by RNnyc

HI! im currently reviewing for the NCLEX and I am so poor in meds.
I have no problems w calculations - but with the meds.
How do I study meds? By classification, yes, and recognizing the name endings... but there are lots of meds!
Do you have any tips for me? I didnt take any Pharma course so maybe thats the reason why this is difficult for me. I should've taken it.
suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

You didn't have a pharm class? wow! I would say know each class of drug and what they do. Ie, antiemetics, diuretics, beta adrenergic's and so forth.

WHat I found helpful was to match the illnesses/disease with the drugs that treat it. CHF~ Digoxin, Lasix GERD= Proton Pump Inhibitors....etc.etc...Know how the mechanism of action and how to evaluate if the drug is working or not. I would first just know the most common diseases and what drugs treat them. Diabetes, Addisons, Cushings, Nausea, CHF, MI, GERD, Gastric Ulcers, Duodenal Ulcers, Cancer, ESRD, Hypokalemia, Cirrhosis. and on and on.....

I did study endings because I heard there were drugs on the NCLEX that no one recognized and I thought if I memorized the endings I could figure out what the drug was. It worked. The drugs I got on the NCLEX, had endings that I was familiar with.

"ide" Diuretcis
"zole" proton pump inhibitors
"parin" Anticoagulants
"Zines" Antiemetic, Anticonvulsant, Antianxiety
"olol" beta blockers
"pril" ACE inhibitors
"caine" anesthestic
"stigme" cholinergics
"sone" Glucocosteroids/Antiinflammatory

My spelling may be bad. My book with this information is in my basement. I will post more later once I retreive it.

Good luck! Let me know if You need any more help.

Tiffany, RN

thanks, tiffany!
yes, that's also how i study meds ...
THank you for the confirmation.
AND CONGRATULATIONS!