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International Nonproprietary Names (INNs) - Common Stems

List of Common Stems Used in the Selection of INNs.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Stem Definition & substem (if available)

A

-ac anti-inflammatory agents, ibufenac derivatives
-actide synthetic polypeptides with a corticotrophin-like action
-adol or -adol- analgesics
-adom analgesics, tifluadom derivatives
-afenone antiarrhythmics, propafenone derivatives
-aj- antiarrhythmics, ajmaline derivatives
-aldrate antacids, aluminium salts
-alox antacids, aluminium derivatives
-amivir see vir
andr steroids, androgens
-anserin serotonin receptor antagonists (mostly 5-HT2)
-antel anthelminthics (underfined group)
-apine see -pine
-arabine arabinofuranosyl derivatives
-arit antiarthritic substances, acting like clobuzarit and lobenzarit (mechanism different from anti-inflammatory type substances, eg -fenamates or -profens)
-arol anticoagulants, dicoumarol derivatives
arte- antimalarial agents, artemisinin related compounds
-ase enzymes;
-dismase (superoxide dismutase activity),
-pase (lipase)
-teplase (tissue plasminogen activators),
-uplase (urokinase-type-plasminogen activators)
-ast antiasthmatic, antiallergics, not acting primarily as antihistaminics;
-lukast (leukotriene receptor antagonist);
-trodast (thromboxane A2 receptor antagonists, antiasthmatics)
-astine antihistaminics
-azenil benzodiazepine receptor antagonists/agonists (benzodiazepine derivatives)
-azepam diazepam derivatives
-azepide cholecystokinin receptor antagonist
-azocine narcotic antagonists/agonists related to 6,7-benzomorphan
-azoline antihistaminics or local vasoconstrictors, antazoline derivatives
-azosin antihypertensive substances, prazosin derivatives

B

-bactam b-lactamase inhibitors
-bamate tranquillizers, propanediol and pentanediol derivatives
barb hypnotics, barbituric acid derivatives
-bendazole anthelminthics, tiabendazole derivatives
bol anabolic steroids
-bradine bradycardic agents
-buzone anti-inflammatory analgesics, phenylbutazone derivatives

C

-cain- Class 1 antiarrhythmics, procainamide and lidocaine derivatives (antifibrillants with local anaesthetic activity)
-caine local anaesthetics
calci Vitamin D analogues/derivatives
-carbef antibiotics, carbacepham derivatives
-carnil benzodiazepine receptor antagonists/agonists (carboline derivatives)
-cavir see vir
cef- antibiotics, cefalosporanic acid derivatives
cell- or cel- or -cell- cellulose derivatives
cell-ate (cellulose ester derivatives);
-cellose (cellulose ether derivatives)
-cic hepatoprotectice substances with a carboxylic acid group
-cidin naturally occurring antibiotics (undefined group)
-cillin antibiotics, 6-aminopenicillanic acid derivatives
-citabine nucleoside antiviral or antineoplastic agents, cytarabine or azarabine derivatives
-clone hypnotic tranquillizers
-cog blood coagulation factors;
(-)eptacog (blood coagulation VII);
(-)octocog (blood coagulation factor VIII);
(-)nonacog (blood coagulation factor IX)
-conazole systemic antifungal agents, miconazole derivatives
cort corticosteroids, except prednisolone derivatives
-crinat diuretics, etacrynic acid derivatives
-crine acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, tacrine derivatives
-cromil antiallergics, cromoglicic acid derivatives
-curium see -ium
-cycline antibiotics, tetracycline derivatives

D

-dan cardiac stimulants, pimobendan derivatives
-dapsone Antimycobacterials, diaminodiphenylsulfone derivatives
-dermin see -ermin
-dil vasodilators
-dipine calcium channel blockers, nifedipine derivatives
-dismase see -ase
-dopa dopamine receptor agonists, dopamine derivatives, used as antiparkinsonism/prolactin inhibitors;
-dox antibacterials, quinoline dioxide derivatives
-dralazine antihypertensives, hydrazinephthalazine derivatives
-drine sympathomimetics;
-frine: sympathomimetic, phenethyl derivatives
-dronic acid calcium metabolism regulator, pharmaceutical aid

E

-ectin antiparasitics, ivermectin derivatives
-entan endothelin receptor antagonists
-eptacog see –cog
erg ergot alkaloid derivatives
-eridine analgesics, pethidine derivatives
-ermin growth factors;
-dermin (epidermal growth factors);
-fermin (fibrinoblast growth factors);
-nermin (tumour necrosis factor);
-sermin (insulin-like growth factors)
estr estrogens
-etanide diuretics, piretanide derivatives
-exakin see -kin
-exine mucolytic, bromhexine derivatives

F

-fenamic acid anti-inflammatory, anthranilic acid derivatives
-fenamate (“-fenamic acid” derivatives)
-fenin diagnostic aids; (phenylcarbamoyl)methyl iminodiacetic acid derivatives
-fenine analgesics, glafenine derivatives - (subgroup of fenamic acid group)
-fentanil narcotic analgesics, fentanil derivatives
-fermin see –ermin
-fiban Fibrinogen receptor antagonists (glycoprotein lib/llla receptor antagonists
-fibrate clofibrate derivatives
-flapon 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (FLAP) inhibitor
-flurane general inhalation anaesthetics, halogenated alkane derivatives
-formin antihyperglycaemics, phenformin derivatives
-fos (-vos) insecticides, anthelmintics,pesticides etc., phosphorous derivatives
-fos- or fos- various pharmacological categories belonging to -fos (other than above)
-fradil calcium channel blockers acting as vasodilators
-frine see -drine
-fungin antifungal antibiotics
-fylline N-methylated xanthine derivatives

G

gab gabamimetic agents
gado- diagnostic agents, gadolinium derivatives
-gatran thrombin inhibitor, antithrombotic agents
gest steroids, progestogens
-giline MAO-inhibitors type B
-gillin antibiotics produced by Aspergillus strains
gli antihyperglycaemics, sulfonamide derivatives
-golide dopamine receptor agonists, ergoline derivatives
-gramostim see -stim
-grastim see -stim
-grel- or -grel platelet aggregation inhibitors
guan- antihypertensives, guanidine derivatives

I

-icam anti-inflammatory, isoxicam derivatives
-ifene antiestrogens, clomifene and tamoxifen derivatives
-ilide Class III antiarrhythmics, sematilide derivatives
imex immunostimulants
-imod immunomodulators, both stimulant/suppressie and stimulant
-imus immunosuppressants (other than antineoplastics)
io- iodine-containing contrast media
-io- or iod- iodine containing compounds other than contrast media
-iptan serotonin (5HT1) receptor agonists, sumatriptan derivatives
-irudin hirudin derivatives
-isomide antiarrhythmics, disopyramide derivatives
-ium quarternary ammonium compounds
- curium (curare-like substances)
-izine diphenylmethyl piperazine derivatives
-rizine (antihistaminics/cerebral (or peripheral) vasodilators)

K

-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;
-nakin (ll-1 derivatives)
-leukin (ll-2 derivatives)
-plestim (ll-3 derivatives)
-exakin (ll-6 derivatives)
-kinra interleukin receptor antagonists;
-nakinra (ll-1 receptor antagonists)
-kiren renin inhibitors

L

-leukin see -kin
-lipastat see -stat
-lukast see -ast

M

-mab monoclonal antibodies (for details please see page …..)
-mantadine adamantine derivatives;
-mantine, -mantone
-meline cholinergic agents, arecoline derivatives
-mer polymers
-mesine sigma receptor ligands
-mestane aromatase inhibitors
-metacin anti-inflammatory, indometacin derivatives
-micin antibiotics obtained from various Micromonospora
-monam monobactam antibiotics
-morelin see -relin
-mostim see -stim
-motine antivirals, quinoline derivatives
-moxin monoamine oxidase inhibitors, hydrazine derivatives ** not part of definition
-mustine antineoplastic, alkylating agents, (b-chloroethyl) amine derivatives
-mycin antibiotics, produced by Streptomyces strains

N

nab cannabinol derivatives
-nakin see -kin
-nakinra see -kinra
nal- narcotic antagonists/agonists related to normorphine
-nercept tumour necrosis factor antagonist
-nermin see -ermin
nic nicotinic acid or nicotinoyl alcohol derivatives
-nicate antihypercholesterolaemic and/or vasodilating nicotinic acid esters
-nidazole antiprotozoals, metronidazole derivatives
nifur- 5-nitrofuran derivatives
-nixin anti-inflammatory, anilinonicotinic acid derivatives
-nonacog see -cog

O

-octocog see -cog
-olol b-adrenoreceptor antagonists
-alol: aromatic ring –CH-CH2-NH-R related to -olols
-olone steroids other than prednisolone derivatives
-opamine dopaminergic agents dopamine derivatives used as cardiac stimulat/antihypertensives/diuretics
-onide steroids for topical use, acetal derivatives
-(o)nidine antihypertensives, clonidine derivatives
-orex anoretics
orphan narcotic antagonists/agonists, morphinan derivates;
-orphine, -orphinol, orphone
-oxacin antibacterials, nalidixic acid derivatives
-oxan(e) benzodioxane derivatives
-oxanide antiparasitics, salicylanides and analogues
-oxef antibiotics, oxacefalosporanic acid derivatives
-oxetine antidepressants, fluoxetine derivatives

P

-pafant platelet-activating factor antagonists
-pamide diuretics, sulfamoylbenzoic acid derivatives
-pamil coronary vasodilators, verapamil derivatives
-parcin glycopeptides antibiotics
-parin heparin derivatives including low molecular mass heparins
-penem analogues of penicillanic acid antibiotics modified in the five-membered ring
-peridol see –perone
-peridone see –perone
-perone tranquillizers, neuroleptics, 4’-fluoro-4-piperidinobutyrophenone derivatives;
- peridol (antipsychotics, haloperidol derivatives);
-peridone (antipsychotics, risperidone derivatives)
-pidem hypnotics/sedatives, zolpidem derivatives
-pin(e) tricyclic compounds
-apine (psychoactive);
-cilpine (antiepileptic);
-dipine (see –dipine)
-zepine (antidepressant/neuroleptic;
-oxepin, -oxopine, -sopine, -tepines
-piprazole psychotropics, phenylpiperazine derivatives
-pirox antimycotic pyridine derivatives
-planin antibacterials (Actinoplanes strains)
-platin antineoplastic agents, platinum derivatives
-plestim see –stim
-plon pyrazolo[-]pyrimidine derivatives, used as anxiolytics, sedatives, hypnotics
-poetin erythropoietin type blood factors
-porfin benzoporphyrin derivatives
-pramine substances of the imipramine group
-prazole antiulcer, benzimidazole derivatives
pred prednisone and prednisolone derivatives;
methazone or –metasone, -betasol
-pressin vasoconstrictors, vasopressin derivatives
-pride sulpiride derivatives
-pril(at) angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
-prim antibacterials, trimethoprim derivatives
-profen anti-inflammatory agents, ibuprofen derivatives
prost prostaglandins;
-prostil (prostaglandins, anti-ulcer)
-prostil see -prost

Q

-quinil benzodiazepine receptor partial agonists (quinoline derivatives)

R

-racetam amide type nootrope agents, piracetam derivatives
-relin prehormones or hormone-release stimulating peptides;
-morelin (growth hormone release-stimulating peptides);
-tirelin (thyrotropin releasing hormone analogues)
-relix hormone-release inhibiting peptides
-renone aldosterone antagonists, spironolactone derivates
-restat (or -restat-) see –stat
retin retinol derivatives
-ribine ribofuranil-derivatives of the pyrazofurin type
rifa- antibiotics, rifamycin derivatives
-rinone cardiac stimulants, amrinone derivatives
-rizine see –izine
-rozole aromatase inhibitors, imidozole-triazole derivatives
-rubicin antineoplastic antibiotics, daunorubicin derivatives

S

sal salicylic acid derivatives:
-sal-, salazo-, -salazine/-salazide, -salan
-sartan angiotensin II receptor antagonists, antihypertensive (non-peptidic)
-semide diuretics, furosemide derivatives
-sermin see –ermin
-serpine derivatives of Rauwolfia alkaloids
-setron serotonin receptor antagonists (5-HT3), not fitting into other established groups of serotonin receptor antagonists
som- growth hormone derivatives
-spirone anxiolytics, buspirone derivatives
-stan- or -ster- steroids, androgens
-stat (or -stat-) enzyme inhibitors:
-lipastat (pancreatic lipase inhibitors);
restat or -restat- (aldose-reducing inhibitors);
-vastatin (antilipidemic substances, HMG CoA reductase inhibitors
-steine mucolytics, other than bromhexine derivatives
-ster- androgens/anabolic steroids:
-testosterone, -sterone, -ster-, -gesterone, -sterone, sterol, ster,
-(a)steride(antineoplastics)
-stim colony stimulating factors:
-grastim (granulocyte colony stimulatory factor (G-CSF) type) substances;
-gramostim (granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) type substances);
-mostim (macrophage stimulating factors (M-CSF) type substances);
-plestim (interleukin-3 analogues and derivatives)
sulfa- anti-infectives, sulfonamides
-sulfan antineoplastic, alkylating agents, methanesulfonates

T

-tecan antineoplastics, topoisomerase I inhibitors
-tepa antineoplastics, thiotepa derivatives
-teplase see -ase
-terol bronchodilators, phenethylamine derivatives
(previously -prenaline or -terenol)
-terone antiandrogens
-tiazem calcium channel blockers, diltiazem derivatives
-tide peptides and glycopeptides
(for special groups of peptides see -actide, -pressin, -relin, -tocin)
-tidine histamine H2-receptor antagonists, cimetidine derivatives
-tirelin see -relin
-tizide diuretics, chlorothiazide derivatives
-tocin oxytocin derivatives
-toin antiepileptics, hydantoin derivatives
-trexate folic acid analogues
-tricin antibiotics, polyene derivatives
-triptyline antidepressants, dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptane or cyclopheptene derivatives
-troban thromboxane A2-receptor antagonists; antithrombotic agents
-trodast see -ast
trop atropine derivatives

U

-uplase see -ase
-uracil uracil derivatives used as thyroid antagonists and as antineoplastics
-uridine uridine derivatives used as antiviral agents and as antineoplastics; also -udine­

V

-vastatin see -stat
-verine spasmolytics with a papaverine-like action
vin- or -vin- vinca alkaloids
vir antivirals (underfined group):
-amivir (neuraminidase inhibitors);
-cavir (carbocyclic nucleosides);
-virsen (antisense oligonucleotides)
-virsen see vir
-vudine antiviral; antineoplastics, zidovudine derivatives

X

-xanox antiallergic respiratory tract drugs, xanoxic acid derivatives

Z

-zofone alozafone derivatives
-zepine see -pine

Return to International Nonproprietary Names.

Explanatory notes:

Stem Definition
mer- or -mer- mercury-containing drugs, antimicrobial or diuretic
(deleted from General Principles in List 28 prop. INN)
mito- antineoplastics, nucleotoxic agents
(deleted from General Principles in List 24 prop. INN)
-ol alcohols and phenols
(deleted from General Principles in 14th report)
-quine, quin quinoline derivatives
(deleted from General Principles in List 28 prop. INN)
-stigmine anticholinesterases
(deleted from General Principles in List 24 prop. INN)