Pharmacology Reference Books

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Specializes in Hospice/Pall. Care, LTC, Psych, Cardiac.

Hello everyone. I am enrolled in an advanced pharmacology class this summer and the professor has instructed that we choose one of three textbooks to used throughout the course. These three books are:

Lazo, J.S., Parker, K., & Brunton, L.L. (2005). Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis Of Therapeutics.

Katzung, B.G. (2006). Basic & Clinical Pharmacology.

Wynne, A.L. (2007). Pharmacotherapeutics for Nurse Practitioner Prescribers.

I have never used any of these books before, so I am looking for strengths/weaknesses, likes/dislikes, etc. of these books. Any ideas as to which book would be best for me as a CNS student (I won't be actively prescribing meds upon graduation) who is also considering a post-master's certificate as a palliative care NP?

Any suggestions you have are most welcomed!

Thanks in advance for your help!

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I really like the G&G book.....you can dig up the previous edition, and save yourself $80-$100. I bought mine for $50-$60, instead of $160. I'm not sure if you can get add-ons for newer information, but I have other sources available to fill in any gaps.

For a quick reference I like Stahl's Prescriber's Guide (ISBN: 0521683505).....probably the best $40ish you can spend.

DiPiro's Pharmacotherapy (ISBN: 0071416137) is also a great addition to your reference library. It is pricey, but a great reference.

-t

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Hello everyone. I am enrolled in an advanced pharmacology class this summer and the professor has instructed that we choose one of three textbooks to used throughout the course. These three books are:

Lazo, J.S., Parker, K., & Brunton, L.L. (2005). Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis Of Therapeutics.

Katzung, B.G. (2006). Basic & Clinical Pharmacology.

Wynne, A.L. (2007). Pharmacotherapeutics for Nurse Practitioner Prescribers.

I have never used any of these books before, so I am looking for strengths/weaknesses, likes/dislikes, etc. of these books. Any ideas as to which book would be best for me as a CNS student (I won't be actively prescribing meds upon graduation) who is also considering a post-master's certificate as a palliative care NP?

Any suggestions you have are most welcomed!

Thanks in advance for your help!

The Katzung book is good. A lot of med students use it for step I/II. I also like thePharmacotherapy Handbook by Wells. It is a nice pocket guide.

You really should be on the same page as the instructor. I would ask the instructor which one they recommend. Usually they get most of the material out of one and supplimental material from others. It would be very bizarre to teach pharmacology and have students using three different textbooks. I would bet that they really "require" one of those and the others are suppliments.

David Carpenter, PA-C

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Specializes in Hospice/Pall. Care, LTC, Psych, Cardiac.

You really should be on the same page as the instructor. I would ask the instructor which one they recommend. Usually they get most of the material out of one and supplimental material from others. It would be very bizarre to teach pharmacology and have students using three different textbooks. I would bet that they really "require" one of those and the others are suppliments.

The professor did state in an earlier course that the G&G textbook was the one she likes the most. As you stated, I am somewhat skeptical about having the freedom to choose a textbook. However, she said that we should pick one of the three that would best suit our own needs and that the majority of our material for this course would come from current research/journal articles. Like you said, it sounds like she will also get a lot of material out of the G&G text, as it is her favorite. Thanks for your input!

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The professor did state in an earlier course that the G&G textbook was the one she likes the most. As you stated, I am somewhat skeptical about having the freedom to choose a textbook. However, she said that we should pick one of the three that would best suit our own needs and that the majority of our material for this course would come from current research/journal articles. Like you said, it sounds like she will also get a lot of material out of the G&G text, as it is her favorite. Thanks for your input!

Could be worse. We didn't have a textbook per se. Our pharm instructor was a PharmD who helps do the step tests. He gave us 50+ page handouts every week. Good resources but hard to plow through when studying.

David Carpenter, PA-C

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Could be worse. We didn't have a textbook per se. Our pharm instructor was a PharmD who helps do the step tests. He gave us 50+ page handouts every week. Good resources but hard to plow through when studying.

David Carpenter, PA-C

That's not a bad way to learn, but it is nice to have a reference book for the random questions that don't fit into the handouts. I prefer that method actually....a text for reference, but then the most up to date research.

-t

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That's not a bad way to learn, but it is nice to have a reference book for the random questions that don't fit into the handouts. I prefer that method actually....a text for reference, but then the most up to date research.

-t

It was good. Just a lot of informationl. We used to go through those packets in 4 hours. So you had to average 12 pages or so an hour. Overall it was good and our program really emphasized pharm. We had 4 hours per week plus what was included in the individual disease lectures. Probably 350 hours total when everything was said and done.

David Carpenter, PA-C

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Specializes in Hospice/Pall. Care, LTC, Psych, Cardiac.
Could be worse. We didn't have a textbook per se. Our pharm instructor was a PharmD who helps do the step tests. He gave us 50+ page handouts every week. Good resources but hard to plow through when studying.

When you say handouts, do you mean PowerPoint lecture handouts or did the handouts come from another type of study material or specific texts? I'm always open to other resources that will help me get a better pharm knowledge base.

Also, when you say "step tests", are you referring to the USMLE? Do PA's take USMLE exams in their curriculum?

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When you say handouts, do you mean PowerPoint lecture handouts or did the handouts come from another type of study material or specific texts? I'm always open to other resources that will help me get a better pharm knowledge base.

Also, when you say "step tests", are you referring to the USMLE? Do PA's take USMLE exams in their curriculum?

Step tests are the USMLE part 1 and 2. PA's don't take them but the same review books are handy. A lot of PA's use study material for the step tests for the PA certification exam.

As far as handouts these were 50 page + handouts of typewritten material. I still have them and they occupy 12 3" three ring binders. I still occasionally refer to them 8 years later. They generally follow the standard indication, mechanism of action, side effects, contraindication and off label uses. That was the good part is he not only discussed PI use but off label use.

David Carpenter, PA-C

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My pharm courses used Lippincotts review for USMLE as the "text" but I found it too superficial and i wanted more physiology etc. so I went searching for books. I read a bit out of each of the one's that have been listed and I prefered Katzung. However, I really think you should look into this british book, the one I ended up buying, which I think is superior to all of the others and helped me understand clinical medicine as much as it did with pharm.

http://www.amazon.com/Rang-Dales-Pharmacology-STUDENT-CONSULT/dp/0443069115/ref=pd_bbs_4/102-2997121-2459366?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178775575&sr=8-4

I cant explain enough how much I love that book!

Good luck, I love pharm.

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Specializes in Pain Management.
The Katzung book is good.

100% agreement.

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