Any tips about memorizing drugs for Pharm?

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I have no problem remembering drug classes and what they do, but when I'm asked about a specific drug, I go blank. I am a very good student (GPA 3.8), but can't seem to wrap my brain around the simple task of memorizing drug names! Does anyone have a specific strategy that helped, because the best I can come up with is flashcards.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

https://allnurses.com/pharmacology-flashcards-drug-cards-t394218/

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Specializes in ICU.
I have no problem remembering drug classes and what they do, but when I'm asked about a specific drug, I go blank. I am a very good student (GPA 3.8), but can't seem to wrap my brain around the simple task of memorizing drug names! Does anyone have a specific strategy that helped, because the best I can come up with is flashcards.

Focus on the endings. For example beta blockers end in lol, ACE inhibitors in ril. Simple step and it helped me.

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Thanks Esme12,

I am going to bookmark these. They will be very helpful later!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

You're welcome!

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I think EVERYONE who benefited from your Post should hit LIKE on it to thank you.

I start pharm in late may. I am not gonna like. I am taking your gold mine of info and starting on it now.

THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

Meds either affect the sympathetic or the parasympathetic nervous system. If you know which is affected you know more about the medicine. As for names, read MD diagnosis and orders. After a while they connect.

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Thanks for sharing your tips :)

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Community Care Nursing, CCM.

We used to make puzzles or anagrams (?) out of the words. For Example Lomotil: Loose stools, observe bowel function, monitor electrolytes, oral drug, toilet, intestinal distress, little analgesic activity

Ativan: anxiety, terminate gradually, IV/IM, very drowsy, anxiolytic, no alcoholic beverages

You get the picture.

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Thanks for the tips everyone! I'll be using them!

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I don't know if you're having trouble remember just the names or also the random-appearing LISTS of stuff -- lists of side/adverse effects, lists of nursing interventions, lists of patient teachings, lists of precautions, lists of contraindications, lists of drug/food interactions and so on. One thing that I found helpful for learning the side/adverse effects, nursing interventions and patient teachings was when someone pointed out how interrelated many items in those three lists are. In a way, you can learn just one of the lists (say side effects / adverse effects -- which are often related to the drug's mechanism of action doing more than intended). Then for each side / adverse effect, there's a corresponding nursing intervention and patient teaching.

For example, furosemide (Lasix), a loop diuretic:

ADVERSE EFFECT #1 - Electrolyte imbalance: hyponatremia, hypochloremia, severe fluid loss (dehydration), and hypokalemia

Nursing interventions for AE#1 -

  1. Monitor serum electrolyte levels periodically (esp. potassium); notify provider for abnormal levels
  2. Monitor carefully for signs of electrolyte imbalance
  3. If hypokalemia occurs, monitor for cardiac dysrhythmias
  4. If hypokalemia is a risk (e.g. patient also taking digoxin) furosemide may be combined w/ a potassium-sparing diuretic

Patient Teachings r/t AE#1 -

  1. Eat foods rich in potassium (if indicated) such as citrus fruits, potatoes, bananas
  2. Report signs of electrolyte imbalance, such as confusion, muscle twitching or weakness, irregular pulse, nausea & others

ADVERSE EFFECT #2 - Hypotension

Nursing interventions for AE#2 - Monitor BP frequently during treatment

Patient teachings r/t AE#2 -

  1. Teach patient to have BP monitored frequently
  2. Report dizziness, syncope to provider (if patient reports dizziness, this will add additional nursing interventions for preventing falls)
  3. Avoid hazardous activities, such as driving, until effects are known

ADVERSE EFFECT #3 - Ototoxicity

Nursing interventions r/t AE#3 -

  1. Assure that the pt does not take other ototoxic drugs** (additive effect)
  2. Monitor for hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo

Patient teachings r/t AE#3 - Report new onset of hearing loss, ringing in ears, or vertigo to provider

ADVERSE EFFECT #4 - Hyperglycemia (esp. in pts who are diabetic)

Nursing interventions r/t AE#4 -

  1. Monitor blood glucose periodically in all pts
  2. Monitor blood glucose more frequently in pts who have DM; insulin or oral antidiabetic drug dosage may need to be increased

Patient teachings r/t AE#4 -Pts who have DM need to carefully monitor blood glucose levels and notify provider for persistent hyperglycemia

ADVERSE EFFECT #5 - Increased uric acid levels (hyperuricemia) w/possible gouty arthritis in susceptible pts

Nursing interventions r/t AE#5 - Monitor uric acid levels periodically

Patient teachings r/t AE#5 -

  1. Be aware that this effect may occur, usually w/o symptoms
  2. Pts w/Hx of gout need to report symptom onset to provider

OTHER NURSING INTERVENTIONS - monitor for edema, breath sounds, weight, I/O

A few additional comments:

  • Obviously, this isn't an all-inclusive list of possible adverse effects, nursing interventions or patient teachings and they may vary somewhat based on the text / drug guide that you are using.
  • I think it's easier to see the relationship when it's in table format with one AE per row. Column 1 is the AE, Column 2 is related interventions and column 3 is related teachings. I tend ot learn the AE list in column 1 and then start trying to see if I can guess/remember all of the interventions and teachings. (Putting it in table format may not be practical because it's time consuming, but you can still do the same general -- learn list of AE then use that to cue yourself about the interventions and teachings.)
  • Although this seems obvious to some, I've had people tell me they never heard this, so I'll repeat it anyhow. If you're trying to learn more than one drug per drug class, learn the prototype first, then for the other drugs in that class, "just" learn how the other drugs are DIFFERENT from the prototype. In theory, that can really cut down on how much you have to learn about any one drug.

Learning the names of the drugs was (and still is) just a lot of repetition for me. Good luck!

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If you understand drug classes and just have difficulty remembering which drug is which, memorize these:

pam = benzodiazepine (ex. lorazepam)

pril = ace inhibitor (ex. lisinopril)

lol = beta blocker (ex. atenolol)

statin = antilipidemic (ex. simvastatin)

barbital = barbituates (ex. phenobarbital)

'take zem pines to the mil' = calcium channel blockers

There are more, but that is some of them. Obviously all drug classes will not have this, but a good majority of the common ones on NCLEX do!

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