While antibiotics are powerful weapons against infection, navigating their complex world can be daunting. With so many options, remembering their names and uses can be a real challenge. That’s where we come in! We’re here to help you learn how to remember antibiotics.
Antibiotic classes and drug names
Start familiarizing yourself with antibiotic names by studying classes of antibiotics and examples of their common drug names. Here’s a list to start.
1. Penicillins
There are five groups of antibiotics in the penicillin class. A few common drug names include:
- Amoxicillin
- Ampicillin
- Oxacillin
2. Tetracyclines
Tetracyclines can be used to treat acne among other infections. Some generic tetracycline drugs are:
- Tetracycline
- Doxycycline
- Minocycline
3. Cephalosporins
There are multiple generations of cephalosporins. Each generation is grouped based on the bacteria type they’re effective against. Check out these three examples:
4. Fluoroquinolones
There are strong warnings against fluoroquinolones due to their serious side effects. Examples of this drug class include:
- Ciprofloxacin
- Levofloxacin
- Gemiifloxacin
5. Lincomycins
Lincomycins are used to treat serious infections. Some common generic drugs for lincomycins are:
- Clindamycin
- Lincomycin
6. Macrolides
Macrolides often treat whooping cough, community-acquired pneumonia, and simple skin infections. Generic drug examples include:
- Azithromycin
- Clarithromycin
- Fidaxomicin
7. Sulfonamides
Sulfonamides treat UTIs and ear infections. The following are commonly used:
- Sulfamethoxazole
- Sulfasalazine
8. Glycopeptides
Glycopeptides are used as a last resort to treat infections resistant to other antibiotics. Three drug examples are:
- Telavancin
- Vancomycin
- Oritavancin
9. Aminoglycosides
Aminoglycosides are quick to kill bacteria and are typically given through the vein. Some examples are:
- Gentamicin
- Tobramycin
- Amikacin
10. Carbapenems
From kidney infections to pneumonia, carbapenems treat serious infections. Names for antibiotics in this drug class include:
- Meropenem
- Ertapenem
- Impenem
Easy way to remember antibiotic endings
Now you know some drug names for antibiotics, but the easiest way to remember them? Studying with picture mnemonics! From helping future pharmacy technicians master meds to nurses acing pharmacology in nursing school, Picmonic has a vast picture mnemonic library for pharmacology.
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Common antibiotic endings
So, what’s in a name? For antibiotics, it’s mice, cycles, oxen, and chefs! Who knew? Antibiotics have all kinds of suffixes, stems, and prefixes. Check out our infographic and these common antibiotic endings to kick off your studying.
-mycin/-micin
The ‘-mycin’ or ‘-micin’ antibiotic class is aminoglycoside or macrolide. They inhibit protein synthesis in bacteria.
-cycline
Antibiotics ending in ‘-cycline’ are tetracyclines that interfere with protein synthesis and are used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections. A brand name cycline antibiotic is Tetracyn.
-thromycin
Antibiotics ending in ‘-thromycin’ (eg. azithromycin, clarithromycin) are macrolides that inhibit protein synthesis in bacteria.
-floxacin
Antibiotics ending in ‘-floxacin’ (eg. ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin) belong to the fluoroquinolone class. They inhibit DNA gyrase and topoisomerase, disrupting DNA replication and repair in bacteria.
-cef/ceph
The antibiotic stem ‘-cef’ or ‘-ceph’ represents a specific class of antibiotics known as cephalosporins. Cephalosporins are a group of beta-lactam antibiotics closely related to penicillins in terms of their structure and mechanism of action.
-cillin
Antibiotics that end with ‘-cillin’ represent the penicillin class. Penicillins attach to and damage the walls of bacteria cells, eventually destroying them.
-sulfa
Antibiotics with ‘-sulfa’ are part of the sulfonamides which inhibit converting p-aminobenzoic acid to dihydropteroate. Bacteria need dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) to help produce folic acid to multiply. No production? No growth!
-penem
If you guessed that ‘-penem’ is part of the antibiotic class carbapenems, you’re right. Like penicillins and cephalosporins, carbapenems are part of the beta-lactam antibiotics and treat severe bacterial infections.
