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:
- The hyphens indicate the position of the stem, prefix, infix or suffix, within the INN. In the event that the hyphen is absent, the stem may be used in any position within the name.
- The following common stems have been discontinued:
| 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) |