Don't panic! Naplex advice

[pharmaster]

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People you'll be fine.

I studied 2 weeks (8+ hrs/day...took breaks) and passed with 117.
I used Rxprep and Rxprep question bank online. I did the 120 math questions floating around here (but still missed A LOT of math)..

1. Look at TPNs...if you have notes from school look at those as well, not just TPN math from rxprep or 120 doc. Just make sure you can calculate TPNs even if you're not given a total volume (how many calories from dextrose, lipids, etc)...the tpn questions I got on naplex were not as easy as the ones you have on this 120 math doc. I missed them and still passed so don't freak out if you don't get them right.

2. Know brand/generic for as many drugs as possible....unfortunately not just top 200. I'm sure it will be something you've seen before so don't freak out ok?! For chemo I only got generics but that was just my test. Know brand/generics for HIV!! it will help you!

3. Make educated guesses! I had several questions that I did not know. One of them dealt with a drug (brand name) I had NEVER seen before. They wanted me to tell them what the drug was for....the options given included a disease I did not have on rxprep and had no idea how to treat. So I used common sense and thought....'I've never seen this drug, I've never seen drugs to treat 'this' disease...therefore this drug must be to treat this disease' ---and I guessed right!

3. Know what to take with food and what to take on empty stomach

4. Know formulations for common drugs...patches, SL tablets, IV, IM...etc.

5. LOOK at the patient's profile well before making a choice. I know you can't spend hours reading the entire profile but I missed a question just because I didn't look at the notes at the bottom of the patient's profile 'pharmacists notes' I think. look at allergies, look at patient's age, look at the whole picture.

6. Know common interactions...like major inducers/inhibitors. You'll also get some questions on side effects so be ready for that...stuff you should have seen at school or you will see on rxprep for sure.

7. You will most likely get stat questions so be able to calculate ARR, RRR, NNT, etc. That should be easy if you know the formulas. No worries. They might give you a study and ask you questions about it but it'll be a very simple study so don't worry too much. Just know how to interpret data. Nothing more complicated than you've seen at school.

8. There will be questions that you'll only know from experience...maybe something you've seen at your job (hospital or retail)....or like in my case, I had a disease state I would have never known if I didn't coincidentally googled it about a year ago. It happens.

9. Know commonly used compounding agents. Can't tell you more without giving too much info...

Rxprep is great and if you read it and take notes you will be fine. Don't let math scare you....I don't think I got many of those right but did well on other areas.

Good luck!! 🙂

 

[bear2006]

I was extremely nervous as well, but I passed with 103. Just like to share some thought with you all.

I spent about 3 weeks in studying. The first week was pretty much wasted because I did not have good material to study with. I was studying the Comprehensive Pharmacy Review Seventh Edition. It is too comprehensive and it may be a good reference book, but not a good book to study for NAPLEX.

Second week, I decided to get the RxPrep Course Book, and it is a godsend! I studied most chapters in the book and took notes along. I also went through brand and generic at the same time. Keep in mind, Top 200 is not enough. I basically studied all the highlighted drug in the RxPrep and I still could not recognize quite a few brand/generic on the NAPLEX. (I was weak at this anyway, because I did not intern at retail as much.)

Finally, I spent a week on calculation with the 120 Questions math floating on this forum. I went through the whole thing once. I personally think the math on NAPLEX was easier than the problem set. I had about 30 math questions.

I took the prenaplex few days before the real thing and I scored 114. That ease my mind a little. The day before exam, I went through HIV drugs brand/generic and some chemo drugs.

NAPLEX itself was a fair exam. I knew I guessed on plenty, at the same time I knew many for sure, because they were pointed out on the RxPrep.

My final advise is know a lot brand/generic, calculations and get RxPrep if you are short on time in studying. (I don't want to make it sound like advertising for the book, but I really think it is one of my best buy of the year.)

Wish everyone still studying out there can relax a little. You got your PharmD, you can pass the NAPLEX!

 

[bluejacket]

Congratulations to both of your on your success!👍

 

[rx27]

Thanks for the advice.. I have been studying for two weeks using rxprep - been through it once and did the 120 questions. Exam in 3 days!

I think I will go over Rxprep again to review.. did anyone find the online quizzes helpful too?