How do you study for Pharmacology?!?

Nursing Students General Students

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I just started Pharmacology this week and I am already stressed out by just looking at the vast information that is provided in the powerpoints for next week's class on alpha and beta stuff (epinephrine, norepinephrine, etc.) My question is: How exactly am I suppose to approach studying this material?!? Theres the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, adverse effects, contraindications, /and therapeutic effects of each drug, am I suppose to memorize all of that for each drug that the instructor talks about?

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

I won a big box of drug cards from an instructor this last semester, and those will DEFINITELY come in handy.....

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Don't memorize by the drug, memorize the different categories of drugs and then file away the medications in that file along with information that may be unique to that med seperate from the rest in that category.

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Specializes in CCU, MICU, Tele, L&D.

i graduated a year ago. pharm was a big part of my NCLEX. this site may help

http://www.prep4usmle.com/forum/thread/6671

*study class of drugs first, then the name, then the side effects. it will flow for you, take a big deep breath

Narcotic side effects

"SCRAM if you see a drug dealer":

Synergistic CNS depression with other drugs

Constipation

Respiratory depression

Addiction

Miosis

Cardiovascular system

©¬2-adrenergic agonists

"I D-R-E-A-M-T of practicing medicine as easy as ABC."

"I D-R-E-A-M-T" (where Dream rhymes with -ine, -drine)

I-Isoproterenol

D-Dobutamine

R-Ritodrine

E-Epinephrine

A-Albuterol

M-Metaproterenol

T-Terbutaline

©¬2 agonist therapy is indicated in A-B-C

A-Asthma

B-Bronchospasm in Bronchiolitis

C-CHF, COPD

Propranolol and related '-olol' drugs: usage

"olol" is just two backwards lower case b's

Backward b's stand for "beta blocker"

Beta blockers include acebutolol, betaxolol, bisoprolol, oxprenolol, propranolol

Captopril (an ACE inhibitor) side effects

CAPTOPRIL:

Cough

Angioedema/ Agranulocystosis

Proteinuria

Taste changes

Orthostatic hypotension

Pregnancy contraindication/ Pancreatitis

Renal failure (and renal artery stenosis contraindication)/ Rash

Increased potassium

Leukopenia/ Liver toxicity

Beta-blocker main contraindications / cautions

ABCDE:

Asthma

Block (heart block)

COPD

Diabetes mellitus

Electrolyte (hyperkalemia)

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Specializes in CCU, MICU, Tele, L&D.

Treatment of Malignant Hyperthermia

Sunday Hot Day, Better Give Iced Fluids Today!

S: Stop all triggering agents, give 100% O2

H: Hyperventilate

D: Dantrolene 2.5mg/kg

B: Bicarbonate

G: Glucose and Insulin

I: IV Fluids, Cooling Blanket

F: Fluid Output; Furosemide

T: Tachycardia, be prepared to treat V Tach

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Specializes in CCU, MICU, Tele, L&D.

Hypertensive Emergencies

Lucy and Desi Arnaz of the I Love Lucy fame were an intense, Hypertense couple,

but now...

"Lucy and Desi's Ghosts Reside in the Night Sky. "

Lucy - Labetol

Desi - Diazoxide

Ghosts - Ganglionic blocking agent: Trimethaphan

Reside - Reserpine

Night - Nitroglycerin, nifedipine

Sky - Sodium Nitroprusside

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Specializes in CCU, MICU, Tele, L&D.

CHF treatment

"Captains Fumble Call Girls' But ts":

In order from 1st to 5th:

Captopril

Furosemide, diuretics

Calcium channel blokers

cardiac Gycosides

dobutamine

Therapy for Asthma -

A-S-Th-M-A

A-Albuterol

S-Steroids (corticosteroids)

Th-Theophylline

M-Muscarinic antagonists: ipratropium

A-Aminophylline

Gastrointestinal system

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Wow, thanks for all of the helpful mnemonics!! I start pharm in 3 weeks and am kind of nervous about it. I think these will definently help. Thanks again!

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amazing! just what i needed... i may not be in any pharm class yet but its really a big help even in mere reviews on the subject.

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i graduated a year ago. pharm was a big part of my NCLEX. this site may help

http://www.prep4usmle.com/forum/thread/6671

*study class of drugs first, then the name, then the side effects. it will flow for you, take a big deep breath

Narcotic side effects

"SCRAM if you see a drug dealer":

Synergistic CNS depression with other drugs

Constipation

Respiratory depression

Addiction

Miosis

Cardiovascular system

©¬2-adrenergic agonists

"I D-R-E-A-M-T of practicing medicine as easy as ABC."

"I D-R-E-A-M-T" (where Dream rhymes with -ine, -drine)

I-Isoproterenol

D-Dobutamine

R-Ritodrine

E-Epinephrine

A-Albuterol

M-Metaproterenol

T-Terbutaline

©¬2 agonist therapy is indicated in A-B-C

A-Asthma

B-Bronchospasm in Bronchiolitis

C-CHF, COPD

Propranolol and related '-olol' drugs: usage

"olol" is just two backwards lower case b's

Backward b's stand for "beta blocker"

Beta blockers include acebutolol, betaxolol, bisoprolol, oxprenolol, propranolol

Captopril (an ACE inhibitor) side effects

CAPTOPRIL:

Cough

Angioedema/ Agranulocystosis

Proteinuria

Taste changes

Orthostatic hypotension

Pregnancy contraindication/ Pancreatitis

Renal failure (and renal artery stenosis contraindication)/ Rash

Increased potassium

Leukopenia/ Liver toxicity

Beta-blocker main contraindications / cautions

ABCDE:

Asthma

Block (heart block)

COPD

Diabetes mellitus

Electrolyte (hyperkalemia)

Great site!!!!

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Thank you everyone for the great advice and great sites. I feel less stressed out now

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