Things I wanted to know before starting pharm school

[delite310]

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Hi everyone, I'm a P1 at Touro U. and I thought this thread might be helpful...
Looking back, I wish I had known a few things before starting school such as:

1. Start learning the Top 100 drugs during the summer before school starts, especially if you're not a pharm tech!

2. Bring your text books from undergrad because you're expected to know your pre req's. For example, we went over the 11 systems in like less than 2-3 wks

3. Organize your undergrad notes/outlines so you'll have a quick reference.

4. Get your immunizations in ASAP

5. Take extra classes if you have time. I never took Immunology and we went through a normal semester of it in 2 lectures.

- If you took the bare minimum of pre req's, you might struggle a little in the beginning if you have a non science background. but if you made it pharm school, you'll no doubt be able to catch up! it's just to your advantage to be familiar w/the subjects beforehand.

6. Review your basic ochem (functional groups and its properties), acid/base properties, anatomy, physiology (action potentials), biochem/molecular

7. Don't buy your books before school starts. It's best to ask your teachers which books you'll absolutely need and the P2,3,4 which books they used. You'll save tons of money! I bought almost all of my books before school began and I honestly use less than 5 out of like 20.

 

[happienhyperr]

thats so nice of you to create such a thread! i recently asked a recent graduate what he wished he would've done differently or had known before he started pharmacy school also... it never hurts to be prepared 👍

 

[SunFlower2008]

Hi everyone, I'm a P1 at Touro U. and I thought this thread might be helpful...


4. Get your immunizations in ASAP

Can you be specific what immunization we should get, where to get it?

thanks🙂

 

[delite310]

hey sunflower, it may vary from state to state but from what i recall, this is what i received:

varicella
tetanus
tb
mmr
polio recommended but not required
hep b

You'll most likely will also have to have a complete physical examination.

As for where to get it, I'm not too familiar with that because I have Kaiser and I go there for everything 🙂 But I assume you would go to where you normally have your check ups/doctor visits. I've also heard that it's cheaper to go to your school clinic. But don't forget to make a copy or ask them for a copy showing that you received the immunization.

Not to worry though, your school will give you a list of immunizations to get but it's something to think about in order to plan your preparation for pharm school. If you're really eager and you want to get them out the way, contact your pharmacy school and ask for the list/documents of immunizations.

 

[acetyl]

I'm sure most schools are about the same, and this is what's required for Michigan:

1) Measles, Mumps, and Rubella.
2) Chicken Pox; had the disease already or had two doses of varicella vaccine.
3) Hepatitis B vaccination; three doses or positive antibody titer.
4) Tuberculin skin test (dated after June 1, 2007).

The above vaccinations must be signed and approved by a health-care provider. I had the first 3 signed off by a RN at student services at my University.

 

[J@tti14]

Thanks so much for the info...

Where can I find the list for the top 100 drugs? Does someone have it that would like to share?? =) thanks!

 

[terse]

delite310, what is your name? is that also your sn cus that name sounds familiar

 

[josh6718]

Thanks so much for the info...

Where can I find the list for the top 100 drugs? Does someone have it that would like to share?? =) thanks!

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=top+100+drugs&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

 

[LATL]

thanks for the info

 

[OUPharmD]

I have started to study the top drugs using this site. I find it very helpful. It gives the structural formulas as well

http://www.rxlist.com/top200.htm

Best of luck to everyone

 

[sleazye]

Do you guys in school just become familiar with the names and general uses of the drugs or do you memorize formulas too?

 

[lvp0021]

Do you guys in school just become familiar with the names and general uses of the drugs or do you memorize formulas too?

Yeah I wonder the same thing, too... the rxlist website gives several aspects of a drug. I know for sure that you have to know both the generic and brand name. BUt other than that, what aspects else do you need to know? Thanks in advance.

 

[NexusMD]

Yeah I wonder the same thing, too... the rxlist website gives several aspects of a drug. I know for sure that you have to know both the generic and brand name. BUt other than that, what aspects else do you need to know? Thanks in advance.

I am not a pharmacy school, but I am pretty sure you need to know the names and uses of many of the "popular" drugs.

 

[Swanchick84]

I'm considering purchasing the NAPLEX flash cards of the top 300 drugs.

http://www.pharmacyexam.com/naplexflashcard.cfm

Is it worth it folks? $55 + shipping.

 

[dgroulx]

You do not need to memorize the formulas. When you take Med Chem, you'll need to know some structures. For instance, when you're studying ACE inhibitors you need to know how they work. Some of those structures will be on exams. I generally don't memorize structures until the day before an exam.

You will learn the drugs by type of drug. I never bothered with learning the top 100, 200 or 300 drugs. When we studied beta blockers, I learned those but we weren't tested on pain medication. There's nothing wrong with getting familiar with the brand/generic names, but don't worry about memorizing until you see what's required at your school.

What helped me was taking biochemistry, microbiology and genetics during undergrad. These were not prereqs for UF but they helped me tremendously.

 

[klebsiella]

I'm considering purchasing the NAPLEX flash cards of the top 300 drugs.

http://www.pharmacyexam.com/naplexflashcard.cfm

Is it worth it folks? $55 + shipping.

I dont think it is worth it. You can make them for a heck of a lot cheaper. all the info is found online....

I would recommend knowing at least the top 50 going into school if you are not a tech. I had no pharmacy experience and I was a little lost when they started talking about "sigs" and some of the drugs.

 

[delite310]

I just finished my first semester (P1) at Touro U and I was required to know the top 100 drugs- brand name, generic, therapeutic class, and if it's a controlled substance or not. You don't need to know the structure for each drug but you will learn in medicinal chemistry the structure, mechanism of action (MOA), properties etc. of the various types of antibiotics. You'll also learn acetylcholine and its analogues and why each act on certain receptors more so than others, its structure etc...

You don't need to purchase a book/flashcards, I actually got a free top 200 from Safeway.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

Link to the Top 300:

http://www.rxlist.com/top200.htm


Pharmacy Sig Codes (some of my no-pharm-experience friends have really struggled with this):

http://www.rxinsider.com/sigs.htm



Pharmaceutical Calculations (something else my classmates have had trouble with):

http://pharmcal.tripod.com/index2.htm



Medical Terminology:

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/hp.asp




I wouldn't spend hours studying in advance of pharmacy school. You'll have time to learn the material during the regular term. But if you want to get a head start (or you are just bored) these are the places I'd start.

 

[fsupharmguy]

This is a great post. I wanted to thank you for starting it.

 

[ttp]

What a great head start for me since I will be entering Touro next year!

It's too bad that I sold all my books after the semesters were over....🙁

Looks like I have to depend on my lecture notes.

Thanks for the info delite310.

ttp

 

[All4MyDaughter]

What a great head start for me since I will be entering Touro next year!

It's too bad that I sold all my books after the semesters were over....🙁

Looks like I have to depend on my lecture notes.

Thanks for the info delite310.

ttp

I also sold all my pre-pharmacy textbooks, but I've been OK. Anything I've needed to reference from undergrad I've been able to find on the internet.

 

[KARM12]

I don't think studying the top 200 drugs would have been helpful for my school, but knowing the sig codes would have been (I never worked in a pharmacy before starting school).

The things that helped me the most were taking physiology, biochemistry, and microbiology in undergrad. It was nice having seen that stuff before since they were required classes at my school.

Most importantly...take the time to relax and enjoy your summer before school. I wouldn't spend too much time worrying about it...they will tell you what you need to know once you start.

 

[K78]

What a helpful thread. Thanks for sharing the info, Delite!

 

[All4MyDaughter]

I don't think studying the top 200 drugs would have been helpful for my school, but knowing the sig codes would have been (I never worked in a pharmacy before starting school).

The things that helped me the most were taking physiology, biochemistry, and microbiology in undergrad. It was nice having seen that stuff before since they were required classes at my school.

Most importantly...take the time to relax and enjoy your summer before school. I wouldn't spend too much time worrying about it...they will tell you what you need to know once you start.

I agree that you don't have to study the top 100, 200, 300 in depth.
I'd just get familar with brand/generic names for the majors. People will use the names interchangeably so it's good to know.

Also, know at least what some of them are for:

Hydrocodone/APAP -pain
Lipitor - cholesterol
Lisinopril - blood pressure

And so on. Don't spend TOO much time on it.

 

[T&T]

We need to know top 200 drugs for NAPLEX exam. If you attend a 4 year pharmacy school, you should enjoy your summer because you will have time to study them. If you attend a 3 year program and have nothing to do, it is good to study them now. It is just my 2 cents.

 

[rxlea]

bump

 

[crazybob]

bump

And you got on to me for bumping a thread from 2009

It might just be my area, but I found that it's easier to find an intern position if you're already a tech before school starts.

 

[rxlea]

Too many people creating new threads on this topic 🙂

 

[LAmonroe]

Thanks a bunch for the info! 🙂

 

[JEW UNIT]

Too many people creating new threads on this topic 🙂

Your right...Do you have the ability to sticky threads to the top of the page? I think this deserves one...Or just create a new one and sticky that.

 

[Tinkerbell22]

This is a good, productive, thread.

Most threads getting a lot of attention are arguments (as I like to call them 'disagreements') because it gets so dang boring and repetitive in here!

I have to say that becoming a tech has really helped me understand a lot of things in a short amount of time that I would not have learned as quickly. Just knowing the overall way things work, sigs, brand/generics, what things are used for, etc.

People are always using brand/generics interchangeably. Many patients want their "Glucophage" or "Mobic" refilled, but really they're taking Metformin or Meloxicam. Sometimes people will want to pick up their 3 presriptions, and all they know is that one is for 'my heart', the other is 'for pain', and the other is for 'something else', so it's just good to know even if you're not an intern or pharmacist.

 

[rxlea]

Your right...Do you have the ability to sticky threads to the top of the page? I think this deserves one...Or just create a new one and sticky that.

Eh, if I have time this summer, I might compile a large post with information like this so we don't have to see the same threads popping up over and over...gotta run it by the other mods of course. But, Monalyce also posted something in the FAQ with some suggestions so we will see what we can come up with.

 

[diastole]

This is a good, productive, thread.

Most threads getting a lot of attention are arguments (as I like to call them 'disagreements') because it gets so dang boring and repetitive in here!

I have to say that becoming a tech has really helped me understand a lot of things in a short amount of time that I would not have learned as quickly. Just knowing the overall way things work, sigs, brand/generics, what things are used for, etc.

People are always using brand/generics interchangeably. Many patients want their "Glucophage" or "Mobic" refilled, but really they're taking Metformin or Meloxicam. Sometimes people will want to pick up their 3 presriptions, and all they know is that one is for 'my heart', the other is 'for pain', and the other is for 'something else', so it's just good to know even if you're not an intern or pharmacist.

This last part is really giving me trouble in my IPPE. The patient tells me that they want Brand X refilled but the computer only lists the generic names. In school, we usually only learn generic or they list both brand and generic so I don't learn them interchangeably. So I'm looking at a list of generics, trying to recall from the far reaches of my brain what the brand names are. Then I feel stupid because I think I really should know that. This would have been much easier if I had tech experience prior to school.

 

[phathead]

This last part is really giving me trouble in my IPPE. The patient tells me that they want Brand X refilled but the computer only lists the generic names. In school, we usually only learn generic or they list both brand and generic so I don't learn them interchangeably. So I'm looking at a list of generics, trying to recall from the far reaches of my brain what the brand names are. Then I feel stupid because I think I really should know that. This would have been much easier if I had tech experience prior to school.

Sadly I don't think there's any other way to really learn them unless you're working in a pharmacy. With the sheer number of names and similarities between them, few people will be able to study them and instantly retain them.

 

[Nupe954]

Didn't know that being able to recall drug names for brand/generic equivalents held so much weight early in pharm school. I wasn't expecting to use this information until may late P2 or early P3.

 

[ShadowRX]

Didn't know that being able to recall drug names for brand/generic equivalents held so much weight early in pharm school. I wasn't expecting to use this information until may late P2 or early P3.

Some schools expect you to know them early because:

1) they expect most of their candidates to have enough pharmacy experience to know what they are.
2) they are simple enough for anyone to know and learn in a summer.

Other schools will teach the most common 200 or 300 in 1 semester because:

1) they don't expect most of their candidates to have enough pharmacy experience to know what they are. (in fact, some schools will value volunteer experience a hell of a lot more than practical experience.)
2) their curriculum is based on memorizing drug names (read: they have nothing else they can teach in place of that.)