Have you considered using flashcards for pharmacology? I would certainly agree that pharmacology is one of the most difficult courses in med school.
The amount of information you need to absorb is so magnanimous that studying this course makes it too overwhelming. Provided the huge chunks of knowledge required, unfortunately, our memory has only limited capacity to digest everything.
That’s why we need a resource to assist us in the best way possible to make learning pharmacology fun and bearable.
What we need are flashcards for pharmacology!
In this post, I will give you the top 10 flashcards for pharmacology that would surely boost your knowledge of essential drugs appropriate for your future patients.
Why Is Pharmacology So Hard?
This is the question lingering among medical students – Why is pharmacology so hard?
The truth is, for you to survive pharmacology, there are tons of concepts that you need to memorize. It’s either you know it or not.
Drug classes, mechanisms of actions, indications, and contraindications, adverse and therapeutic effects, doses, and many more!
Aside from memorizing all of this, you also need to have good analytical and critical thinking skills. Before you choose the perfect drug, you need to integrate it with the patient’s condition and laboratory values.
FYI: Want to learn more about how to crush Step 1? Check out our free step-by-step masterclass to help you get a 250+ on Step 1!
How Do You Succeed In Pharmacology?
Since you know that Pharmacology’s difficulty is a real game, you need to establish ways on how to win over. Here are some ways I could suggest:
1. Establish an Effective Learning Strategy
A learning strategy enables you to study smart. Yes, there might be tons that you need to memorize, but having a learning strategy helps you identify what to learn and how to learn.
For example, if you’re trying to learn antibacterial drugs, don’t study through a drug-by-drug approach.
It’s tedious and overwhelming as there are thousands of existing registered drugs in the world. Drugs are not the only concepts you need to study for med school. Save your memory.
No need to memorize all side effects per drug. Nausea and vomiting is a common nonspecific side effect to major drugs so you don’t need to consume extra time squeezing them in your memory. Concentrate on what’s more important and specific.
2. Organize Drug Classes
Again, studying every drug is inefficient. Use a class-to-class basis. In this way, you’ll only be focusing on one mechanism of action, indications, adverse effects, drug interactions per a set of drugs.
As much as possible, avoid learning tons of information at once. It would cause burnout and stress resulting in counterproductiveness and a decrease in your ability to recall.
3. Focus on the Mechanism of Action
It’s of utmost importance to know how the drugs affect the body. Does it increase or decrease your heart rate? Does it decrease your blood pressure? Knowing how the drug works in the body to induce its therapeutic effect will give you a deeper understanding and clearer view of which drug to prescribe in the future.
4. Integrate Concepts
Try to integrate pharmacological knowledge to other medical concepts. This will help you memorize, or better yet enhance your critical thinking capacity.
5. Utilize Visual Representation
People differ from each other by the way they learn. Some may find visual representation the most effective. For studying pharmacology, I think using visual representation through flowcharts, graphs, tables, and infographics makes the learning process more understandable and interesting as they provide a more concrete picture of what’s happening inside the body.
FYI: Studying for Step 1 with review materials like pharmacology flashcards is great, you also need the right guide to accompany you through the process.
Pharmacology Memory Tricks
Pharmacology, in nature, is hard and nobody could change that. Fortunately, you could outsmart Pharmacology by using some memory tricks.
Here are some pharmacology memory tricks you could use:
1. Mnemonics
Mnemonics are a pattern of ideas and letters designed to aid memory recall. Remember how you recall the 12 pairs of cranial nerves? “Oh, Oh Oh To Touch And Feel Very Green Vegetables A H”
This corresponds to the Olfactory, Optic, Oculomotor, Trochlear, Trigeminal, Abducens, Facial, Vestibulocochlear, Glossopharyngeal, Vagus, Acoustic, and Hypoglossal nerve.
2. Create a Memory Palace
This is a memory technique in which you associate pharmacologic concepts with locations you are familiar with or strong memories you had previous encounters before.
Check out my post on the memory palace here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC3u9csQShg
3. Chunking Information
Chunking is grouping large pieces of information into smaller more memorable chunks. You might have used this before when you try to memorize a phone number. Instead of thinking 777123654, you’d rather divide it into 3 which would result in “777” “123” “654.”
With chunking, you tend to group items, find patterns, and organize them according to how you could memorize them.
4. Write It Down, Don’t Type It Out
It’s time to get traditional. Put away your computer or laptop and grab a pen and paper. Whatever you do by hand, it triggers the brain to pay more attention to what you’re doing. When writing, the brain is more active than when you type.
Put away your laptop. You’re more likely to remember notes you write by hand than those you type because you exert extra effort in forming letters. Unlike with typing, letters appear identical since you only press a key to type.
5. Use Flashcards
Flashcards make memorizing fun, challenging, and interesting. You can also bring them anytime and anywhere with you so you could study and train your memory skills as you read them repeatedly. You may try creating your own sets of flashcards for pharmacology. State the drug class, dosage, mechanism of action, indications, contraindications, and prominent adverse effects. But if you want pre-made cards, I will suggest the following top 10 flashcards for pharmacology for your daily use.
FYI: Flashcards are fantastic for your Step 1. However, studying for Step 1 is all in vain if you don’t have a step-by-step walkthrough to guide you.
Best Flashcards for Pharmacology
If you have no idea on which flashcard for pharmacology to purchase, I curated here my top 10 picks that would make learning pharmacology a high-yield experience.
1. Pharm Phlash Cards! (2nd Edition)
Pharm Phlash Cards are quality sets of pharmacology flashcards at an affordable price. The cards are grouped according to organ systems such as sensory, GI, musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, etc. There are tons of cards included which would surely help you prepare for your pharmacology exams.
Price: $26.00
Pros:
- Affordable price
- A large collection of cards
- Great design
Cons:
- Contains only basic info so you still need to refer to your textbooks
You may check this item here on Amazon.
See Reviews on Amazon2. Lange Pharmacology Flash Cards (3rd Edition)
The main purpose of these sets of pharmacology flashcards is to serve as preparation for USMLE Step 1.
If you are looking for other best resources for Step 1, you may also check my article here and I could give you tips and tricks on how to study for Step 1.
The Lange Pharmacology Flashcards is composed of 230 flashcards which help you to compare different types of drugs, various mechanisms of actions, side effects, indications and contraindications, etc.
Also, its affordable price is within every student’s budget.
Price: $11.98
Pros:
- Good for USMLE Step 1 preparation
- Made by students for students
- Cards are detailed
- Affordable
Cons:
- Some common drugs are not included
You may check this item here on Amazon.
See Reviews on Amazon3. Mosby’s Pharmacology Memory Cards
Yet quite expensive compared to other flashcards, Mosby’s Pharmacology Memory Cards is still one of the student’s choices when it comes to quality.
It implements various learning methods that would be suitable for medical student users with varying learning approaches. It contains detailed information like what you could find in your typical pharmacology books that helps medical students to get ready for their pharmacology exams.
Price: $26.95
Pros:
- Designed to help you practice in your pharmacology exams
- Utilizes various learning methods such as mnemonics, illustrations, humor, etc.
Cons:
- Expensive
You may check this item here on Amazon.
See Reviews on Amazon4. Pharmacology Flash Cards By George M. Brenner Ph.D. (4th Edition)
Brenner’s flashcards for pharmacology are a great learning tool for medical students who want to master pharmacology. It provides interesting ways on how to understand pharmacology in the most interesting ways possible.
Understandably, pharmacology is so hard to digest. That’s why Brenner provided fun mnemonics that would enhance your recall of important pharmacology concepts.
The cards are specially designed as preparation for USMLE Step 1. If you need further help in other areas of Step 1, you may also subscribe to my Masterclass for free to get access to high-yield Step 1 reviews.
It provides concise yet detailed pharmacology information so you could already consider this as a standout resource for pharmacology.
Price: $35.73
Pros:
- Good practice for USMLE Step 1
- Provides high-yield pharmacology information
Cons:
- Expensive
You may check this item here on Amazon.
See Reviews on Amazon5. McGraw-Hill’s Top 300 Pharmacy Drug Cards
McGraw-Hill’s Flashcard for Pharmacology promotes everyone to study pharmacology smart. It’s limited to the top 300 most commonly-used medications. It also includes common adult and pediatric vaccines.
Each card contains photos and detailed information on the drug’s name, dose, drug interactions, side effects, etc.
If you want more information on these drugs, don’t worry because each purchase will give you exclusive access to a website that provides further information on every drug. The cards have pre-punched holes in which you could insert a ring for binding.
Price: $44.36
Pros:
- Includes photos for easy identification
- Exclusive access to a website that provides more detailed information
- Designed with pre-punched holes for ring storage
Cons:
- Thin cards
- Limited to 300 drugs
You may check this item here on Amazon.
See Reviews on AmazonFYI: Studying for Step 1 with flashcards is great but you also need the right guide to walk you through the process.
6. MediQuik Drug Cards
MediQuik Drug Cards contain color-coded 300 commonly-used drugs and are handy during your clinical rotations. It contains detailed information on generic names, drug class, adverse reactions, indications, proper dosage, etc.
Price: $34.99
Pros:
- Pre-punched cards with ring
- Over 300 commonly-used drugs
- Color-coded for easy reading
Cons:
- Not very durable
- Some common drugs are not included
- Some cards have misprints
You may check this item here on Amazon.
See Reviews on Amazon7. Pharmcards
This flashcard for pharmacology aims to help second-year medical students in their preparation for USMLE Step 1. The cards are organized according to the mechanism of action and are designed to enhance recall of pharmacology concepts.
The new edition has 50 new drugs and one section namely Fundamentals of Pharmacology.
Price: $50.34
Pros:
- Good preparation for USMLE Step 1
- Focused on the mechanism of action
Cons:
- Information is quite not in-depth
You may check this item here on Amazon.
See Reviews on Amazon8. Illustrated Pharmacology Memory Cards: PharMnemonics
Composed of 282 flashcards for pharmacology, PharMnemonics makes studying pharmacology fun and interesting! The cards showcase creative mnemonics and humor which make memorization easier.
It provides detailed and updated information on drug name, class, mechanism of action, drug interaction, and side effects. You can easily look for this information in diagrams or tables for easy and convenient learning.
The cards are systematically organized. The set starts with an overview card that contains the list of drugs on the front and an illustrated diagram at the back.
This already provides users with a quick overview of drug classifications and drug therapy rationales. It includes an appendix of commonly used trade names.
This is the perfect flashcard for pharmacology reviews on board exams.
Price: $46.99
Pros:
- Good review for pharmacology
- Detailed information on drugs
- Uses mnemonics for easier understanding
- Contains appendix for common trade names
- Organized with an overview card
Cons:
- Some most common drugs are not included
You may check this item here on Amazon.
See Reviews on Amazon9. Test Yourself 400+ Pharmacology Mnemonics Flashcards: Practice Pharmacology Flashcards for Exam Preparation
Composed of more than 400 flashcards for pharmacology, Test Yourself with Pharmacology Mnemonics Flashcards is one of the best memory tools to prepare for a pharmacology exam.
Perfect for individual or group studies, it contains must-know information of pharmacology concepts. It includes important concepts on different topics such as respiratory system, cardiovascular system, antineoplastic, and many more.
Price: $9.99
Pros:
- Good for quick pharmacology concepts review
- Can be used for individual and group studies
Cons:
- Some common drugs are not included
- Quite large as flashcards
You may check this item here on Amazon.
See Reviews on Amazon10. Memorizing Pharmacology Mnemonics: Pharmacy Flashcards and Fill-Ins for the Future Nurse, Doctor, Physician Assistant, and Pharmacist
This is the pharmacology flashcard for every health professional. It serves as a useful memory aid to boost your knowledge of pharmacology concepts.
If you are going to take the USMLE Step 1 soon and you don’t have enough time reading thick pharmacology textbooks, this is a good reference.
Price: $9.99
Pros:
- Reliable USMLE Step 1 preparation for pharmacologic concepts
- Good for those who are cramming for reviews
Cons:
- Not too detailed information
You may check this item here on Amazon.
See Reviews on AmazonFYI: If you’re enjoying this content and want more Step 1 advice that can take your Step 1 score to another level then click here to join our FREE masterclass!
Verdict: What’re The Best Flashcards For Pharmacology?
I think the best flashcard for pharmacology is Lange Pharmacology Flashcards. At a very affordable price, you could already have a high-yield pharmacology review for your USMLE Step 1.
It provides detailed information on the most commonly used drugs which include their mechanism of action, indication, dosage, classification, adverse effects, and many more!
It’s a great student-friendly resource created by students. Lange Pharmacology Flashcards provide a fast and fun way to learn pharmacology.
Grab the Lange Pharm flashcards here.
See Reviews on Amazon_____________________________________________________________
Pharmacology is a difficult subject. It requires a lot of memorization and analysis. Because the human brain has only limited memory capacity, these tons of information may be too difficult to absorb.
So hopefully, these flashcards for pharmacology is a useful memory technique for you to study pharmacology in the fastest, funniest, and easiest way possible. With these flashcards, you would be able to ace any pharmacology-related questions you might encounter in the future.
If you need a comprehensive resource on Pharmacology, read this article on the Top 10 Best Pharmacology Books for medical students.
Found this post enjoyable and insightful? Check out some of our other blog posts!
- Best Desk For Medical Students
- How To Study For Step 1 [Get a 250+]
- How To Study in Medical School [Ultimate Guide]
- 10 Most Competitive Residencies
- Best Medical Podcast to Listen to
- How To Study Pharmacology Effectively [Full Breakdown]
Also, remember that rocking your USMLE Step 1 is possible and you can do just that by signing up for FREE Step 1 Masterclass here.
Or maybe you need a bit of help and support to push yourself up the ladder? If so, join Step 1 Academy now.
