Any Pharmacology tips for medic student?

Set2det617

Set2det617

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Hello,

I am always amazed at how medics can role drugs off there tongue like its nothing and i currently am struggling to memorize the drugs i have to learn. I was wondering if anyone had any tips special tricks thoughts on ways to cement them into my brain?

I know to keep studying! I want this so bad and will continue to read these 23 hours a day. I just appreciate positive feedback from people who have survived school. haha

Thanks everyone
 
When I want to learn a new language I speak it, write it, and read it. This is like a new language. Experienced medics don't reach deep to remember what Benadryl is or what the uses and doses are for it. It's tip of the tongue knowledge. Comes from reading, thinking and discussing the stuff.

When I study by myself, I copy the information by hand. Something about the act of writing and thinking about the info cements it in my head. I fill cheap spiral notebooks with worthless notes I never go back and review, but it works for me.
 
  1. Make a list or outline that contains each drug and just the specifics (dosage, onset, etc - NOT the pharmacology) that you need to know about each drug.
    • Organize the drugs by class in this list


  2. This is important: If you learn the pharmacology of each drug class, then you don't have to re-memorize it for each specific med in that class. For example, rather than studying the pharmacology of morphine and the pharmacology of fentanyl separately, study the pharmacology of "opioids", and know which drugs are in that class. Rather than studying the pharmacology of versed and the pharmacology of ativan separately, study the pharmacology of "benzodiazepines", and know which drugs are in that class.

    • Do this by finding a good pharm book (not your paramedic textbook) and reading the chapter of each drug class you have to learn. After you have read and understand each chapter, make an outline or list of important facts from that chapter.

    • Now you have 2 outlines; one with all the dosages and facts that you have to know for each drug arranged by class, and one that covers the pharmacology of each class of drugs.


  3. Now, pick 1 or 2 drugs a day and use the outline that you made (or the textbook chapter) to review the pharmacology of the class that those drugs belong to. And for those 2 drugs, write the name of each drug, its dosage, and any other pertinent info that you need to know, over and over. At least 25 times for each drug.

If you spend 1 hour a day for 3 or 4 weeks on this project, you'll know your drugs well.
 
Wheel said:
It's funny how often your replies include a book recommendation. I guess it's kind of a "teach a man to fish" thing.

In line with the other replies, a good pharm book and repetition are the best ways to memorize drugs and doses, and understanding the actions helps tremendously in knowing when to use it.
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“Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations. Books, the oldest and the best, stand naturally and rightfully on the shelves of every cottage. They have no cause of their own to plead, but while they enlighten and sustain the reader his common sense will not refuse them. Their authors are a natural and irresistible aristocracy in every society, and, more than kings or emperors, exert an influence on mankind.”

Henry David Thoreau

If you consider the libraries which housed the collective knowledge of man of all of the great societies and the value and power of education, I think it is obvious a complete and thorough understanding will be far more beneficial than any tip or shortcut for the short-term remembering of information.

(information and knowledge are not the same)
 
I'm a pretty big fan of Katzung's book, also.

I also like to learn the classes first. It's much easier than trying to memorize random bullet points.
 
Veneficus said:
“Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations. Books, the oldest and the best, stand naturally and rightfully on the shelves of every cottage. They have no cause of their own to plead, but while they enlighten and sustain the reader his common sense will not refuse them. Their authors are a natural and irresistible aristocracy in every society, and, more than kings or emperors, exert an influence on mankind.”

Henry David Thoreau

If you consider the libraries which housed the collective knowledge of man of all of the great societies and the value and power of education, I think it is obvious a complete and thorough understanding will be far more beneficial than any tip or shortcut for the short-term remembering of information.

(information and knowledge are not the same)
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more.
 
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