Pharmacology

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kerrydds06

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two weeks of Pharm and, I'm lost. I know we HAVE to know this stuff, any recommendations:
good text, websites, cliff notes etc?
 
Ask your course director to make notes for your class. Mine did, and since she is an expert, her notes are extremely useful. All we need to know is her notes. However, I did use the Katzung board review book. I think it's very complete for our purpose. Also, there are pharmcards available to purchase.

Best of luck with your pharm studying
 
There is a medical school book that is part of the USMLE review series(has a grid on the cover) that is a good comprehensive pharm book. There is also a book called "pharmacology made rediculously simple" that is not too bad either. Other than that.......study harder.
 
I find the best way for me to study pharm is by making flashcards. I know it sounds like a pain in the butt, but it is amazing how much material you can memorize with that technique. I like to make two cards listing each of the major drug classes we are stuydying on the front. On the back of one I list the specific drugs we are studying in that class, and on the back of the other I will list common uses, side effects, general mechanism, pahrmacokinetics, etc...

I then make a card for each drug and list specific information on the back including a detailed mechanism, indications, dose, side effects, pathway, trade names, and any other important tidbits. I usually make these cards during class since I can't pay attention to the lecture anyway. It sounds like this takes a long time, but it is really a much faster way to memorize everything than going over handouts and reading the text - for me at least. Just an idea. 😀
 
P.S. I know there's more to pharm than just drugs, but that's the part that tends to give me the most trouble so that's where my study focus is.
 
that is a great idea James, cause in lecture they go 200mph. I have old exams to keep me focused on getting a good grade but I really want to master this subject.
 
north2southOMFS said:
There is a medical school book that is part of the USMLE review series(has a grid on the cover) that is a good comprehensive pharm book. There is also a book called "pharmacology made rediculously simple" that is not too bad either. Other than that.......study harder.

good posts.

pharmacy is an important subject...but, for me, it is also a weak area..and it is a subject that i spend most of my time studying these days so that pharm will not continue being the weak link in my dental education.

i've been trying to review out of lippincott's...but i'm also a fan of katzung's pharmacology.
btw, our assiagned text is pharm and therapeutics for dentistry by yagiela..
 
The only way to master this subject is repetition and exposure to px. (ie med hx) I bought the book pharmacology made ridiculously simple when I was studying for part 2 and let me tell you there is nothing simple about memorizing a ton of drugs 😀 . Unfortunatley testing in dental school was based memorizing; rather than on pharmokinetics/modes of action which tend to be more problem solving.

The Pharm on part 2 is basic. In real life I am good friends with about 4 pharmacists in town so I use them as my reference. 👍

Oh, I did notice some patterns with names when studying - like if the ending was -zole I could recognize it as an antifungal. It kinda helped in the short term for test taking purposes. In reality, I learn more about drugs every day when px come in and fill out there med hx.
 
Current Dental Students--I know I should concentrate on getting into dental school before talking about classed taken in dental school, but I have some extra time and am looking at taking a few classes. Would you recommend taking an Introduction to Pharmacology course?

Thanks in advance!
 
Current Dental Students--I know I should concentrate on getting into dental school before talking about classed taken in dental school, but I have some extra time and am looking at taking a few classes. Would you recommend taking an Introduction to Pharmacology course?

Thanks in advance!

I'd take anatomy with cadaver lab, physiology, micro or pathology before pharmacology. You'll forget that by the time you get to 2nd year...
 
I'd take anatomy with cadaver lab, physiology, micro or pathology before pharmacology. You'll forget that by the time you get to 2nd year...

Thanks so much DrReo! I appreciate you taking the time out to respond.

I've already taking anatomy with cadaver lab, physiology (physiological psych, animal phys, human phys, exercise phys), microbio, and a immunology/histology class. I will look into taking a patho-specific class.

Thanks again!
 
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