Which suffix is associated with many antianxiety medications such as diazepam?

Which suffix is associated with many antianxiety medications such as diazepam?

• A. Lam
• B. Pam
• C. Vir
• D. Sone

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is recognizing naming clues that point to a drug class. Many anti-anxiety agents belong to the benzodiazepine class, and a common naming cue for drugs in this class is the ending -pam. Diazepam is a classic benzodiazepine, and several other benzodiazepines also end with -pam (even though some may end with -lam or other variants, the -pam pattern is a familiar, widely used cue). These medications work by enhancing GABA’s effects in the brain, producing anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) and other CNS effects. The -pam suffix helps you quickly identify drugs in this class, which is why it’s the best answer. The other suffixes point to different drug families (for example, -vir is typically antiviral, and -sone is commonly found in corticosteroids), so they don’t signal benzodiazepines.

The main idea here is recognizing naming clues that point to a drug class. Many anti-anxiety agents belong to the benzodiazepine class, and a common naming cue for drugs in this class is the ending -pam. Diazepam is a classic benzodiazepine, and several other benzodiazepines also end with -pam (even though some may end with -lam or other variants, the -pam pattern is a familiar, widely used cue). These medications work by enhancing GABA’s effects in the brain, producing anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) and other CNS effects. The -pam suffix helps you quickly identify drugs in this class, which is why it’s the best answer. The other suffixes point to different drug families (for example, -vir is typically antiviral, and -sone is commonly found in corticosteroids), so they don’t signal benzodiazepines.