First Aid Pharm Enough?

[betz]

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I was just wondering if you guys thought that First Aid covered enough Pharm, or if I should use a supplemental resource. I have the BRS Pharm, the BRS Cards, and the PharmCards. The BRS Pharm is like 400 pgs. I didnt know if it was overkill. First Aid gives Pharm for the Boards and Wards an A-. Maybe this one would be better (its 220pgs). Thoughts on Pharm for step 1? Any help would be appreciated. THANX! 😀

 

[Oana]

I know that BigFrank mentioned quite a couple of times that FirstAid was more than enough for Step1, but I would like to second betz' question. Yes, I know I'm probably being just paranoid (since there's actually a lot of information crammed in these pages)...

 

[north2southOMFS]

I hope this is enough. Its all i'm doing.

But then again I just have to pass, i'm already in my residency. 🙁

Well I guess its not all i'm doing....I'm taking a lot of pharm to stay awake and help with concentrating......does that count?

 

[automaton]

well from my experience it's both enough and not enough. in terms of content it has probably most of what you need. i would even say it has too much information about stupid side effects. but in terms of understanding what the hell they're talking about, i would say it's definitely not enough. i found myself referencing katzung a lot, maybe because i just refuse to memorize things without knowing how they happen, or perhaps because i'm stupid and/or lazy. so in conclusion, if i had ONLY first aid, i would not feel like i had enough. but that is just me because i had very crappy teaching for pharm. no offense to the one good pharm teacher.

 

[north2southOMFS]

well from my experience it's both enough and not enough..

Oh thanks, now I'm torn......


J/K, thanks for the info, that is kinda what it seems like when you go through FA, so at least i'm not the only one who felt like that.

 

[betz]

well from my experience it's both enough and not enough. in terms of content it has probably most of what you need. i would even say it has too much information about stupid side effects. but in terms of understanding what the hell they're talking about, i would say it's definitely not enough. i found myself referencing katzung a lot, maybe because i just refuse to memorize things without knowing how they happen, or perhaps because i'm stupid and/or lazy. so in conclusion, if i had ONLY first aid, i would not feel like i had enough. but that is just me because i had very crappy teaching for pharm. no offense to the one good pharm teacher.

I have a supplemental text, but I guess I was just talking about in terms of content. Has anyone tried Pharm for the Boards and Wards? I am with Oana, maybe I am being paranoid? I also have the Pharm shelf in 4wks, so I was going to use whatever resource for this as well. Thanks in advance!

 

[Pox in a box]

First Aid has only a two or three pages on pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and drug development but we spent a good two weeks talking about it in class. There's only a couple of formulas in First Aid but we had about 20 or so in class. First Aid is enough bigfrank?

 

[bigfrank]

First Aid has only a two or three pages on pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and drug development but we spent a good two weeks talking about it in class. There's only a couple of formulas in First Aid but we had about 20 or so in class. First Aid is enough bigfrank?

The NBME cares much more about CONCEPTS than the fact that you can memorize 25 formulas. That said, I had (seriously) 6-8 tables regarding Pharmacokinetics on the Step I and had to use zero forumulas. All the questions I answered very easily by taking the simple formulas and graphs in FA (potency, efficacy, etc.) and APPLYING the knowledge. I'd be surprised if anyone get a single question over technical formulas that require to pull out some obscure formula. This is a good thing, because I didn't bother memorizing any formulas.

 

[carrigallen]

Based on the NBME basic science exam I just took, you do need to know basic equations about clearance, volume of distribution, etc. (i probably got these wrong because I couldn't remember them). I specifically remember being asked about the mechanism of action of etoposide. They also seemed to like drugs with special side effects. The typical stuff (like phenytoin zero-order metabolism, ACE inhibitor side-effects) were covered.

I remember being given a scenario with an AIDS+TB patient on several (5-6) medications, and he presented with a symptom, then it asked which medication was most likely causing the side effect.

 

[the_equalizer]

not to change to subject, but what is the NBME basic science exam? Is it one of the two $45 ones on the NBME website? If not, how can I get this exam? Thanks

 

[betz]

not to change to subject, but what is the NBME basic science exam? Is it one of the two $45 ones on the NBME website? If not, how can I get this exam? Thanks

Our Basic Science Exam (took it last Friday), was given to us by our medical school. I am not sure if you can actually purchase it. I could be wrong though.

And thanks guys for all the advice, keep it coming! 🙂