Pharmacology Textbooks

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Specializes in Nephrology.

I am on summer break in the middle of my ADN program. For various reasons I don't feel like I've gotten very good instruction in pharmacology so for my personal knowledge base, for future education and for NCLEX, I've decided to spend some solid time this summer studying pharmacology. The textbook we used in my pharm class was just the ATI book which is just bullet points, no background, very little pharmacodynamics or pharmacokinetics and no index, so not particularly helpful. I'm looking for a REAL pharm text, not an NCLEX pharm study guide or a supplemental book. If it's one available on Kindle that would be even better. I want to start from the beginning (my class kind of skipped the whole intro and just threw out a bunch of drugs which I memorized for tests and promptly forgot). I want to really understand pharm.

So I'm looking at a few books: Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews Series Pharmacology, Pharmacology by George M Brenner and Craig Stevens and Rang and Dale's Pharmacology and I'd like to know if anyone has an opinion on those or a suggestion of another book which would be good. Bonus points if its not $150!

Thanks!!

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Honestly, I would save your money. I felt like my pharm education at school was lacking as well, but when we covered drugs (when we discussed diseases and disease processes) I studied the drugs a little more than what was required for the class. Plus it helped understand the disease more. I did buy an NCLEX pharm book and studied it starting in my last semester of school through when I took my NCLEX. If you are worried about knowing drugs when you get into your practice... I work on a med surg / oncology unit and I bet 90% of the medications we use are the same 20 drugs (not counting chemo drugs). The other 10% I can research as needed.

I understand feeling like you want that foundation, but do some active learning when you cover the rest of the content and I promise you, you will start to understand it.

I never understood why pharm was its own class, makes much more sense to cover when you are studying that particular system.

This is just my opinion, and I wish you the best of luck!

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Lehne was the manufacturer that we used for our pharmacology textbook. It will go in depth in pharmacodynamics for you. I've found that its best to try to understand HOW a drug works rather than we give for x and memorize side effects. If you understand differences between certain receptor activations of beta blockers (propranolol vs metoprolol vs sotalol) you can understand why certain side effects are present. This greatly helps with recall. You can probably get by with general classifications of medications for the most part (although idiosyncrasies exist). For individual medications, you can use something like Davis drug guide or research the drugs information for prescribers.

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Specializes in ICU/ Surgery/ Nursing Education.
Lehne was the manufacturer that we used for our pharmacology textbook. It will go in depth in pharmacodynamics for you. I've found that its best to try to understand HOW a drug works rather than we give for x and memorize side effects. If you understand differences between certain receptor activations of beta blockers (propranolol vs metoprolol vs sotalol) you can understand why certain side effects are present. This greatly helps with recall. You can probably get by with general classifications of medications for the most part (although idiosyncrasies exist). For individual medications, you can use something like Davis drug guide or research the drugs information for prescribers.

I believe that this is the book: Amazon.com: Pharmacology for Nursing Care, 8e (9781437735826): Richard A. Lehne PhD: Books

I used this as well and was really impressed. I kept it for reference. Also, you can find used copies on amazon for around 75.00.

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Yes to Lehne! I haven't started pharm yet but I have the text and...you can pick up the 8th edition for less than $150, but you could also get the 7th edition for like $20...and it's pretty much the same. A couple new drugs, but really...

Anyway you can see from the amazon reviews how good the book is, and I am finding it very friendly/informative myself.

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Specializes in Nephrology.

Great, thanks so much guys! I will look for Lehne.

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