Affixes are essential tools when teaching and studying pharmacological drug classes
David P. Rupprecht, Michael E. Rhodes · Pharmacy Education · 2014
Introduction: The study of pharmacology involves considerable memorisation of drug classes, individual drug names, and mechanisms of action, as well as other characteristics including side effects, drug interactions, and therapeutic uses. The voluminous memorisation involved in basic and clinical pharmacology represents a challenging task, especially considering the continuous rate at which new drugs enter the market, and given that generic and trade names often are used interchangeably. Description of Educational Tool (Pharmacology Guide): Our comprehensive table consists of common affixes and roots of generic drugs that we have found beneficial to the study and retention of pharmacology. Our table includes important aspects of over fifty different drug classes including prototypes, mechanisms of action, and pertinent references. Evaluation: Qualitative feedback indicates that students readily adopt this organised approach of using common affixes and roots when studying pharmacological drug classes. Future Plans: Pharmacology educators and students at various institutions worldwide should benefit from this organised approach for teaching and learning pharmacological information. As well, it is anticipated that new editions of this table can be readily adapted to parallel the continuous emergence of new drugs and drug classes.