Drug Recognition Guide 2023
As a student nurse it can be difficult getting to know particular drugs and
distinguishing between the various drug categories that you may be asked
(under supervision) to administer. This is a quick reference guide that can
make it easier to recognise and remember drug names.
NOTE: this is for general guidance only – it is not intended as a ‘‘fool proof’’
way to identify all drug categories. Remember that there will always be
exceptions to the rule. Nevertheless, this guide may be helpful while you’re
getting to know your drugs more thoroughly.
The drug names used in this guide refer to the drug’s generic name as listed on
the prescription sheet (and not to the drug’s brand name - usually highlighted in
bold lettering on the drug box itself). The colour coding used in this guide is for
ease of recognition purposes only and has no clinical significance. The guide lists
more than 100 different drugs subdivided into 16 major pharmacological groups.
One relatively simple way that can be used to help identify what category a
particular drug belongs to is to look at the letters at the end of a drug’s name –
For example…
1) ACE Inhibitors (anti-hypertensive drugs used to lower abnormally
elevated blood pressure and to make the heart beat more efficiently).
ACE inhibitors end with the letters ‘‘pril’’ –
• Captopril
• Enalapril
• Fosinopril
• Lisinopril
• Perindopril
• Quinapril
• Ramipril
• Trandolapril
2) Alpha-blockers (drugs used to lower elevated blood pressure).
Alpha-blockers usually end with the letters ‘‘zosin’’ –
• Doxazosin
• Prazosin
• Terazosin
An exception to the rule: –
• Indoramin (an alpha-blocker that doesn’t end in ‘‘zosin’’).
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, Drug Recognition Guide 2023
3) Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) (drugs used to
lower blood pressure) end with the letters ‘‘sartan’’ –
• Candesartan
• Irbesartan
• Losartan
• Telmisartan
• Valsartan
4) Class II calcium antagonists (drugs used to lower blood
pressure and to treat angina) end with ‘‘ipine’’ –
• Amlodipine
• Felodipine
• Isradipine
• Lacidipine
• Nicardipine
• Nifedipine
Note a number of drugs with superficially similar endings: -
Carbamazepine (an anti-convulsant drug used to treat epilepsy) and
Olanzapine (an anti-psychotic used to treat schizophrenia).
5) Beta-blockers (drugs used to lower blood pressure and to treat
conditions such as angina and anxiety) usually end with ‘‘lol’’ or ‘‘olol’’ –
• Atenolol
• Bisoprolol
• Metoprolol
• Propranolol
• Sotalol
Not to be mistaken for drugs that end in ‘‘mol’’. Many drugs that end with
‘‘mol’’ contain Paracetamol as a constituent part.
6) Paracetamol (painkillers that also have an anti-pyretic effect). The
prefix ‘‘co-’’ at the beginning of some drug names is an indication that
they are a combination of two different drugs. For example: -
• Co-codamol = (Codeine & Paracetamol).
• Co-dydramol = (Dihydrocodeine & Paracetamol).
• Domperamol = (Domperidone & Paracetamol).
An exception to the rule: -
• Salbutamol (a bronchodilator used to relieve breathlessness
which, despite ending in ‘‘mol’’, does not contain Paracetamol).
2
As a student nurse it can be difficult getting to know particular drugs and
distinguishing between the various drug categories that you may be asked
(under supervision) to administer. This is a quick reference guide that can
make it easier to recognise and remember drug names.
NOTE: this is for general guidance only – it is not intended as a ‘‘fool proof’’
way to identify all drug categories. Remember that there will always be
exceptions to the rule. Nevertheless, this guide may be helpful while you’re
getting to know your drugs more thoroughly.
The drug names used in this guide refer to the drug’s generic name as listed on
the prescription sheet (and not to the drug’s brand name - usually highlighted in
bold lettering on the drug box itself). The colour coding used in this guide is for
ease of recognition purposes only and has no clinical significance. The guide lists
more than 100 different drugs subdivided into 16 major pharmacological groups.
One relatively simple way that can be used to help identify what category a
particular drug belongs to is to look at the letters at the end of a drug’s name –
For example…
1) ACE Inhibitors (anti-hypertensive drugs used to lower abnormally
elevated blood pressure and to make the heart beat more efficiently).
ACE inhibitors end with the letters ‘‘pril’’ –
• Captopril
• Enalapril
• Fosinopril
• Lisinopril
• Perindopril
• Quinapril
• Ramipril
• Trandolapril
2) Alpha-blockers (drugs used to lower elevated blood pressure).
Alpha-blockers usually end with the letters ‘‘zosin’’ –
• Doxazosin
• Prazosin
• Terazosin
An exception to the rule: –
• Indoramin (an alpha-blocker that doesn’t end in ‘‘zosin’’).
1
, Drug Recognition Guide 2023
3) Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) (drugs used to
lower blood pressure) end with the letters ‘‘sartan’’ –
• Candesartan
• Irbesartan
• Losartan
• Telmisartan
• Valsartan
4) Class II calcium antagonists (drugs used to lower blood
pressure and to treat angina) end with ‘‘ipine’’ –
• Amlodipine
• Felodipine
• Isradipine
• Lacidipine
• Nicardipine
• Nifedipine
Note a number of drugs with superficially similar endings: -
Carbamazepine (an anti-convulsant drug used to treat epilepsy) and
Olanzapine (an anti-psychotic used to treat schizophrenia).
5) Beta-blockers (drugs used to lower blood pressure and to treat
conditions such as angina and anxiety) usually end with ‘‘lol’’ or ‘‘olol’’ –
• Atenolol
• Bisoprolol
• Metoprolol
• Propranolol
• Sotalol
Not to be mistaken for drugs that end in ‘‘mol’’. Many drugs that end with
‘‘mol’’ contain Paracetamol as a constituent part.
6) Paracetamol (painkillers that also have an anti-pyretic effect). The
prefix ‘‘co-’’ at the beginning of some drug names is an indication that
they are a combination of two different drugs. For example: -
• Co-codamol = (Codeine & Paracetamol).
• Co-dydramol = (Dihydrocodeine & Paracetamol).
• Domperamol = (Domperidone & Paracetamol).
An exception to the rule: -
• Salbutamol (a bronchodilator used to relieve breathlessness
which, despite ending in ‘‘mol’’, does not contain Paracetamol).
2
