2023 RxPrep NAPLEX Course Book
Mnemonics and Pearls
Helpful and pertinent mnemonics and pearls gathered from the RxPrep 2023 version of the
NAPLEX Course Book.
Pearl - Amide- vs. Ester-Type Anesthetics - ANS-Amide-type anesthetics can be
recognized by the "i" in their name before the"-caine" ending (e.g., lidocaine,
bupivacaine, mepivacaine, ropivacaine). Ester-type anesthetics do not contain an "i"
before the "-caine" ending (e.g., procaine,
benzocaine, cocaine, tetracaine).
Hypersensitivity to one type of drug in an anesthetic class, such as the ester-type
procaine, does not confer cross-reactivity to drugs within the opposite anesthetic class,
such as the amide-type lidocaine.
Mnemonic - SLUDD - ANS-Parasympathetic Nervous System Physiologic Response
Salivation
Lacrimation
Urination
Defecation
Digestion
Mnemonic - G-PACMAN - ANS-Common CYP- Inhibitors Involved in Drug Interactions
Grapefruit
Protease Inhibitors (especially ritonavir)
Azole Antifungals (fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole, etc.)
Cyclosporine, cobicistat
Macrolide Antibiotics (clarithromycin, erythromycin, not azithromycin)
Amiodarone (and dronedarone)
Non-DHP CCBs (verapamil, diltiazem)
Mnemonic - PS-PORCS - ANS-Common CYP- Inducers Involved in Drug Interactions
Phenytoin
Smoking
Phenobarbital
Oxcarbazepine
Rifampin, rifabutin, rifapentine
Carbamazepine
St. John's wort
Mnemonic - Salty Buns & Pot of Coffee with Cream and Sugar - ANS-Stick Diagram for
BMP
Na Cl BUN
Glucose
K HCO3 SCr
, Pearl - "Color" Drug References - ANS-Red Book (Pharmacy) - Drug pricing information
Red Book (AAP) - Summaries of pediatric IDs, antimicrobial treatments, and
vaccinations
Pink Book (CDC) - Information on epidemiology and vaccine-preventable diseases
Pink Sheet (Pharma Intelligence) - News reports on regulatory, legislative, legal, and
business developments
Orange Book (FDA) - List of approved drugs that can be interchanged with generics
based on therapeutic equivalence
Yellow Book (CDC)- Information on the health risks of international travel, required
vaccines, and prophylactic medications
Green Book (FDA) - Information on approved animal drug products
Purple Book (FDA) - List of biological products and biosimilars
Mnemonic - Please Let Greg Brown Bring Peaches To Your Wedding - ANS-Warfarin
Tablet Colors
Pink (1mg)
Lavender (2mg)
Green (2.5mg)
Brown (3mg)
Blue (4mg)
Peach (5mg)
Teal (6mg)
Yellow (7.5mg)
White (10mg)
Pearl - Warfarin Dietary Supplements/Food Interactions ("the 5 G's") - ANS-Increase
Bleeding Risk - "the 5 G's" (garlic, glucosamine, ginseng, gingko, and ginger), dong
quai, vitamin E, evening primrose oil, high doses of fish oils, grapefruit, willow bark, and
wintergreen oil
Decrease Bleeding Risk - St. John's wort, green tea, coenzyme Q10, and foods high in
Vitamin K (spinach, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, kale, collard greens, cauliflower,
canola oil, chickpeas, cole slaw, etc.)
Mnemonic - CHA2DS2-VASc Scoring System - ANS-Estimation of the risk of stroke in
atrial fibrillation/flutter
CHF (1 point)
HTN (1 point)
Age greater than or equal to 75 years (2 points)
Diabetes (1 point)
Stroke/TIA history (2 points)
Vascular disease (prior MI, PAD, aortic plaque) (1 point)
Age 65-74 years (1 point)
Sex category, female (1 point)
Score greater than or equal to one (males) or two (females) are at moderate risk for
stroke and anticoagulation may be considered
