✦ The 40 Patterns Method

Don't memorize drug names.
Learn the patterns.

RxPrimer teaches you the 40 drug name stems that unlock hundreds of medications — then drills you with 1,313+ PTCE and 214+ NAPLEX practice questions, all with full rationales.

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-statinCholesterol
-ololBeta Blocker
-prilACE Inhibitor
-sartanARB
-mycinAntibiotic
-oxacinFluoroquinolone
-azoleAntifungal
-dipineCa² Channel
RxPrimer App
40Drug Name Patterns
46Drug Primer Modules
1,313+PTCE Practice Questions
214+NAPLEX Practice Questions
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Built for pharmacy students

Everything you need to pass your pharmacy exams

RxPrimer pairs foundational drug knowledge with targeted exam prep — so you walk in knowing both the "what" and the "why."

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Drug Primer

Learn the 40 drug name patterns that unlock hundreds of medications. 46 guided modules built from the ground up for pharmacy students.

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PTCE Prep

1,313+ practice questions with detailed rationales, timed sessions, and progress analytics — built around what the PTCE actually tests.

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NAPLEX Prep

214+ NAPLEX-level questions covering clinical pharmacology, calculations, and patient care scenarios with full explanations for every answer.

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Smart Review

Spaced repetition flashcards powered by the SM-2 algorithm — the science behind Anki. Review each concept at the exact moment you're about to forget it.

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Audio & Commute Mode

Studio quality audio pronunciation for every drug name and stem. Enable Commute Mode and study hands-free through your car speakers or earbuds.

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AI Mnemonics

AI-generated memory aids for drug names and stem patterns — because "just memorize it" isn't a strategy, but a well-crafted mnemonic is.

The 40 Patterns Method

Learn the pattern. Unlock the drug class.

Drug names aren't random — they follow patterns called stems. The suffix "-statin" means cholesterol. "-olol" means beta blocker. "-pril" means ACE inhibitor. Once you know 40 stems, you have instant pharmacology context for hundreds of drug names — before you even read the question.

  • 46 guided modules from fundamentals to advanced drug classes
  • 170 drugs covered in depth with mechanisms and indications
  • Mastery quizzes that confirm you actually know each stem
  • Pre-Medical Foundation vocabulary so the pharmacology clicks
  • AI-generated mnemonics for the hardest patterns to memorize
Start Drug Primer →
StemExample DrugsClass
-statin Atorvastatin, Simvastatin Cholesterol
-olol Metoprolol, Atenolol Beta Blocker
-pril Lisinopril, Enalapril ACE Inhibitor
-sartan Losartan, Valsartan ARB
-dipine Amlodipine, Nifedipine Calcium Channel
-mycin Azithromycin, Clarithromycin Antibiotic
-oxacin Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin Fluoroquinolone
-azole Fluconazole, Metronidazole Antifungal
PTCE & NAPLEX Prep

Practice questions that build real confidence.

RxPrimer's question banks are designed around what you'll actually face on exam day — with full rationales so you understand not just the right answer, but exactly why it's right.

  • 1,313+ PTCE practice questions with detailed rationales
  • 214+ NAPLEX questions covering clinical and patient care scenarios
  • Timed practice sessions that simulate real exam conditions
  • Progress analytics so you know exactly where you stand
  • Instant feedback on every correct and incorrect answer
Start Practicing →
PTCE Question 47 of 100

A patient is prescribed metoprolol succinate 50 mg daily. Which drug name stem correctly identifies its pharmacological class?

A.  -sartan
B.  -olol  ✓
C.  -pril
D.  -statin
Rationale: The "-olol" stem identifies beta adrenergic blockers. Metoprolol is a selective β₁ blocker used for hypertension and heart failure. "-sartan" = ARBs, "-pril" = ACE inhibitors, "-statin" = cholesterol-lowering HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.
Audio & Commute Mode

Study with your ears when your hands are busy.

Every drug name and stem pattern in RxPrimer has studio quality audio pronunciation. Enable Commute Mode and study through your car speakers or earbuds — no screen, no hands, just learning.

  • Studio quality pronunciation for every drug name and stem
  • Phonetic breakdowns for the toughest names to say out loud
  • Hands-free Commute Mode — audio plays automatically as you drive
  • Audio available for both drug names and medical terminology stems
Try Audio Mode →

Now Playing

Atorvastatin

a · TOR · va · sta · tin

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Stem: -statin Cholesterol-lowering agent (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor)
🚗 Commute Mode  ·  Hands-free enabled
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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Drug names aren't random — they follow predictable patterns called stems. The "-olol" suffix always means beta blocker. "-statin" always means cholesterol drugs. "-pril" always means ACE inhibitor. RxPrimer's Drug Primer teaches you 40 of these stems through guided modules and quizzes, so you can decode any drug name you encounter on the exam — or in real clinical practice.
RxPrimer focuses primarily on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE) and the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX). The Drug Primer and flashcard content also supports general pharmacy school coursework and pre-pharmacy prerequisites. The Pre-Medical Foundation module builds medical terminology vocabulary applicable across healthcare careers.
Yes — RxPrimer is free to download and use. The free tier includes 3 Drug Primer modules, basic SM-2 flashcards, and 10 practice questions per day. Premium unlocks all 46 Drug Primer modules, the full PTCE and NAPLEX question banks (1,500+ questions total), Audio & Commute Mode, AI mnemonics, and detailed progress analytics.
RxPrimer is available on iPhone, iPad, Android phones, Android tablets, macOS (Mac App Store), and as a web app at rxprimer.com/app — so you can study from any browser without downloading anything. Your progress syncs across all platforms when you sign in with your account.
RxPrimer uses the SM-2 spaced repetition algorithm — the same approach behind Anki. When you review a flashcard, you rate how well you knew it: Again, Hard, Good, or Easy. The algorithm then schedules your next review at the optimal interval. Cards you struggle with appear more often; cards you've mastered appear less frequently. Over time this maximizes retention with the minimum amount of study time.
Commute Mode is a hands-free study session that plays drug name pronunciations, stem explanations, and flashcard content through your speakers or earbuds — no screen required. It's designed for students who want to turn commute time, gym time, or any other hands-busy moment into productive study time.
Pre-Medical Foundation is a medical terminology module inside RxPrimer that teaches the roots, prefixes, and suffixes that make up clinical language. It's designed to help pre-pharmacy and pharmacy technician students build the vocabulary foundation that makes pharmacology much easier to understand and retain.
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Pharmacy exam prep that finally makes sense.

Learn the patterns. Practice the questions. Ace the exam. Free to start — no credit card needed.

Launch Web App → See the Method