Overwhelmed

[Nurse-To-Be-Joy]

How do you study for pharmacology? I just can't get it. We were given several drug classifications (such as antihypertensives, antianginals, anticoagulants, diretics, etc - about 25 altogether) and need to know indications, contraindications, adverse reactions, and action. It's so confusing to me. How have you all studied this type of stuff? I only have 2 weeks until the test.

[Lisa CCU RN, RN]

I have one tip. If a medicine's action is to, for example, lower the BP, then an adverse reaction is that you will have hypotension. Or if you are using a beta blocker, remember that it will not only work on bp, but it will affect the system just like the sypathetic system would, except it's blocking that action. A lot of medicines work on a whole system and are not selective in their actions.

[mom2cka]

I tried to focus on each classification - once I had those down, then I worked on the individual meds under that classification. Using them in clinicals really helped too - making the drug cards, writing down the information in class, from the books, then finally on the cards - and then studying the cards - made a difference for me. Reinforcement, I guess...