Studying Drugs

April 6, 2007

yes thats true.. you got me there.... i guess using THAT method is

only appropriate with experience and knowledge to know the

difference... not to just " LEARN " the drugs clinical effects.

you got me.

> >

> > I may have misinterpreted what the original question was about..

> but I

> > am gonna chime in anyway..

> >

> > Dont know if its been said before... But I just break the drug name

> > apart and pay attention to the prefix and suffix to narrow down what

> > the drug does.

> >

> > loraZEPAM

> > diaZEPAM

> > clonaZEPAM..

> >

> > and

> >

> > simvaSTATIN

> >

> > or citalOPRAM.. or escitalOPRAM.. if you get some of those down..

> it

> > should not be much trouble.

> >

>

> > >

>

> >

>

April 6, 2007

I must say that I agree. I learn the best when I am given tidbits like those to

memorize. The only problem I have is that I am not creative enough to make up

some of my own!!

Jeanetta Mastron <rxjm2002@...> wrote: The PREMISE of THIS

technique is JUST that! It must be ridiculous funny and not make any sense. It

can not be logical.

I taught this method to other educator's at a NPTA Convention.They ate it up.

It takes me about 2 hours to teach it correctly and thoroughly. but those who

use it recall better than most.

Thanks for your input!

Jeanetta

gwiazdaus <argusia@...> wrote: by the way I spent $500 over 20 yrs

ago to learn this technique. >>>

I had to smile when I read your post Jeannetta because I too took a

course that used that technique. It was med terminology, over 10 yrs

ago, and to this day I remember some of the weirdest connections we

were given to remember certain terms. Some were funny, some sad, some

very weird and did not make any sense and that is why we probably

remembered them.

Anneka

April 7, 2007

Dear cphtlink,

Very gracious of you to acknowledge this!

PLEASE continue with your input to this site and helpful hints for study for

others. This site is OWNED, MODERATED and MONITORED by MANY educators like

myself, and experts in the field of pharmacy like Dora and my TEXPERTS. The

reason? Because I felt that while I have MUCH to share and to teach, and I AM a

teacher, that I do not know it all. And because of that I needed EXPERTS in

this field to 'man' and 'wo-man' this site. So IF you do offer a suggestion that

is not sound, we will catch it. We may not catch it in seconds minutes or hours,

but usually within 24 hours or one day.

That brings me to this:

Dear ALL using this site to study and reading this,

Because it can take up to 1 or 2 days (usually less than 24 hrs) before the

owner, moderator or TEXPERTS to read and review all of the posts, PLEASE do not

take all that you read as a definite answer until it is confirmed by the

owner/myself/Jeanetta, moderator/Dora or one of the TEXPERTS.

This is WHY TEXPERTS should always write the word TEXPERT under their name when

they answer a specific question. In addition there is a list of the TEXPERTS in

the files section with their contact information.

Thank you,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

Pharm Tech Educator

Founder./Owner of this site

cphtlink <cphtlink@...> wrote: yes thats

true.. you got me there.... i guess using THAT method is

only appropriate with experience and knowledge to know the

difference... not to just " LEARN " the drugs clinical effects.

you got me.

> >

> > I may have misinterpreted what the original question was about..

> but I

> > am gonna chime in anyway..

> >

> > Dont know if its been said before... But I just break the drug name

> > apart and pay attention to the prefix and suffix to narrow down what

> > the drug does.

> >

> > loraZEPAM

> > diaZEPAM

> > clonaZEPAM..

> >

> > and

> >

> > simvaSTATIN

> >

> > or citalOPRAM.. or escitalOPRAM.. if you get some of those down..

> it

> > should not be much trouble.

> >

>

> > >

>

> >

>

April 7, 2007

Dear Amber,

There are a couple of study ideas on this thread and I am not sure if you are

refering to using the endings, which I do not recommend as I and most recently

Dora have pointed out OR if you are refering to the memorization technique.

I am going out on a limb here and assuming that you mean the memorization

technique. I can tell you that there are a few other PREMISES that this

technique is built upon. ONE other is PERSONNAL , it must be personal to you and

you must be the person to make it.

Why? because it will stay in your mind better BECAUSE YOU wrote or developed it.

It is YOUR story, you OWN it and it means something to ONLY YOU.

However it CAN work, just not as well, if others make it for your. But the

problem is you now have tomemorize other stuff, where as when you make it up it

is not so much memorization but recall from what YOU KNOW already in your head

because you OWN it you MADE it. Sort of like a recipe: if you made a recipe

yourself you KNOW what you put in it and how much, if you don't use it that

aften you have to recall it, bring it forward to your conscious level. It has

already been commited to memory. But if you have to read a recipe, and use it

you probably have to keep looking it up or memorize it so that you don't. And

when you have not used it in a long time, you try to recall it, but sometimes

you just have to look itup because you can't recall it. Why? Because it is not

YOURS, you did not develop it, you do not own it, it is not PERSIONAL to you.

I hope this explains WHY you have to make it up.

But giving you examples helps you to LEARN HOW to make up the stories yoruself.

ONE thing I can tell you is to have FUN with it. ALLOW yourself to be a kid

again when you do this technique. Think of them as cartoons.

Hope this helps!

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

Pharm Tech Educator

F/O

Amber Coppi <freetobeme909@...> wrote: I

must say that I agree. I learn the best when I am given tidbits like those to

memorize. The only problem I have is that I am not creative enough to make up

some of my own!!

Jeanetta Mastron <rxjm2002@...> wrote: The PREMISE of THIS

technique is JUST that! It must be ridiculous funny and not make any sense. It

can not be logical.

I taught this method to other educator's at a NPTA Convention.They ate it up.

It takes me about 2 hours to teach it correctly and thoroughly. but those who

use it recall better than most.

Thanks for your input!

Jeanetta

gwiazdaus <argusia@...> wrote: by the way I spent $500 over 20 yrs

ago to learn this technique. >>>

I had to smile when I read your post Jeannetta because I too took a

course that used that technique. It was med terminology, over 10 yrs

ago, and to this day I remember some of the weirdest connections we

were given to remember certain terms. Some were funny, some sad, some

very weird and did not make any sense and that is why we probably

remembered them.

Anneka

April 7, 2007

Hi Joe,

What would those top 50/10 be? I have your CD and book, and I've

only seen the 200 listed. Thanks.

Doug

Re: Studying drugs

Hi Jeanetta,

As you are aware, one aspect of review manuals/books is to inundate

the student with information that is not necessarily on the national

exam. For a formal program, this is okay, but for one simply studying

to pass the national exam, this is not in their individual interest.

One focus in preparing for the national exam is to memorize the top

200 drugs. I am wondering if this is really necessary? My rationale

is that only a handful of drugs, maybe 10 are presented on the

national exam and trying to memorize 200 can be intimidating and in my

opinion, overwhelming to most.

As an instructor for those preparing for the national exam, I am

inclined to focus on maybe the top 50 retail drugs used, (not

necessarily from the top 200 list), including 10 Hospital drugs as the

top 200 drugs ignores the hospital setting.

I am also inclined to just have my students memorize the generic,

trade name, classification and main indication. Too many drug cards

have extra information that again, is too much.

Although you may think that more is better, I find students do as well

if not better on the national exam when they are able to focus on

other aspects of the exam such as calculations, etc. Since my pass

rate is almost 100 percent, maybe I am not far off the target on this

one.

Joe Medina, CPhT

http://www.techlect <http://www.techlectures.com> ures.com

P.S. Oh, I actually will have my cards available on my website in the

next few weeks to those who may be interested.

April 7, 2007

Dear Joe,

NOT on this site!

PLEASE address this person's needs privately and or on your site.

This is AGAINST all that I AM andn All that I TEACH!

IF you post this I will pull it! Sorry!

All of you who want to minimally pass the exam and want to know what

will be on it or how many of this or that or ???? feel free to contact

Joe privately but NOT on MY site!

WHILE I was typing up an answer in detail which took me hours to do,

this post came up. I posted yours first and then got interupted before

I could post my reply. Doug then found your post. Funny how it askes

for REAL what I ask as SARCASM!!!

Thanks for your co-operation in this matter.

Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

Pharm Tech Educator

Founder/Owner

>

> Hi Joe,

>

> What would those top 50/10 be? I have your CD and book,

and I've

> only seen the 200 listed. Thanks.

>

> Doug

>

> Re: Studying drugs

>

> Hi Jeanetta,

>

> As you are aware, one aspect of review manuals/books is to inundate

> the student with information that is not necessarily on the national

> exam. For a formal program, this is okay, but for one simply studying

> to pass the national exam, this is not in their individual interest.

>

> One focus in preparing for the national exam is to memorize the top

> 200 drugs. I am wondering if this is really necessary? My rationale

> is that only a handful of drugs, maybe 10 are presented on the

> national exam and trying to memorize 200 can be intimidating and in my

> opinion, overwhelming to most.

>

> As an instructor for those preparing for the national exam, I am

> inclined to focus on maybe the top 50 retail drugs used, (not

> necessarily from the top 200 list), including 10 Hospital drugs as the

> top 200 drugs ignores the hospital setting.

>

> I am also inclined to just have my students memorize the generic,

> trade name, classification and main indication. Too many drug cards

> have extra information that again, is too much.

>

> Although you may think that more is better, I find students do as well

> if not better on the national exam when they are able to focus on

> other aspects of the exam such as calculations, etc. Since my pass

> rate is almost 100 percent, maybe I am not far off the target on this

> one.

>

> Joe Medina, CPhT

> http://www.techlect <http://www.techlectures.com> ures.com

>

> P.S. Oh, I actually will have my cards available on my website in the

> next few weeks to those who may be interested.

>

April 9, 2007

Hi Jeanetta,

Sorry, did not mean to create such an outcry. In a formal educational

program, as much one can learn is necessary, but I was suggesting that

one preparing for the national exam without benefit of formal

education may wonder what information actually applies to the national

exam and what information does not. I simply felt that time could be

better served if one realize that memorization of the top 200 drugs

may not be desirable.

Yes your forum is about learning as much as possible and has helped

many not only in the passing of the national exam, but also in their

new chosen career. I am not one to question this forum, just posted

some food for thought that obviously was eaten ravenously.

Joe Medina, CPhT

April 10, 2007

No worry Joe!

You are allowed your opinion!

I do agree with you in 'theory' that one may want to place more time

elsewhere in a specific area of study that is difficult in order to

pass the exam, but at what expense is/was my point.

I think what you are saying is a natural selection w e all make the

week before, then the day before and finally minutes before the exam:

to study what we know less.

However to plan your/one's whole study around the belief or knowledge

that only a few trade generics will be on the exam down plays the

words " certified " and places the public at risk for safety. WE as

educators owe the community better than this.

I agree also and have previously said that many preparation books do

have superfluous information. You are right about this. Your question

" may wonder what information actually applies to the national exam and

what information does not. " remains a valid one. We and other

educators will undoutedly have varied viewpoints and this will be an

age old argument from now until doomsday.

It comes down to the authors trying to sell their new book or edition

to make it show how different from others and appear better. Can we

all say bigger is not always better. AS I type this I recall your

informative input several weeks ago regarding a study guide with

questions regarding veterinarian pharmacy and agrigcultural pharmacy

etc. being non-relevant questions for study for the PTCB exam.

Well this post has solved nothing; only raised more questions and

stated that the 'two camps' exist and will continue. The posts offers

a welcome to Joe's opinion as stated in a previous post.

Thank you again Joe, for your valuable input and insight.

Thanks for the food for thought, Yes I ate it ravenously and prevented

a 10 pounds gain with a purge! :)Once again we have proven that we can

have a professional disagreement without the world coming to an end

and keeping our respective integrity!

Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

Founder/Owner

>

> Hi Jeanetta,

>

> Sorry, did not mean to create such an outcry. In a formal educational

> program, as much one can learn is necessary, but I was suggesting that

> one preparing for the national exam without benefit of formal

> education may wonder what information actually applies to the national

> exam and what information does not. I simply felt that time could be

> better served if one realize that memorization of the top 200 drugs

> may not be desirable.

>

> Yes your forum is about learning as much as possible and has helped

> many not only in the passing of the national exam, but also in their

> new chosen career. I am not one to question this forum, just posted

> some food for thought that obviously was eaten ravenously.

>

> Joe Medina, CPhT

>

April 10, 2007

Hi Jeanetta,

Now this opens up a new chapter as to the validity of being certified

when no exact criteria is necessary in the taking of the national

exam? In another words, anyone can take the exam, pass it, proudly

place the " CPhT " behind their name....without even stepping foot in

the pharmacy setting.

For the consumer the " CPhT " behind an individuals name means they are

proficient or skilled in their vocation, some may even believe them to

be experts. But what is the true meaning behind the CPhT? For some

it is proficiency, for many it may mean something entirely different.

Look at the " open book " IV Certification programs, (i.e. NPTA

598.00), going around where exams are taken while looking for answers

in a book and the practical aspect may or may not even be completed.

One passes this and they are IV Certified, which again to the consumer

means proficiency, but the reality is much different. Good example:

An IV Technician who works in an IV room for ten plus years versus a

student who decides to become IV Certified by going through a program

that allows them this title.

Your 20/20 comment is good and does ask the question about the

validity of the national exam. Yes it is a start but so very much

more is needed and as you, Dora, Annette, and others believe in

the need for formal education, the fact remains that this is not going

to happen soon until the consumer decide to use their numbers in

demanding more is needed. Since the Pharmacy Technician is doing 95

percent of prescription and medication orders including IV Admixtures,

the consumer has the right to demand accountability from the pharmacy

profession.

We are at odds, but our goals have always been the same.

Joe Medina, CPhT

----------

However to plan your/one's whole study around the belief or knowledge

that only a few trade generics will be on the exam down plays the

words " certified " and places the public at risk for safety. WE as

Educators owe the community better than this.

April 11, 2007

Dear Jeanne,

I have REQUIRED that my students take the exam as a condition of graduation

SINCE the year of 2000, LONG BEFORE ANY school ever did in California and for

that matter in this country! This is what impressed the accreditation teams and

the military inspection of my program.

In this time period I have had about 3-5 letters of failure ALL other students

have passed. I MUST have the copy of the Cert with the SCORE. I began

DOCUMENTING and CHARTING ALL SCORES AND STUDENTS RECORDE per

request/recommendation of ASHP accreditation in 2004. This is not a requierment

but a suggestion that I complied with.

I now have an electronic program to do part of this form me with bar and regular

graphs etc.

Hope this answers your question.

Jeanetta

rxjeanne <rxjeanne@...> wrote: Just my

two cents regarding CPhT technicians. Having interviewed

alot of CPhT, in my book does not mean anything to me. Granted, I

will interview them, but alot of the CPhT's that I have been

interviewing don't know their brand and generics, I have empty

bottles sitting on my self, I ask them how well they know their brand

and generics...i get the response...great, test me

now...excellent...I know the top 200 drugs, etc. So I ask them to

pull me the vicodin bottle and we all know that the bottle is a

pretty big bottle, they are picking up small size bottles, studying

the bottle, etc and they fail. I give them a test to do the

math...failed!. I thought that maybe Vicodin isn't on their top 200

list that I call the schools and ask them and they tell me that it's

on the list.

I studied them and I analyzed what the problem is. They don't

memorize the the drug, they only memorize what the bottle looks like

or where in the pharmacy it is kept. So regarding the post, about

how to memorize the drugs and everyone giving the neat way of how

they did it...kudos to you, all new grads should really do that.

Jeanetta: I am not sure if you are practicing this in your school,

but here in northern california, they are already having the students

studying and passing the PTCB test, so I get resumes with their

names,CPhT and registration: pending.

I am usually a pretty good judge of character if a technician is

going to make it or not, or if they have the potential to become a

good technician, I give them a chance and not alot of pharmacies give

them that chance.

Oh and by the way, for those that know me...I just got my teaching

creditials...but I don't know if I can do what you do Jeanetta!

Jeanne

April 11, 2007

YEP! further my students are taught NOT to go by colors or color coding from the

mfg. AND Why!

Jeanetta

karin h <hockeykatbird_27@...> wrote:

size of bottle should NOT mean anything. i like how

they read the bottle THAT is good. How they manage to

" pull " it wrong after reading the bottle is a BAD

thing!

--- rxjeanne <rxjeanne@...> wrote:

Just my two cents regarding CPhT technicians. Having

interviewed alot of CPhT, in my book does not mean

anything to me. Granted, I will interview them, but

alot of the CPhT's that I have been interviewing

don't know their brand and generics, I have empty

bottles sitting on my self, I ask them how well they

know their brand and generics...i get the

response...great, test me now...excellent...I know the

top 200 drugs, etc. So I ask them to pull me the

vicodin bottle and we all know that the

> bottle is a

> pretty big bottle, they are picking up small size

> bottles, studying

> the bottle, etc and they fail. I give them a test

> to do the

> math...failed!. I thought that maybe Vicodin isn't

> on their top 200

> list that I call the schools and ask them and they

> tell me that it's

> on the list.

>

> I studied them and I analyzed what the problem is.

> They don't

> memorize the the drug, they only memorize what the

> bottle looks like

> or where in the pharmacy it is kept. So regarding

> the post, about

> how to memorize the drugs and everyone giving the

> neat way of how

> they did it...kudos to you, all new grads should

> really do that.

>

> Jeanetta: I am not sure if you are practicing this

> in your school,

> but here in northern california, they are already

> having the students

> studying and passing the PTCB test, so I get resumes

> with their

> names,CPhT and registration: pending.

>

> I am usually a pretty good judge of character if a

> technician is

> going to make it or not, or if they have the

> potential to become a

> good technician, I give them a chance and not alot

> of pharmacies give

> them that chance.

>

> Oh and by the way, for those that know me...I just

> got my teaching

> creditials...but I don't know if I can do what you

> do Jeanetta!

>

> Jeanne

>

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October 25, 2009

Dear Jeanetta,

In preparation for taking the national exam sometime in January, 2010 I am

learning the top 200 drugs for calendar year 2008 (T/G, classification,

indications), as listed in Reifman's 8th edition of 'Certification Review for

Pharm Techs'.

Now, regarding the extended drug knowledge (via use of your suggested Table

Chart Tool), I am having to limit myself (for national exam purposes) to the top

30 drugs. ==> Question: Should I be using what is considered to be the

calendar year 2009 top 30 drugs (and if so, can you suggest the most reliable

way to find these, at this point in time), or stick with calendar year 2008 top

30 drugs?

Appreciate your very helpful study group and all the effort you put into it.

Thank you,

cgb

October 25, 2009

Dear cbg,

Are you saying because of time constraints you have chosen to 'limit' your study

to the top 30? Hm… what I would do is learn the top 100 to 200 in

Trade/generic/Classification and add the pharmacology as you go or after you

have that down/memorized.

One thing you should do to cut your time making the tool/study pharmacology is

GROUP all of the drugs on the top 200 list into classifications and it will be

much easier to study the pharmacology. The Pharmacology for Allegra and

Claritin, for example, is very similar, while that of Benadry is different due

to the non-drowsy/ drowsy factors. However some things will be similar since

they are h1 antagonists or antihistamines used for allergies.

The list of 2008 is fine. The tests questions that are 'being' developed will

most likely become available 6 months to 1 year after being developed, checked

etc. This means that the drugs on the test are not more than likely newer than

the last year or two. Kind of like buying a car in 2009 youknow was made in

2008!

We can not expect a newbie to know all about a new drug, if we can not expect an

experienced tech to know about the same new drug since it takes a while to

work with it and learn about it.

Stick with the top 200 list of 2008 and you should be fine. In addition,

comparison of 2005 to 2006 to 2007 have not shown major changes in sales of top

200 drugs . Therefore the lists do not vary much between a year to two years,

but over a 5 yr period to a decade we have seen major changes.

I would definitely know the pharmacology of the top 100. At this point in time (

2.5 months) I think you can make it.

Use flash cards or eflash cards www.studystack.com to study pharmacology as

well. Use the games.

I would not limit myself. Have goals of 20drugs per week. My students have to

know at least this many per week. It is a five month program. They lean over 800

drugs, 400 they are tested on during class and about 200 on sr finals in

pharmacology and a sr final with 100 straight trade/generic.

Where would you find The top 200 for 2009? Type that into google and if you find

it please share with us so I can post it in files. Usually it comes out between

Feb and April of each year. Drug Topics is usually good for it.

Hope this helps would love more feed back on what you are doing, how it actually

helped or not for the PTCB or ExCPT exam and your exam experience with

T/g/pharmacology (not actual questions) but did your study strategy of limiting

yourself work out? Was there more or less pharmacology than you expected etc.

Hope this helps!

Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

Founder/Owner

>

> Dear Jeanetta,

>

> In preparation for taking the national exam sometime in January, 2010 I am

learning the top 200 drugs for calendar year 2008 (T/G, classification,

indications), as listed in Reifman's 8th edition of 'Certification Review for

Pharm Techs'.

>

> Now, regarding the extended drug knowledge (via use of your suggested Table

Chart Tool), I am having to limit myself (for national exam purposes) to the top

30 drugs. ==> Question: Should I be using what is considered to be the

calendar year 2009 top 30 drugs (and if so, can you suggest the most reliable

way to find these, at this point in time), or stick with calendar year 2008 top

30 drugs?

>

> Appreciate your very helpful study group and all the effort you put into it.

>

> Thank you,

>

> cgb

>

October 26, 2009

Yes, I am feeling that I need to limit my study of drugs, in some ways, due to

time constraints. Your perspective was helpful, as were your comments about

calendar year drug lists and national exam testing cycles.

So far for my own study I purchased a set of cards, to which I have added some

of my own. I rubber-banded the cards mainly into common classifications as

listed on the cards, and I also grouped several of the smaller classes and

standalone drugs into a 'personal' stack containing drugs which already had some

meaning to me for variety of reasons (personal, family or friend has used it,

how the drug name sounds, etc.) and therefore was easier to memorize and was the

one that I started with to give momentum. In addition, I started out making a

notebook with some drawings and memory triggers for a number of the drugs, but

now I more often use pencil to jot down somewhat cryptic memory triggers on the

cards themselves. Have to be careful here so as not to easily give myself the

answer when reviewing and flipping through the cards, but it works pretty well.

The fact that the 'notations' are somewhat cryptic is not so much that I am

trying to hide the answers from myself when reviewing, but because it just ends

up being that way with some of these names. There is only so much that you can

do with them. I sit down and simmer on some of the more difficult ones, not

thinking that I could actually come up with a trigger but eventually I manage

to. Sometimes I jot a few strokes on the generic name side of the card, but

mostly I write them on the trade name side of the card (the side which also

contains classification, use, etc.).

==> One other comment/request: As a Newbie, I have difficulty knowing how much

source monogram information to extract for purposes of populating the

pharmacalogy 'Table Chart Tool' that you have made available elsewhere on the

site. I ended up putting mine into a spreadsheet (personal preference) instead

of Word, but my biggest struggle has to do with 'what to leave out?'; i.e.,

selecting the source material so that the summarized end result is a good

balance of content, size, and learnability. Would like to request that the

'Table Chart Tool' be populated with a couple of good examples so that we (the

students) could compare against rxlist.com, drugs.com, etc. in order to better

understand your approach.

Thanks again,

cgb

> >

> > Dear Jeanetta,

> >

> > In preparation for taking the national exam sometime in January, 2010 I am

learning the top 200 drugs for calendar year 2008 (T/G, classification,

indications), as listed in Reifman's 8th edition of 'Certification Review for

Pharm Techs'.

> >

> > Now, regarding the extended drug knowledge (via use of your suggested Table

Chart Tool), I am having to limit myself (for national exam purposes) to the top

30 drugs. ==> Question: Should I be using what is considered to be the

calendar year 2009 top 30 drugs (and if so, can you suggest the most reliable

way to find these, at this point in time), or stick with calendar year 2008 top

30 drugs?

> >

> > Appreciate your very helpful study group and all the effort you put into it.

> >

> > Thank you,

> >

> > cgb

> >

>

October 26, 2009

One of the best sources for Top 200 is Pharmacy Times Magazine--go to their site

and search Top 200 drugs 2008 or 07 or even 09--they have several

categories--dispensed, sold, etc.

Re: Studying Drugs