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Drugs and Conditions -

Learning medications is one of the most intimidating, overwhelming, and difficult aspects of entering a healthcare field.

Where do you start? There are

Top Drugs is designed to break down what you NEED to know into easily understandable / easy to learn chunks.

This course follows which conditions are most prevalent, and which drugs are most popular.  This way, the student learns which drugs are actually used in practice.  Which drugs are fast movers in every pharmacy.  The gold standard drugs for each condition.   

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Learning medications is one of the most intimidating, overwhelming, and difficult aspects of entering a healthcare field.

Where do you start? There are

Top Drugs is designed to break down what you NEED to know into easily understandable / easy to learn chunks.

This course follows which conditions are most prevalent, and which drugs are most popular.  This way, the student learns which drugs are actually used in practice.  Which drugs are fast movers in every pharmacy.  The gold standard drugs for each condition.   

This course will provide students with a solid foundation of knowledge to enter a healthcare field, preparing them to excel. 

Benefit  in having the advantage over other applicants.  Imagine already knowing a bulk of basic medications while applying to Pharmacy, Medical, Nursing, PA, or Dental school.  How impressive would you be to the administrators?

Avoid the overwhelming  feeling of starting your first rotation at a hospital, with only a few weeks of school under your belt.  Avoid being completely clueless about what is going on.   Go in with a foundation of knowledge, putting yourself above the competition.

I have been through professional school.  The first couple of years were rough.  Had I known what I know now, I would have prepared.  I would have gone in with a foundation of drug knowledge.

That is what this course provides.  Whatever healthcare field you are entering, or considering entering - go in with a strong foundation.   Blow away your competition, outshine the other applicants.  This is possible with some determination, and made simple with these courses.

Entire semesters of schooling can be dedicated to certain conditions.  This course provides concise, relevant MUST KNOW education about each condition.

Different career paths require different pieces of medicinal knowledge.  This course can be used by students in ALL of the different healthcare career fields.

Medications are sorted into a hierarchy.  Each medication will have a popularity designation.  I will tell you when medications are hospital only, over the counter, retail pharmacy only, etc.  I will tell you when a medication is an absolute MUST KNOW.  I will tell you when a drug is not very popular and only certain professionals will need to remember it. 

The point of this course is to provide drug information that can be used for any future healthcare professional, at any step of their education journey.  You can decide how to utilize the information, you can decide what you need to take note of.  I will present every angle of the information.

The Drugs and Conditions NEED to Know Medication courses are broken into conditions.  Under each condition, there will be:

  1. Condition Overview:  Learn about the condition.  What are the signs and symptoms?   What causes the condition?  What are the treatments?  What are the treatment goals?  Who needs treatment?

  2. Medication Overview:  The bulk of the course will focus on medications. What medications are used to treat this condition?  What are the first line medications?  When would you use other medications?  When and how are these medications used?  Medications will be broken into drug classes and popularity. Each medication will have a hierarchy designation.  How important is it to know this medication?  They will be sorted in importance. 

  3. MUST KNOW Medication Conclusion:  Going over the important medications at the end of each condition presentation.  You have learned about the condition and the medications used for it, now what do you absolutely need to remember?

  4. Condition Outline:  A printable, downloadable, one page Word document summarizing every drug discussed in each presentation.  Sorted in the usual hierarchy.  Brand and generic names will be listed.  You can print these documents prior to the presentations, and use to take notes that are relevant to you and your career.

Part 1:

  • Blood Pressure/Hypertension

  • Diabetes

  • Cholesterol/Hyperlipidemia

  • OTC - Cough, Cold, Allergy

Part 2:

  • Depression/Anxiety

  • GERD - Gastrointestinal Reflux Disease

  • Pain

  • Thyroid Disorders

Part 3:

  • Antibiotics

  • Acute Sickness

  • ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

  • Immunizations/Vaccines

Part 4:

  • Asthma/COPD - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

  • Gout

  • BPH/ED - Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia/Erectile Dysfunction

  • Sleep Disorders

  • Bone Health

Part 5:

  • Birth Control

  • Incontinence / Overactive Bladder

  • Anticoagulation / Blood Clots

  • Arrhythmia Disorders

  • Dementia / Alzheimer's Disease

List of the Top 200 Drugs of 2020 along with which Top Drugs course covers each medication available on the Drugs and Conditions website

I am a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) and a topic expert in medications.  I'm a currently practicing pharmacist, with experience in retail and hospital settings - As well as academia/consultation areas of healthcare.  With the purchase of my course you are obtaining advice/Q&A/expertise on medication related healthcare topics, as long as you are enrolled.  I will be open and responsive to questions or discussion in the course pages. 

Click the Expand Arrows under each section of "Course Content" to see exactly what is included in each presentation. 

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Know top drugs! from basic name and class to simple uses and dangers
  • Discover effective ways to learn and remember top drugs!
  • Learn which drugs are actually used in practice, the drugs you need to know!
  • Get an advantage over classmates and other applicants with a solid foundation of medicinal knowledge!
  • Understand when they're used, why they're used, and how they're used
  • Learn medication classes, brand, generic, and conditions they treat
  • Understand basic conditions, including signs and symptoms, goals, who needs treatment, and when and how to treat
  • Strengthen foundation of knowledge for exams such as nclex and pharmacy technician boards
  • Learn some basic pharmacology introduction!

Syllabus

Introduction
Course Introduction

A list of the Top 200 Drugs of 2020 displaying which Top Drugs course covers each medication.  The majority of the Top 200 Drugs are discussed in one of the five Top Drugs courses.

Students can use this list as a reference when they are trying to learn about a specific drug, or see the progress they're making in learning all the Top Drugs. 

Also available on www.DrugsandConditions.com/Drugs

Read more

Hypertension Condition Overview 

  • What causes high blood pressure?

  • What is a normal blood pressure reading? 

  • When is it too high and too low? 

  • What complications can hypertension cause? 

  • What happens if left untreated? 

  • What are treatment goals? 

  • How do you prevent high blood pressure?

Hypertension Medication Overview - The Big Four - the four classes of medications used as first line treatment for high blood pressure.  These are the most common hypertension medications-  ACE-I's, ARBs, Thiazides, CCBs.  Will also briefly discuss the guidelines that make these recommendations.  Why are these four classes used before all the other blood pressure medications?

Hypertension Medication Overview -Blood pressure medications outside the big four - the "second line" drugs. This will include beta-blockers, alpha-blockers, other diuretics, and a few miscellaneous ones. Will also briefly discuss the guidelines that make these recommendations. Why are there so many blood pressure medications? Which can be used together? Which can't? When would you ever need to go outside the Big Four?

MUST KNOW Medication Conclusion- Going over the important medications at the end of each condition presentation. You have learned about the condition and the medications used for it, now what do you absolutely need to remember?

Downloadable "Outline" of medications for the topic/condition. The outline will include brand and generic names of medications, as well as some general condition overview information. Medication hierarchy is the same (without stars). Print out and take notes along with lecture - use notes to gear towards your specific career field (what you NEED to know!)

Diabetes Condition Overview

  • What is the difference in type 1 and 2 diabetes?

  • How does one check glucose levels?

  • What is an A1c?

  • What is a normal glucose reading?

  • When is it too high and too low?

  • What complications can diabetes cause?

  • What happens if left untreated?

  • What are treatment goals?

  • Who can treat diabetes with diet and exercise? Who will have to take pills? Who will have to take insulin?

  • How do you prevent diabetes?

Take a detailed dive into one of the most complex and far reaching diseases in history.

Diabetes Medication Overview - Oral diabetes medications - all of the common classes of medications used for controlling diabetes. Includes Metformin, SUs, TZDs, DPP-4s, and SGLTs. A new diabetes medication is hitting the market seemingly every day. What are similarities? What are the differences? What can be used together? What can be used with insulin? Easily navigate one of the deepest drug categories in medicine.

Diabetes Medication Overview - Injectable diabetes medications - the one class of non-insulin injectables (GLP-1s) and all the common and available insulin! Simplify the deep and complex topic of insulin. Which are over the counter? Which are long acting? Short acting? Rapid? Which are used in insulin pumps? Become an insulin expert!

MUST KNOW Medication Conclusion- Going over the important medications at the end of each condition presentation. You have learned about the condition and the medications used for it, now what do you absolutely need to remember?

Cholesterol Condition Overview

  • What are the different components of a lipid panel?

  • What are target ranges?

  • Which levels are good and which levels are bad?

  • What happens if high cholesterol is untreated?

  • What are treatment goals?

  • How do you prevent high cholesterol?

Cholesterol Lowering Medications - focusing on Statins and the common non-Statin alternative medications. When would you use a medication other than a statin? Including a brief look into the guidelines and ASCVD calculation!

OTC Medication Overview - Common OTC cough, cold, and allergy medications - Including every common ingredient and medication you would find in the cough and cold OTC aisle of any drug store, and their uses! Learn the different OTC combinations and when and why each are used. Did you know most OTC medications consist of the same couple of ingredients?

www.DrugsandConditions.com

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides a solid foundation of medicinal knowledge, which can give applicants an edge when applying to Pharmacy, Medical, Nursing, PA, or Dental school
Covers prevalent conditions and popular drugs, which helps students learn what is actually used in practice and what they need to know
Includes downloadable outlines of medications, which allows learners to take notes and gear their learning toward their specific career field
Offers insights into medication popularity and usage in different settings, such as hospitals, retail pharmacies, and over-the-counter
Strengthens the foundation of knowledge for exams such as NCLEX and Pharmacy Technician Boards, which can help students pass their licensure exams
Focuses on the Top 200 Drugs of 2020, which may not reflect current prescribing practices and could omit newer medications

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Reviews summary

Essential drug knowledge foundation

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation (positive) in must-know medications (positive) essential for those entering healthcare fields like pharmacy, nursing, or medicine. Students find the content clear and concise (positive), effectively simplifying complex drug information. The focus on practical relevance (positive) and commonly used drugs is highly appreciated, helping with exam preparation (positive) and building confidence for clinical settings. Some reviewers mention the downloadable outlines (positive) are particularly helpful study aids. While primarily geared towards foundational knowledge, students feel well-prepared for their next steps after completing it.
Pace may be too slow or fast for some.
"For someone completely new to this, the pace felt just right."
"Could be a bit slow if you already have some background knowledge."
"I sometimes wished it went a bit faster through the basics."
"The pace allows for good note-taking and comprehension."
Provided materials aid study.
"The downloadable outlines are a great resource for review and taking notes."
"I loved having the printable outlines to follow along with the lectures."
"The outlines are very helpful for quickly reviewing the information."
"Having the outlines made it easy to summarize points and study offline."
Excellent starting point for beginners.
"Excellent course for anyone wanting to learn a lot about top drugs before applying to school."
"Provides a great basic understanding of many common medications."
"Highly recommend for pre-health students looking for a strong foundational knowledge."
"Good starting point for anyone entering the medical field with limited drug knowledge."
Builds a strong knowledge base for boards.
"This course will give you an advantage over other applicants for school and prepare you for certification board exams (i.e. NCLEX and pharmacy technician boards)."
"Helped me prepare for my Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Exam! It was concise, simple, and relevant."
"Excellent review course prior to beginning my Pharmacy Technician program. It really helped me build a knowledge foundation."
"This course lays a solid foundation for anyone looking to pass exams or enter professional healthcare school."
Instructor explains topics well.
"The instructor is clear and concise in the lectures making complex information easy to understand."
"His explanations are clear and to the point. He explains the 'whys' not just the 'whats'."
"Lectures are engaging and broken down into easily digestible sections."
"The content is presented in a well-organized and understandable manner."
"Very well-paced, easy to understand and a great foundation."
Highlights drugs needed in practice.
"This course is very helpful and helps you focus on the MUST KNOW medications that you will use everyday in practice."
"It definitely highlights medications and diseases that I NEED to know. As a future PA student this course is perfect for a knowledge foundation."
"The content is very useful and practical, focusing on common medications and conditions encountered in healthcare settings."
"The course does a good job hitting on important medications/conditions and weeding out the unnecesary information that may not be useful."
"Knowing the most common drugs is a HUGE help. This course delivers exactly that."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Top Drugs 1 - Medications you NEED to Know - Pharmacy with these activities:
Review Basic Physiology
Reinforce your understanding of how the body works to better understand how drugs affect physiological processes.
Browse courses on Human Physiology
Show steps
  • Review the major organ systems and their functions.
  • Focus on systems affected by common medications like cardiovascular and endocrine.
  • Take a practice quiz on basic physiological concepts.
Review 'Mosby's Drug Guide for Nursing Students'
Enhance your understanding of drug administration and patient care considerations related to the medications covered in the course.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Mosby's Drug Guide for Nursing Students'.
  • Look up the drugs covered in the course in the guide.
  • Read the information on nursing considerations and patient teaching.
Read 'Pharmacology for Healthcare Professionals'
Gain a broader understanding of pharmacology principles to supplement the course's focus on specific drugs.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Pharmacology for Healthcare Professionals'.
  • Read chapters related to drug classifications covered in the course.
  • Take notes on key concepts and mechanisms of action.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Drug Flashcard Drills
Reinforce drug names, classes, and uses through repetitive practice with flashcards.
Show steps
  • Create flashcards for the top drugs covered in the course.
  • Include brand names, generic names, drug classes, and common uses on the flashcards.
  • Practice with the flashcards regularly to memorize drug information.
Create a Medication Mind Map
Visualize the relationships between different drug classes and their uses to improve understanding and retention.
Show steps
  • Choose a specific condition covered in the course.
  • Create a mind map with the condition as the central topic.
  • Branch out to include different drug classes used to treat the condition.
  • Add specific drugs within each class and their uses.
Create a Drug Information Resource
Consolidate drug information from the course and external sources into a readily accessible resource for future reference.
Show steps
  • Compile a list of the top drugs covered in the course.
  • Gather information on each drug, including brand names, generic names, uses, and side effects.
  • Organize the information into a spreadsheet or database.
  • Add links to reputable online resources for each drug.
Tutor a Classmate
Solidify your understanding of the material by explaining it to someone else.
Show steps
  • Find a classmate who is struggling with the material.
  • Offer to tutor them on the topics covered in the course.
  • Prepare explanations and examples to help them understand the concepts.

Career center

Learners who complete Top Drugs 1 - Medications you NEED to Know - Pharmacy will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Pharmacist
A pharmacist dispenses medications and provides medication-related information to patients and healthcare providers. This course is beneficial for aspiring pharmacists, as it covers the most prevalent conditions and the gold standard drugs used to treat them. The course's focus on the practical applications of medications, including their popularity and how they are used across different settings, helps build a strong foundation for a future pharmacist. Additionally, learning to categorize medications and understand their importance gives a significant advantage in pharmacy practice.
Medical Doctor
Medical doctors diagnose and treat illness, prescribing medication and formulating treatment plans. The course's focus on the most prevalent medical conditions along with the drugs that are most popular to treat these illnesses will help medical students prepare for their clinical rotations. A doctor must understand the uses of medications, and this course helps build a foundation in the must-know drugs, sorted by importance. By understanding the different treatment options for common illnesses, a future medical doctor will be able to improve patient outcomes.
Physician Assistant
Physician assistants diagnose illnesses, develop and manage treatment plans, and prescribe medications. This course helps future physician assistants learn about common conditions, understand treatment goals, and gain knowledge of first-line medications. The course’s structure, which identifies must-know medications, helps one prepare for clinical rotations where a physician assistant must make sound decisions about complex patient cases. Additionally, the course breaks down information into easily understandable sections, which is useful for a career where one must always learn new information.
Registered Nurse
Registered nurses provide direct patient care, administer medications, and educate patients and families about medical conditions. This course is helpful for registered nurses because it is focused on understanding the treatment goals of common diseases, and the medications used to treat these diseases. The course covers when and how medications are used, providing a framework for nurses in clinical settings. A registered nurse needs to know the most important information about medications, and the course’s focus on must-know medications will prove useful.
Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists in dispensing medications and performing administrative tasks. This course can help a pharmacy technician because it provides concise, must-know information about medications, sorted by importance. The course also provides downloadable outlines, which makes it easy to use as a reference or study guide. Understanding the basics of common medications helps a pharmacy technician be more efficient and excel in their role, and this course is a way to learn those basics.
Medical Assistant
Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks in a healthcare setting. This course can help a medical assistant because they have to be familiar with the medications that patients are taking. The course's structure, which focuses on must-know medications and how they are used, will help a medical assistant better understand their duties. This course may prove useful for anyone in the healthcare field that might have to handle medications.
Medical Writer
Medical writers develop content related to healthcare and medicine, such as articles, reports, and educational materials for patients and clinicians. This course could be helpful for a medical writer because of its focus on the most prevalent conditions and commonly used medications. This course provides a foundation of knowledge for a medical writer who must communicate medical information to variety of audiences. Medical writers must be able to understand medications and the conditions they treat, and this course may be a good learning resource.
Clinical Research Associate
Clinical research associates manage and monitor clinical trials of drugs and medical devices. This role requires a solid understanding of medications and their uses, especially when working with investigational drugs. This course may be helpful for learning about commonly prescribed medications, their uses, and how they are categorized. Knowing the gold standard drugs for various illnesses, as taught in this course, may help one in the role of a clinical research associate.
Medical Sales Representative
A medical sales representative promotes and sells pharmaceuticals to healthcare professionals. A sales representative should be knowledgeable about the medications they are marketing. This course can help a sales representative become familiar with the most commonly prescribed and important drugs. The course’s focus on the usage of medications within specific conditions may help a sales representative better articulate and position a pharmaceutical to a practitioner. A medical sales representative must be able to speak to the value of medications, and this course may help in this endeavor.
Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs Specialist
A pharmaceutical regulatory affairs specialist works with government agencies to ensure that pharmaceutical products comply with all relevant regulations. This course may be helpful to a regulatory affairs specialist because it introduces the different uses for a wide variety of medications. By understanding the most important drugs and their uses, a regulatory affairs specialist would be more prepared to assess drug submissions and product claims. A regulatory affairs specialist should be familiar with the medications that they are reviewing, and this course may be a good educational resource.
Medical Coder
Medical coders assign codes to medical procedures and diagnoses so providers can bill insurance for services. This course may help a medical coder because they need to understand the connection between conditions and medications. By understanding how medications are categorized and how they are used, a medical coder will be better prepared to code medical records. A medical coder must understand medications, and this course may be a helpful study resource.
Healthcare Administrator
Healthcare administrators plan, direct, and coordinate health services within hospitals or clinics. While this role has little to do with direct patient care, it may be helpful for a healthcare administrator to understand the top medications, conditions, and treatment plans. This course may be useful for healthcare administrators who want to better understand the landscape of modern healthcare. Because healthcare administrators make decisions about care and resources, knowing about commonly used medications may prove useful.
Dental Hygienist
Dental hygienists clean teeth and educate patients on oral hygiene. They must have familiarity with medications, especially those that may affect dental health. A dental hygienist must understand the medications that their patients are taking, and this course may be helpful in this regard. The course can introduce a dental hygienist to common medications that they might see listed on a patient’s medical history. This course may be helpful for anyone in the dental field.
Emergency Medical Technician
Emergency medical technicians provide basic medical care in emergency situations. While they primarily focus on immediate care, a basic understanding of medications is beneficial. This course may help an emergency medical technician understand the medications that patients may have been taking when they are on the scene. Recognizing medications and understanding their uses, as this course teaches, may help an emergency medical technician better understand a patient's condition. This course may prove useful for anyone in the emergency medical field.
Health Educator
Health educators teach people about behaviors that promote wellness. They often develop and implement programs to improve the health of a community. This course may be helpful for a health educator. Understanding common conditions and treatments will allow a health educator to create more effective educational programs. Health educators may also be asked to provide information about medications, and this course may be a good source of information.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Top Drugs 1 - Medications you NEED to Know - Pharmacy.
Provides a comprehensive overview of pharmacology principles, drug classifications, and their mechanisms of action. It is particularly useful for healthcare professionals needing a solid foundation in pharmacology. The book covers essential concepts in a clear and concise manner, making it an excellent reference for understanding drug actions and interactions. It is commonly used as a textbook in pharmacy technician and nursing programs.
This drug guide is specifically tailored for nursing students and provides detailed information on a wide range of medications. It includes nursing considerations, patient teaching points, and potential side effects. is valuable as a reference tool for understanding the practical aspects of medication administration and patient care. It is commonly used in nursing programs and by practicing nurses.

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