Many medications and drugs have names ending in "ine" or "is". In reality, this observation is based on naming conventions in chemistry and pharmacology, tied to the chemical properties and classifications of compounds. Explanation below.
The names of medications are governed by conventions established to simplify understanding for healthcare professionals. For instance, the suffix "ine" is often found in molecules belonging to certain pharmacological classes, particularly alkaloids, stimulants, and analgesics.
Some well-known examples include morphine, caffeine, and codeine. These substances share the characteristic of being alkaloids, natural compounds often extracted from plants, and their suffix makes it easy to identify them within this family. Generally, alkaloids are nitrogen-containing substances, which also explains the recurrence of this suffix in their names.
Drugs that stimulate the central nervous system, such as cocaine or amphetamine, also feature the "ine" suffix. This reflects their belonging to the same chemical or pharmacological category, offering similar effects on the body. These molecules often share analogous chemical structures, which justifies the usage of a common suffix.
The "is" suffix, on the other hand, is less common in the world of drugs or medications. However, it appears in certain well-known drugs such as cannabis, which is often classified among psychoactive substances. Other examples include lysergic acid (LSD), sometimes referred to as "lysergis." When it does appear, it is often linked to scientific terms related to processes or pathological states rather than pharmacological molecules. For example, terms like "cystitis" or "hepatitis" describe inflammations rather than chemical compounds.
In pharmacology, suffixes are often chosen to indicate a class or therapeutic effect. For instance, many antihistamines end with "ine" (such as diphenhydramine) to signal their action against histamine, a molecule involved in allergic reactions. This allows healthcare professionals to quickly identify drugs with similar effects and facilitates prescribing.
Thus, suffixes such as "ine" in drug names are not chosen randomly. They follow a chemical and pharmacological logic that helps in better understanding their nature and effects. For the general public, this might seem like mere coincidence or a linguistic trend, but for specialists, these suffixes are key indicators of the composition and effects of medications.
These naming conventions aim to harmonize and make the classification of medications more comprehensible, especially in a global context where professionals may sometimes have to work with unfamiliar names.