If a drug ends with -pril, what class does it most likely belong to?

If a drug ends with -pril, what class does it most likely belong to?

• A. ACE inhibitor
• B. Beta-blocker
• C. Diuretic
• D. Calcium channel blocker

Answer: (A)

Suffix patterns in drug names help identify their class. Drugs ending with -pril are ACE inhibitors. They inhibit the angiotensin-converting enzyme, reducing angiotensin II production. This leads to vasodilation and lower aldosterone levels, which decreases blood pressure and reduces the heart’s workload. Because of this mechanism, -pril drugs are commonly used to treat hypertension, heart failure, and to protect kidney function in diabetes. Other major classes have different endings—beta-blockers often end in -olol, many diuretics end in -ide or -one, and calcium channel blockers commonly end in -pine or -amil/-apamil—so the -pril ending most strongly points to the ACE inhibitor class.

Suffix patterns in drug names help identify their class. Drugs ending with -pril are ACE inhibitors. They inhibit the angiotensin-converting enzyme, reducing angiotensin II production. This leads to vasodilation and lower aldosterone levels, which decreases blood pressure and reduces the heart’s workload. Because of this mechanism, -pril drugs are commonly used to treat hypertension, heart failure, and to protect kidney function in diabetes. Other major classes have different endings—beta-blockers often end in -olol, many diuretics end in -ide or -one, and calcium channel blockers commonly end in -pine or -amil/-apamil—so the -pril ending most strongly points to the ACE inhibitor class.