What does an “USAN stem” for sartans tell you?
USAN (United States Adopted Name) stems are letter patterns in drug names that hint at the drug’s class. For angiotensin II receptor antagonists (“ARBs”), the key stem is typically “-sartan” (for example, losartan, valsartan, irbesartan, telmisartan). These agents block the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor. [1]
Which angiotensin II receptor antagonist drugs use the “-sartan” stem?
Many ARBs use “-sartan” as the prominent class marker in the USAN name, including common examples like losartan, valsartan, irbesartan, and telmisartan. [1]
Why does the “-sartan” stem matter for searching drug names?
If you’re looking for angiotensin II receptor antagonists, searching for USAN names ending in “sartan” is usually effective because the stem is used across the ARB class for naming consistency. [1]
Are all ARBs named with “-sartan”?
Most standard ARBs do use the “-sartan” stem in their USAN names, but drug naming and classification can involve edge cases (for example, combination products or closely related compounds). Checking the specific USAN entry or pharmacology source is the safest way when a name doesn’t obviously end with “sartan.” [1]
Sources
- USAN drug stems / naming conventions for angiotensin II receptor antagonists (sartans) — https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/ama-drug-names-and-stems