KOH,
So far it seems like RxPrep is a good source . Chapters are very concise, and tell you what you should know about certain drugs, and is pretty easy reading. I have a few comments about the book though:
Positive:
1 Great source if your trying to do some last minute cramming. Has valuable storage items that should be remembered ( Never refrig biaxin, etc.. ) Has nice charts so the info is organized, unlike apha.. I mean apha does have charts, but way too many, and a lot of the bulk of info is maintained within the bullets.
2) I like the cases they give, just because its similiar to what I've seen on pre-Naplex . The pt info is very similiar, and can be used as a good practice tool to emulate what will be on the naplex.
3) If you work for / going to work for CVS, then your rxprep book came with a study guide as well as the course book. Don't forget about the questions on Ipod touch ( a bit pricy, $40 i believe , but is good for on the go. I think 40 is small enough for the price of your education )
Negative regarding RxPrep:
1) Although it is concise, it does lack certain things that kind of worry me. I was never an over achiever (3.2 gpa ) , but the last 2 years of college, I boosted my GPA almost 1.5 points just because I wanted to know everything and understand how it works. It doesn't give an accurate description of pathophys. For this, I try to supplement with apha (when it doesn't bore me), or with kaplan, (caution , its from 2008, still says inhaled insulin on the market, lol ) . Kaplan does a quick, nice job of summarizing med pearls, etc.. I can't think of it right now, but I know some chapters just list the drugs, and had me like.. wth.. where do they fit into therapy?
2) Calculations: It really oversimplifies some of the calculations, stats, pharmacoeconomics, and even compounding. For calculations, try the apha book, or those 120 questions that have been floating around on this forum. For pharmacoecon, (if you want to, rxprep may be sufficient for you, its up to you), try the first chap in dipiro posted on this forum. Compounding, PK try to read as much as apha as you can.
3) Typos: Any book this given length, especially one that's updated yearly, will have a good # of typos, imo. Just be careful if something doesn't sound right, or contradicts what it was talking about previously, just look it up.
That's really all I can think of right now. I was waiting for someone to do a review about their own personal experience with this book but haven't found a complete one.
To be honest, i'm maybe 40% done with rxprep, did a little kaplan, a few chapters in apha. I took prenaplex twice already, and I can tell you understand the disease state kinda helped me make educated guesses about which drug I'm selecting. ( Got 125, 123 on pre). Just tough trying to work full time and get licensed on time ( take naplex in 1 month).
Sorry for typing so much, but just one piece of advice to remember: It's a minimial comp. exam. Any book that has bits and pieces of info + your school knowledge will be sufficient in the exam. Study what your weak on, + calculations, and you'll be golden. Read the intro to rxprep. study HTN, diabetes, ID, calcs, etc.. and you'll def receive a 75 man.
Hope this helps, if you have any questions let me know
