inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme, reduce blood pressure
Nursing: Monitor potassium (hyperkalemia risk), watch for dry cough, NEVER give with ARBs simultaneously
Memory trick: "-pril = prevents pressure rise in lungs"

-sartan (ARBs)
Drugs: losartan, valsartan, irbesartan, candesartan
Action: Block angiotensin II receptors
Nursing: Similar to ACE inhibitors but WITHOUT the dry cough. Monitor potassium. Contraindicated in pregnancy.
Memory trick: "-sartan = similar to ACE, minus the cough"

-dipine (Calcium Channel Blockers)
Drugs: amlodipine, nifedipine, nicardipine
Action: Block calcium channels in vascular smooth muscle
Nursing: Monitor for peripheral edema, avoid grapefruit juice, watch for reflex tachycardia
Memory trick: "-dipine = dips blood pressure"

-statin (HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors)
Drugs: atorvastatin, simvastatin, rosuvastatin, pravastatin
Action: Lower LDL cholesterol by blocking liver cholesterol production
Nursing: Take at bedtime (cholesterol synthesis peaks at night), monitor liver enzymes, report muscle pain (rhabdomyolysis)
Memory trick: "-statin = stays on top of cholesterol"

CNS and Psychiatric Drug Suffixes

-pam / -lam (Benzodiazepines)
Drugs: diazepam, lorazepam, alprazolam, midazolam
Action: Enhance GABA activity, produce sedation and anxiolysis
Nursing: Monitor for respiratory depression, have flumazenil available as antidote, fall precautions, do NOT stop abruptly
Memory trick: "-pam = pamper anxiety away"

-pine / -done (Atypical Antipsychotics)
Drugs: olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, ziprasidone
Action: Block dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors
Nursing: Monitor for metabolic syndrome (weight gain, diabetes, hyperlipidemia), check fasting glucose
Memory trick: "-pine = pins down psychosis"

-triptan (Serotonin Agonists)
Drugs: sumatriptan, rizatriptan, eletriptan
Action: Selective serotonin receptor agonists for migraine
Nursing: Do not use with MAOIs or SSRIs (serotonin syndrome risk), take at migraine onset
Memory trick: "-triptan = trips up migraines"

Antibiotic Drug Suffixes

-cillin (Penicillins)
Drugs: amoxicillin, ampicillin, penicillin
Action: Inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis
Nursing: Ask about penicillin allergy FIRST, watch for anaphylaxis, take on empty stomach

-mycin / -micin (Aminoglycosides)
Drugs: gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin
Action: Inhibit bacterial protein synthesis
Nursing: Monitor peak and trough levels, watch for ototoxicity (hearing loss) and nephrotoxicity (kidney damage)
Memory trick: "-mycin = might cause ear and kidney damage"

-floxacin (Fluoroquinolones)
Drugs: ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin
Action: Inhibit DNA gyrase in bacteria
Nursing: BLACK BOX WARNING for tendon rupture, avoid in children, take with water (not dairy), photosensitivity
Memory trick: "-floxacin = flexes tendons dangerously"

Endocrine Drug Suffixes

-gliptin (DPP-4 Inhibitors)
Drugs: sitagliptin, saxagliptin, linagliptin
Action: Inhibit DPP-4 enzyme, increase incretin levels for glucose control
Nursing: Monitor blood glucose, lower hypoglycemia risk than sulfonylureas

-glutide (GLP-1 Receptor Agonists)
Drugs: semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide
Action: Mimic GLP-1 hormone, stimulate insulin secretion
Nursing: Inject subcutaneously, monitor for pancreatitis, causes weight loss

-gliflozin (SGLT2 Inhibitors)
Drugs: empagliflozin, dapagliflozin, canagliflozin
Action: Block glucose reabsorption in kidneys
Nursing: Monitor for UTIs and genital yeast infections, watch for diabetic ketoacidosis