Do You Have To Memorize Generic Names for Meds?

tbell2 · Dec 28, 2009

I believe NCLEX only uses generic names, so you will have to know those.

Boog'sCRRN246, RN · Dec 28, 2009

If the generic drug only has one alternative brand name, then you'll be fine...but many generic drugs have several different brand names. Ex: oxycodone (generic name) is also known by brand names Oxycontin, Roxicodone, Percocet, Tylox, and Percodan (among others).

HappyMeNow · Dec 28, 2009

Oh my gosh.....

So how do you manage to memorize all these names! Any help would be appreciated!

GoalsInTransition · Dec 28, 2009

Hi there,

Depending upon which setting you work in, generic names are often more important to know than brand names. For example, many hospitals administer generics routinely to cut costs. Also, there is only ONE generic name per drug (though there can be more than one name if it come in diffierent forms i.e. pill versus liquid).

There are alot of helpful tools on the web for leanring these. At Amazon.com, you can order many different types of flashcards and books, which may prove helpful. I just ordered some to prep for next semester.

It may also help you to correlate the drugs with diseases/conditions or body systems. For example, when reviewing pathophysiology of the endocrine system, you could study drugs used for diabetes, thyroid conditions, etc. This may help the information to "make sense' in the bigger picture.

Good luck!

aerorunner80, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN · Dec 28, 2009

Yes you will have to know the names of the drugs, preferably generic because when you are in the hospital, at least in my area, all the drugs come labeled with the generic name prominently and the name brand is hidden on the package somewhere.

The good news is as you go along in pharmacology, your instructor should teach you tricks to learning the meds. For example, almost all meds that end in olol or lol are beta blockers.

As for the specific meds, it depends on the area you live in but when you get to clinicals, you will get to know a lot of meds very well and very quickly because you are going to be giving them a lot.

So don't worry. I took pharm and felt clueless about meds until I got to clinicals and then it all clicked and I understand it better.

shrimpchips, LPN · Dec 28, 2009

You should know both generic & brand names. The only way to do that is to really study and practice, practice, practice! Making flashcards helps. In the hospital they generally include both the brand name & generic name on the MAR but some places may not. I also don't know what they tell you on the NCLEX (if they just tell you the generic name or the brand name or both) but knowing both will help. My pharmacology instructor told the class that some places would rather use generic names to avoid confusion but of course some generic names sound very similar, such as amantadine, ranitidine & rimantidine. Here is a list of some drugs that sound alike:

http://www.chcanys.org/clientuploads/downloads/membership_articles/JCAHO/JCAHOproject_LookAlikeSoundAlikeMedicationsForHospitalsAmbulatoryCare.pdf

Angels_wearScrubs · Dec 29, 2009

YES!!! You need to memeorize both the generic and trade! I almost made a med error because I didnt... :banghead:

I just started my ADN program this past fall. We had clinicals on a step down unit. I was passing meds with my Clinical instructor. All the meds (tylenol to demerol) are in the Pyxis. My patient had about six 9 o'clock meds My CI asked me if I had his Valsartan. I looked through my med packets and said no. So she grabbed me a packet of it. We went into my patients room and scanned his armband and then I scanned the meds one at a time into the computer. Well the computer beeped and said I had a double dose of diovan. So she showed me how to override it because I must have scanned the package twice. Once all the meds were scanned she left to help other students pass meds because she has seen me give meds down a Corpak many times at that point.

So because my pt had a corpak, I have to crush and dissolve his meds in water. Well thankfully I was 100% focused because I opened one packet of diovan/valsartan and then the other meds and then when I opened up the second packet of diovan/valsartan, my heart stopped! It all clicked together! I almost gave my patient a double dose because my CI called it out by the brand name and I was looking at the trade name!

I am not blaming my CI. I should know the brand and trade name. It is my responsibilty and even though I am just a student (first semester even) I need to learn this stuff for my own knowledge and most importantly for my patients safety.

So yes, please learn both names. Even though there are saftey precautions in place, operator error can harm your patient.

Rednights · Dec 29, 2009

So she showed me how to override it because I must have scanned the package twice.

Here's the BIGGER lesson. Bypassing the systems we have in place because we know nurses make mistakes ...

COWs and the scanners is something I require for whatever hospital I get hired to for these instances alone.

Angels_wearScrubs · Dec 29, 2009

Here's the BIGGER lesson. Bypassing the systems we have in place because we know nurses make mistakes ...
COWs and the scanners is something I require for whatever hospital I get hired to for these instances alone.

This was at the computer by his bedside (is that what a COW is? computer on wheels?) The big lesson for me was to learn the drug names and do all my drug checks. Yes, it's easy to bypass the system, but sometimes it is neccesary (emergencys and for the multi dose vials at the hospital where I have clinicals).

The computer beeped to alert my CI and I that we had the wrong dose. The computer did it's job. The CI and I, however, did not. We just brushed off this warning and attributed to the easiest answer at the time. It was a human error. Lesson learned, at least on my part, and no one died :up:

9livesRN, BSN, RN · Dec 29, 2009

i like learning the generic name, coz it makes it easier once you get used to reading so much and you create your own little notes

as soon as you see *****pril you know that it may be a ACE inhibitor

as soon as you see *****sartan you know that it seems like an ARB alpha rec. blocker.

as you as you see an ***** olol you think of beta blockers

**** of course there are exceptions for the rules... but you can find your own little way

EDRN-2010 · Dec 29, 2009

I find knowing the generic names is far more useful than the brand names. Many classes of drugs have similar endings in their names - like beta blockers end in "olol" The NCLEx gives you both generic and trade names in the question and my nursing program does as well. As far as clinicals, one hospital I went to kept the meds in drawers and most of the pills only had the generic names on them, another hospital had an omni and you could see both names on the screen....the generic (in my experience) has always been available, but often patients only know the brand name so it is good to know them both!

I'm starting to learn about meds next semester and all these different names are driving me crazy! Is it enough to just memorize the brand names? I'm talking about being able to handle clinicals and exams.