Top Drugs 3 - Medications you NEED to Know

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:

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?
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.
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?
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.

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!

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

Antibiotic Condition Overview

How are infections approached?
Retail vs. Hospital Antibiotics
How does a provider decide which antibiotic to use?
Common uses for common antibiotics

Antibiotic Medication Overview - Antibiotic medications is a massive topic. We will discuss the common drugs and common uses for those drugs. Will break down applicable medications into classes. Beta Lactams (Penicillins, Cephalosporins, Carbapenems, Monobactam), Fluoroquinolones, Tetracyclines, Macrolides, Bactrim, Clindamycin, Nitrofurantoin, Metronidazole, Vancomycin, Linezolid, and Gentamicin are among the medications that will be discussed! Get a good foundation for one of the most important and useful skill sets in medicine!

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!)

ADHD Condition Overview

How does ADHD manifest? What are the signs and symptoms?
What are the treatment options?
How does ADHD treatment work?

ADHD Medication Overview - Learn about the big drugs in ADHD treatment - The stimulants! How do the stimulant and non-stimulant treatment options differ? Why are ADHD medications under such tight regulation? Learn how the majority of ADHD medications are made up of just a few ingredients!

Immunization Medication Overview - Learn all about common immunizations! It is critical that each and every healthcare provider have a solid grasp on vaccine information. Your patients will expect you to be experts! Learn the basics of each common vaccine - uses, schedules, administration, contraindications, age ranges, condition specifics. Simplify the complex CDC vaccine recommendations!

Acute Sickness Medication Overview - Learn about the common drugs you will see coming out of Med Express and Urgent Care facilities. These health care settings typically treat a specific set of conditions, over and over. Although these drugs are in miscellaneous categories, they are incredibly popular and widely used! Learn how acute illnesses are handled!

www.DrugsandConditions.com

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides a foundation of knowledge about prevalent conditions and commonly used medications, which is useful for students entering healthcare fields

Offers insights into the medications commonly encountered in pharmacy, medical, nursing, PA, and dental settings, which can impress administrators during the application process

Covers a wide range of conditions and medications, including antibiotics, ADHD treatments, and immunizations, which are critical for healthcare providers to understand

Breaks down complex medicinal knowledge into easily understandable chunks, which is helpful for students who find learning medications intimidating

Includes a list of the Top 200 Drugs of 2020, which can serve as a reference for healthcare professionals looking to stay up-to-date on commonly prescribed medications

Offers access to a practicing pharmacist with experience in retail, hospital, and academia/consultation settings, who can provide advice and answer questions

Reviews summary

Concise pharmacy essentials overview

According to learners, this course offers a positive and concise overview of essential medications, focusing on those most commonly encountered in healthcare settings. Students found the content easy to understand and appreciated the clear explanations provided by the instructor, who is a practicing pharmacist. The course is particularly helpful for building a solid foundation in drug knowledge, making it suitable for those preparing for or entering healthcare professions like pharmacy, nursing, or medical assisting. While some note it covers a lot quickly, many feel it effectively highlights the must-know drugs.

Moves quickly, may require pausing or rewatching.

"The course was able to deliver the key information... I really liked that I could pause, rewatch and review."

"Sometimes he goes a little fast, so you just have to pause the video."

"The course moves at a good pace, but you can always pause."

"While the course is concise, some complex areas could potentially benefit from slightly more detailed examples."

"It's quite fast-paced, covering a lot of info quickly."

Highlights drugs frequently used in clinical practice.

"It focuses on the high-level drugs that you WILL see in any setting..."

"Learned about a handful of the most frequently used drugs in the US healthcare system..."

"This course is useful for those who are new to the clinical setting."

"The material is highly relevant to what is encountered in real-world practice."

"Focuses on drugs you are likely to see in practice."

Instructor explains complex topics in an understandable way.

"The instructor speaks clearly and concisely and explains complex topics in a way that is easy to understand."

"The instructor was thorough, clear, and provided very helpful information regarding common medications."

"The explanations are clear and practical, making it easy to grasp essential information."

"The lectures are clear and easy to follow."

"Instructor did a great job explaining the concepts and the MUST KNOW sections really tied everything together."

Helps build a strong base for future healthcare studies.

"Highly recommended for anyone seeking a solid foundation in drug knowledge for healthcare fields."

"It is a great starting point for anyone going into healthcare and wanting to learn about drugs."

"This course offers a solid foundation of knowledge regarding top medications."

"The course was great for learning about a handful of the most frequently used drugs in the US healthcare system and building a foundation."

"Perfect foundational course for anyone entering the medical field!"

Provides a high-level, focused overview of key medications.

"This course did exactly as the description said! It is concise, focuses on the high-level drugs that you WILL see in any setting and it covers the MUST know information."

"The course was able to deliver the key information about must know drugs and conditions in a concise and well outlined approach. I really liked that I could pause, rewatch and review."

"The instructor is also good at covering the high yield information that I will likely see again rather than trying to teach everything at once."

"Great overall course. Very concise and to the point, but enough information to provide a basic understanding of different drug classes and popular medications."

"The content is good and focuses on high yield information..."

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 3 - Medications you NEED to Know - Pharmacy with these activities:

Review Basic Pharmacology Principles

Show steps

Strengthen your understanding of fundamental pharmacology concepts to better grasp how drugs work in the body, which is essential for understanding their uses and dangers.

Browse courses on Pharmacokinetics

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Review key terms and definitions related to pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
Practice applying these principles to simple drug scenarios.

Review 'Mosby's Drug Reference'

Show steps

Expand your knowledge of individual drugs and their specific characteristics, including dosages, indications, and potential side effects.

View Mosby's 2026 Nursing Drug Reference on Amazon

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Select a few drugs covered in the course.
Look up each drug in Mosby's Drug Reference and review the detailed information provided.

Read 'Pharmacology for Pharmacy Technicians'

Show steps

Gain a deeper understanding of drug classifications and mechanisms of action, which will enhance your ability to learn and remember top drugs.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Read assigned chapters focusing on drug classes covered in the course.
Take notes on key information such as indications, contraindications, and side effects.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Create Mnemonics for Drug Classes

Show steps

Improve your recall of drug classes by creating memorable mnemonics that link drug names to their uses or mechanisms of action.

Show steps

Choose a drug class from the course materials.
Develop a mnemonic device that helps you remember the drugs in that class and their key characteristics.
Share your mnemonics with other students for feedback and improvement.

Drug Name Flashcard Drills

Show steps

Reinforce your ability to recall drug names and classes quickly and accurately through repetitive practice.

Show steps

Create flashcards with brand names on one side and generic names and drug classes on the other.
Practice recalling the information on the flashcards regularly.
Focus on the drugs that you find most difficult to remember.

Create a Drug Information Resource

Show steps

Solidify your knowledge by compiling a comprehensive resource of drug information, including brand and generic names, uses, dosages, and potential side effects.

Show steps

Gather information on the top drugs covered in the course.
Organize the information into a user-friendly format, such as a spreadsheet or database.
Include relevant details such as brand and generic names, uses, dosages, and potential side effects.

Tutor a Classmate

Show steps

Solidify your understanding of the material by explaining concepts and answering questions from a classmate who is struggling.

Show steps

Offer to tutor a classmate who is having difficulty with the course material.
Prepare to explain key concepts and answer questions clearly and concisely.
Provide helpful examples and analogies to aid understanding.

Career center

Learners who complete Top Drugs 3 - Medications you NEED to Know - Pharmacy will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Pharmacist

Pharmacists dispense medications and counsel patients on their proper use. This course provides a foundation for a pharmacist by covering common medications and their uses. The course explains the most popular medications, their classes, and their usage patterns in clinical settings. As such, a pharmacist who has taken this course is likely to better understand the medications they dispense. Understanding how medications are classified, as this course explains, is beneficial to any pharmacist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Pharmacist

Pharmacy Technician

A pharmacy technician assists pharmacists in dispensing medications and providing customer service. This course helps a pharmacy technician learn about the most frequently used medications, their classifications, and their purpose. It also covers both brand name and generic medications, which is important for a pharmacy technician to know. Knowing popular medications, as covered in this course, may help a pharmacy technician process prescriptions. This course also highlights the importance of learning drug information in a way that is useful for any healthcare professional.

See salaries and explore the career path for Pharmacy Technician

Clinical Pharmacist

A clinical pharmacist works directly with patients and healthcare teams to optimize medication therapy. This course helps a clinical pharmacist by covering many commonly prescribed drugs, their classifications, and their uses in real-world scenarios. A clinical pharmacist benefits by knowing which drugs are typically prescribed for which conditions. The course also reviews the purpose of these drugs, which is important for a clinical pharmacist. The course helps build a foundation for a clinical pharmacist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Clinical Pharmacist

Physician Assistant

A physician assistant diagnoses illnesses and prescribes medications under the supervision of a physician. This course helps a physician assistant by teaching the most commonly prescribed medications, their classifications, and how they are used in standard treatments. A physician assistant will find the course’s focus on treatment goals and common medications particularly beneficial. The course provides a foundation in understanding why medications are used, which further benefits a physician assistant.

See salaries and explore the career path for Physician Assistant

Medical Doctor

A medical doctor diagnoses and treats illnesses, often prescribing medications to treat their patients. This course helps a medical doctor learn about the most prevalent medications, their uses, and classifications. The course also covers how medications are used in clinical practice. A medical doctor may find the course helpful, as it focuses on drugs used in practice, their importance, and when they are typically prescribed. Understanding treatments, as well as which medications are first line, is important for any medical doctor.

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Registered Nurse

A registered nurse administers medications and monitors patients' responses to these medications. This course is helpful for a registered nurse because it covers common drugs, their uses, and their importance in healthcare. A registered nurse will find the section on drug classifications and popular medications particularly useful when administering medications to patients. Knowing which medications are commonly used in hospital and retail settings, as discussed in this course, will be helpful to a registered nurse.

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Patient Care Technician

A patient care technician assists patients with daily living tasks and monitors their health. This course may be beneficial to a patient care technician as it provides a broad overview of common health conditions and how medications are used to treat them. A patient care technician can benefit from knowing the most common classes of medications and their uses. Understanding how medications work, as described in this course, may be helpful when observing patient responses. This course may help improve their foundation of knowledge.

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Dental Assistant

A dental assistant works closely with dentists, often handling medications and patient records. Though the medications are different, a dental assistant will find the information in this course on the importance of understanding how medications are used, as well as the different classes of medications, useful. This course provides the ability to build a foundation of knowledge, despite not being designed specifically for a dental assistant. The course can help a dental assistant understand the basics of medication use.

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Clinical Research Associate

A clinical research associate manages clinical trials for new medical treatments. This course may help a clinical research associate by providing an overview of medications and their uses. The course explains how drugs are classified and used in real-world scenarios. Understanding how and why drugs are used, as discussed in this course, may help a clinical research associate understand the context of their clinical trials. This course may be useful in better understanding the medications being studied.

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Medical Sales Representative

A medical sales representative sells pharmaceutical products, medical equipment, and services to healthcare providers and organizations. This course may help a medical sales representative become more knowledgeable about medications. The course highlights their uses, classifications, and common applications. A medical sales representative who understands how medications are used and why, as this course explains, may be better prepared to sell pharmaceuticals. This course may be useful in learning more about drugs.

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Health Educator

A health educator teaches people about health and wellness practices. This course may be relevant to a health educator as it provides an overview of specific health conditions and their common treatments. A health educator may benefit by understanding the basics of medication use. The course reviews common medications and conditions, which may help a health educator explain them to others. This course may help strengthen a health educator's understanding of medication.

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Emergency Medical Technician

An emergency medical technician provides immediate medical care to patients in emergency situations. While this course does not specifically focus on emergency protocols, it provides a general overview of common conditions and the most prevalent medications used in treatment. Understanding basic treatments, covered in this course, may help an emergency medical technician better understand the context of the care they provide. This course may be useful for a general understanding of medications.

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Medical Coder

A medical coder assigns codes to medical procedures and diagnoses for billing purposes. Although a medical coder does not directly administer medications, understanding common conditions and their treatments, as detailed in this course, may help. A medical coder will likely find the medication overview sections of this course helpful, as they may improve the coder's understanding of prescribed treatments. This course may be useful in understanding the context of the codes assigned.

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Medical Biller

A medical biller processes medical claims and ensures that healthcare providers are paid for their services. This course may help a medical biller by providing an overview of common medications. The course covers several conditions and their treatments, which may help a medical biller to understand why certain medications are being prescribed. Knowing the details of medication usage, covered in this course, may provide some context of medical claims for a medical biller.

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Medical Secretary

A medical secretary handles administrative and clerical tasks in a medical setting. Though a medical secretary does not administer medications, this course may be useful for general knowledge about healthcare. The course provides an overview of common conditions and treatments. As such, a medical secretary may benefit from having a basic understanding of these topics. The course could also be helpful for a medical secretary to understand the context of the doctor's notes.

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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 3 - Medications you NEED to Know - Pharmacy.

Mosby's 2026 Nursing Drug Reference

Save

Mosby's Drug Reference comprehensive resource for detailed information on a wide range of medications. It includes information on dosages, indications, contraindications, adverse effects, and drug interactions. is particularly useful as a reference tool for looking up specific drug information and understanding potential risks and benefits. It is commonly used by healthcare professionals and students alike.

Mosby's 2026 Nursing Drug Reference

Paperback

Putting Knowledge to Work

Save

Provides a comprehensive overview of pharmacology specifically tailored for pharmacy technicians. It covers drug classifications, mechanisms of action, and common side effects. It useful reference for understanding the practical aspects of medication use in a pharmacy setting. This book is particularly helpful for those new to the field or seeking a refresher on essential pharmacology concepts.

Putting Knowledge to Work

Paperback

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Putting Knowledge to Work

Kindle Edition

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Top Drugs 3 - Medications you NEED to Know - Pharmacy

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Concise pharmacy essentials overview

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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