How to learn Pharm in 5 days?

[flga]

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Well, I have reviewed all subjects except for Pharm. My exam is Saturday and I really am at a loss. I ended up with a 62% overall on Qbank. I just don't feel like I know any pharm. Whenever I get a pharm question, I am guessing and basically getting a little better than 50%. I have tried again and again to learn from First Aid, but nothing is sticking-and I am DEAD serious. Any books or anything at all to try in the next couple of days for this problem. Thanks for the advice in advance.

JN

 

[cherrypie]

Well, I have reviewed all subjects except for Pharm. My exam is Saturday and I really am at a loss. I ended up with a 62% overall on Qbank. I just don't feel like I know any pharm. Whenever I get a pharm question, I am guessing and basically getting a little better than 50%. I have tried again and again to learn from First Aid, but nothing is sticking-and I am DEAD serious. Any books or anything at all to try in the next couple of days for this problem. Thanks for the advice in advance.

JN

With 5 days to your exam, I am not sure if going through another book is such a great idea. First Aid pharm is really good. Use it along with Kaplan's pharm book but only refer to the questions. If you have some time read through the cardio drugs, NSAIDS, and as far as antibiotics get there mechanims of action down. Know the big drugs and everyday just sit down for a few hours at a time with first aid and go through the drugs. And, space it out in the day. For example, do 30 minutes in the morning, another 30-45 min in the afternoon and just review what you looked at the end of the day.
Remember that they will not ask you about every single drug but try at least to get the mechanism of action, the class, and the major or "unique" toxicity of the really high yeild drugs.

I was in the same boat as you. If you did well in your pharm class you should be fine for this test. Of course, dont freak out if you see a drug that you never heard of before. Its common for them to do this. Good luck and dont give up!

 

[flga]

That's good advice. Thanks.

 

[DrPharaohX]

Try Pharm Recall. It'll help with the drilling while giving you a structured method to do so. Try hitting up your weak areas first.

 

[49erDoctor]

I'd suggest PRETEST PHARMACOLOGY. Its got decent questions with good explanations but the real key for me, at least, is seeing the drugs in many different contexts. and,

 

[49erDoctor]

I'd suggest PRETEST PHARMACOLOGY. Its got decent questions with good explanations but the real key for me, at least, is seeing the drugs in many different contexts. What do other people think of PRETEST PHARMACOLOGY or the other PRETEST books as a secondary question source???

 

[njbmd]

Well, I have reviewed all subjects except for Pharm. My exam is Saturday and I really am at a loss. I ended up with a 62% overall on Qbank. I just don't feel like I know any pharm. Whenever I get a pharm question, I am guessing and basically getting a little better than 50%. I have tried again and again to learn from First Aid, but nothing is sticking-and I am DEAD serious. Any books or anything at all to try in the next couple of days for this problem. Thanks for the advice in advance.

JN

Hi there,
There are five pharm formulas that you need to memorize long enough to write them down on your white board and then forget them. You can find them in First Aid. (Determining the half-life, calculating a loading dose, calculating distribution, calculating clearance, calculating therapeutic index)

The next thing is that most of your Pharm drug questions are going to come from Autonomic Pharm (alpha & beta antags and ags). Put your emphasis there. The next most representative category is CNS drugs(your anti seizures, anti-psychotics, anesthetics). You need to know the characterics of the families(mechanism of action & therapeutic use), the bad actors and the most dangerous side effects.

Organize your stuff and make yourself a study sheet. There are some good ones on the internet. Another quick study is Pharm Recall. You can get the most bang for your time with this little book. There is a little "Pharmacology Power Review" in the back of this book that is golden. There are also examples of how to work problems.

Good luck!
njbmd 🙂

 

[flga]

Thank you all for all of your suggestions. I haven't seen Pharm Recall or Pharm Pretest but will look at them tomorrow. Take care.

JN

 

[Richie Truxillo]

I learned all my cardiac drugs and anti-microbials in 7 hours with pharm recall. In 3 consecutive days, it stuck for good. I love the recall series! They are awesome. The micro recall is killer too.

First Aid's pharm ain't bad either.

I wish you the best of luck 👍

 

[garybass]

I can't agree more - Pharmacology Recall is the way to go.

Here is a quick question for you to test yourself for the Boards (the answer is in White text, so have a go at answering, then highlight the text to reveal the answer -

Rapid onset of fever, lethargy, difficulty swallowing, stridor and snoring expiration; child often appears pale/grey. Give Dx, causative organism and Tx

Acute epiglottitis, H. influenzae (encapulated, type B) previously MCC in infant, but now less common due to Hib vaccine. Occasionally caused by diphtheria or retropharyngeal abscess. Management - Admit to hospital immediately; Rx humidified O2, cefotaxime antibiotics.

Best of luck I'm sure you'll do great in your Exam!

 

[Pollicis]

I actually found Pretest pharmacology a bit too easy. I have the pretest pathology which I found much more useful.

I'd suggest PRETEST PHARMACOLOGY. Its got decent questions with good explanations but the real key for me, at least, is seeing the drugs in many different contexts. What do other people think of PRETEST PHARMACOLOGY or the other PRETEST books as a secondary question source???

 

[ssm82]

I actually found Pretest pharmacology a bit too easy. I have the pretest pathology which I found much more useful.

Pretest pharm is easy, but its really good if you've been reading FA pharm over and over with nothing sticking - because 90% of the answers are in FA. Go through the more high yield sections like cardio, micro, CNS, etc. It took 2 days for me to go through Pretest Pharm.