Memorizing Pharmacology Mnemonics

Pharmacy Flashcards and Fill-Ins for the Future Nurse, Doctor, Physician Assistant, and Pharmacist

By: Tony Guerra

Narrated by: Mike Lenz

Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

This fast and easy pharmacology review through mnemonics recognizes that many future nurses, doctors, physician assistants, and pharmacists (chemists) have families, jobs, and other responsibilities. Do you have time enough time to make 100 percent sure you will pass in the classroom or on the board exam? For most students taking the NCLEX, NAPLEX, USMLE Step-1, PANCE, GPHC, or KAPS exam, the answer is no. 

I wrote this mnemonic guide as an audiobook first to help you remember pharmacology drug names and principles quickly. While in the classroom your professors might say memorization doesn't matter, but you can't bring outside material to the board exam, so for this test, you do need to work on memory training. You already know the consequences of failing a class or board exam, so let's make sure that doesn't happen by getting pharmacology organized in your head once and for all. 

©2018 Tony Guerra (P)2018 Tony Guerra

This book helped me

I enjoyed the audible as well as the book, it helped me to remember the different types of drugs by the mnemonics that were listed as well as what each drug and its side effects are. I would definitely recommend this book as well as the audible for anyone who needs help with pharmacology and another way to remember these different types of drugs as well as what the side effects are. Here are some examples from the audible that helped me with my quiz/exams:

BUILD A BARRIER (affects the intestine)

B: Bismuth Subsalicylate
UIL: Loperamide
D: Diphenoxylate

A: Atropine

BARRIER

MORPHINE (side effects)

M: Mu Receptor
O: Opioid Sedation
R: Respiratory Depression
P: Pinpoint pupils
H: Hypotension, Orthostatic
I: Impaction, Constipation
N: Nausea, Emesis
E: Euphoria

ABCD RHYME (antihistamines)

A: Anticholinergic
B: Brompheniramine
C: Chlorpheniramine
D: Diphenhydramine

R: Rest, Sedation Causing
HY: Hydroxyzine
ME: Meclizine

NO PDF

The intro talks about a printed version to refer to, but its not included. I was lost 5 minutes into it.

Lucyjam.Pham student

When I started my class it was very confusing and I got a little frustrated trying to memorize 200 drugs in you blue book Memorizing Pharmacology. It was up until I learned using your Mnemonics that everything started sinking in my head .I like this book so much because I can listen it anywhere.I have so far learned new ones in this new book. I like how you come up with Mnemonics that really suits into place like tumor medication Mnemonics FLAWEDATLAST, or sedatives APEZZ , cardiac drugs ABCD and birth control SAVETONIGHT.I like cardiac the most because ABCD is also used a lot in emergency situations. So think of heart being an important organ.

Love mnemonics!

I love learning using mnemonics! I really appreciate that Dr. Guerra considers that all students are in different places in their learning process and learn differently! This book helped me a ton!!! I feel that even though pharmacology is an extremely complex topic, this book helps to simplify it.
When medications have different stems sometimes it is hard to remember what they are grouped with. One mnemonic that really helped me was RIPER, the meds in this category; Rifampin, Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutol, Rifabutin are used for anti-tuberculosis. These meds don't have much in common as far as stems go (except for Rif in 2 of them.) this mnemonic was very useful.
I would recommend this book to any student needing to learn pharmacology, especially one with very little medical background as this book does help to make things a tiny bity easier, and we all know we need that!

This author has the BEST ways to memorize Pharm!

I would be lost without this! I can listen to this while cleaning, driving or when I want to tune out the kids :) Seriously, this author makes pharmacology less intimidating and actually makes learning pharmacology FUN! The information I have learned I am retaining and able to build from! THANK YOU!

You need this book if you are taking pharm!

This book has been a game changer for me in pharmacology. I had no idea what to expect the first few weeks in regards to quizzes and tests, so i am SO THANKFUL I had a tool to help me memorize drugs and classes before i knew how to navigate exams.

Mnemonics are so much easier to store in memory than remembering every single drug name, every single class, side effect, generic vs. brand, etc. Use this book to your advantage! It will cut down your studying time by decreasing the amount of time and energy you have to spend memorizing. I also have found that these mnemonics have helped me remember drugs and classes long term. Usually, I take a test and forget the information right away. But, I am still able to recall the mnemonics from the first week of the semester and it has been over 2 months!

For an example, one of the first mnemonics i learned was for H2RA's- the mnemonic is CALIFORNIA H2:
Cimetidine
Androgenic effects
Liver enzymes interact
Increase QT interval with other QT drugs
Famotidine
O
Ranitidine
Nizatidine
I
Adjust for renal disease

This stuff is so much harder to learn and remember without easy mnemonics. Get this book!!!

Great Tool for Nursing Program

I think the Mnemonics are very useful for trying to remember everything needed for getting ready for the NCLEX. I believe this is a great tool, but I would not use this as my primary source for learning the drugs because there are so many. A few of the ones that have stuck while taking this course are:
Mu receptor
Opioid sedation
Respiratory depression
Pinpoint pupils
Hypotension, orthostatic
Impaction/constipation
Nausea/emesis
Euphoria
and
Buspirone
Extended time to start working
Clonazepam
Alprazolam
Lorazepam
Midazolam

Great Audible Book

I have found this audible easy to listen to and love the clever use of the mnemonics used because it helps me to remember not only my drug names but what they are used for. My favorite three mnemonics in this audible so far are BECALM (medications used to reduce anxiety), CALMEDADHD, and PAINNMEDS.

Great Listen

This booked helped me get through pharmacology. I listen on my nightly walks and cleaning house. Was a tremendous help.

busy mom and nursing student.

As a mom of three who also works and goes to school full time sometimes it was difficult to sit and study. Having the ability to listen to the books is so much easier for me! When we started the cardiac section in class I knew that I needed to learn a lot of information in a short amount of time. This meant that I needed a little extra help! This book is a lifesaver with mnemonics! My favorite one was using a mnemonic to remember the six side effects of ACEIs. Using the mnemonic CAPTOPRIL made it extremely easy to remember! I recommend this book for anyone who has a hard time finding the time to study!

PharmD Student

For anyone studying pharmacology, this audiobook is great! Would recommend for anyone who is approaching it for the first time or has had trouble learning to get a snapshot of pharmacology through mnemonics that are very easy to listen to and learn. I love how it’s broken down by disease states and groups drug classes together!

great book!

current US pharm.D student, excellent mnemonic for memorization, greatly helped me out in remembering pharmacology.