2023 RxPrep NAPLEX Course Book Mnemonics and Pearls

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 Continues...