Study Tips for Pharmacology

[byarchan]

Pathophysiology and Pharmacology is like a completely different language to me. I have no idea how to go about studying and memorizing the material. Does anyone have any useful study tips to help me understand all of the material!? I have tried making note cards and flow charts, however, it is very time consuming and I always feel as though I am missing important information. Any suggestions?!

[nursephillyphil, BSN, RN]

For pharm, your best bet is to study by classification. Group them into these categories, so you'll have drugs separated into classes like beta blockers, antifungals, antivirals, etc. Next you'd want to recognize the prefix/suffix that are common with each class. You'll recognize many drugs that end in -statin, -lol, -vir, etc. these are going to be your way of identifying the class of drug.

When studying adverse effects don't try to remember everything, look for key adverse effects. Focus on nursing considerations as well; do they have to be taken with a meal or on an empty stomach? Can they be taken with milk? etc.

so Group them, learn how to recognize the groups (and from that, you'll know the purpose of the drug), nursing considerations, adverse effects.

For patho, you want to focus on understanding the material, not MEMORIZING. Have you tried studying in a group? that worked for me in patho, we'd go over material together and discuss it and exchange our interpretations and its relevance to those body systems.