Learning Drug Names

SusanJean · Aug 9, 2005

I am doing my pharmacology paper this semester and, while it is interesting, I am finding that learing all the different drugs to be a challenge, especially when some sound so similar. Are there any tricks and techniques that others have found to work for them that will help me with this?

While I still have to take pharm, I worked in the pharm. industry for yrs... so am familiar w/ the products.

I think learning by class, then the most commonly used drugs. Most have class side effects, but there are always exceptions - so know the class and the exceptions.

Older drugs tend to go by generic names, newer drugs by both, so learn both.

ALso, recognizing that many drugs sound alike; knowing what these are and what class they belong to will definitely prevent errors in the future.

Hope this helps, sure others have more/better ideas.

SJ

tiggergirl · Aug 12, 2005

When I was taking pharm. I found it extremely overwhelming to learn everything we needed to know. It really helped me to make color coated flashcards -- each class was a different color. Then I studied each class by itself. It made it a lot less overwhelming.

It also makes it easier when learning the generic names to think in classes, like all the drugs from the penicillin class have cillin in them somewhere, and ACE inhibitors have pril. The brand names usually have something to do with what they treat (Diabeta is for diabetes, Procardia deals with the heart), which helps when learning them. Matching brand and generic is usually just a process of memorization. There isn't much more you can do, but it does click eventually.

wannabemw · Aug 13, 2005

Thanks 4 these suggestions! I am going 2 try them myself. I already do the color index cards, so this is a great extension! Also, I will remind myself about the diff. ways to recall.

Thank you!

BSN 2 Be Grad in Aug of 06!

:balloons:

~MJ

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Aug 17, 2005

This may be of help also :)

http://www.drugguide.com/classifProfilesNew.asp

wannabemw · Aug 17, 2005

This may be of help also :)
http://www.drugguide.com/classifProfilesNew.asp

VickyRN,

Awesome site! Thanks for sharing! I love how we all can share so much helpful info w/one another! I feel so lucky to have found you all!

~MJ

Mom, Dad: I am going to be an RN!

(a quote I made to my mother & father at their grave sides the day after the 8th anniversary of my mother's death from BC: 12 August, 2005)

CardioTrans, BSN, RN · Aug 17, 2005

Someone had mentioned learning by classes. That helped me many yrs ago. I also tried to learn them by body systems. As you learn the drugs, then try to place them with a disease process you are learning. ie; if you are learning about chronic atrial fib. you know that digoxin is one of the drugs that is given for that.......... why? how does a fib affect the heart......... how does digoxin counteract that effect?

Or theophylline is given for COPD, why, how does it act on the resp system.

If you learn them by class first, you are doing really well. When you add in learning them by body system, it helps you to learn the mechanism of action, the side effects, and what to watch for to see if it is actually doing what you want it to.

Good luck!!

wannabemw · Aug 17, 2005

Cool! Thanks!

My BSN program has Pathophysiology & Pharm as one class broken up into Path/Pharm I & then Path/Pharm II for our 2nd track (an accelerated program).

I can see the reasons for this why now & as to how it will be helpful in our success to recall! I had Pharm & Patho (seperately) 3yrs ago, so I am counting on the ole' brain cells to recall a lot of what I already learned. I stuggled w/Patho & got a "D", so this was a need for me to retake (different school too). I passed Pharm w/a "B". I'm already reviewing my A & P and my old notes for Path... so I feel much more confident!

*I found w/Pharm it was helpful for me to recall drugs w/relation to someone I knew w/a condition that warranted the type of med I was studying... perhaps this is why I did so well!

~MJ