What are the best strategies to memorize the top 200 drugs for pharmacy technician exams?

Question

I'm studying to become a pharmacy technician and struggling to remember the top 200 drugs-especially brand vs. generic names, drug classifications, and their uses. What memory tricks or study strategies can help with long-term retention?

Answer 1

Learning top 200 drugs can be overwhelming. There are number of strategies to break this down and make it more manageable and fun.

1. The top drugs can be classified based on the pharmacological classification.
2. Example, drugs working on Central Nervous System or Cardio vascular System.
3. The drugs based on various disease - chronic versus acute.
4. A number of drugs are used for short time such as antibiotics vs long time or chronic use such as for diabetes
5. Drug classification based on their names and the roots that they are derived from within the same disease category such as -Sartans are all ARB blockers used for hypertension.

The goal is to provide some logic, story so that these ideas and classification stick and then it will be easier to manage.

Answer 2

I got my pharmacy tech job through Kroger, and as a pharmacy tech you’ll learn about all the drugs as you work. The license is just to be authorized to work back in the pharmacy. If your not going to pharmacy school, find a job where they pay you to get certified and will be much easier less memorization to get certified.

Answer 3

Memorizing the Top 200 drugs can feel overwhelming at first, but breaking it down into smaller, organized chunks makes a big difference. Here are my top strategies:

1. Group by Drug Class:
2. Start by organizing the drugs into categories (e.g., antibiotics, antihypertensives, statins). When you understand the function of the class, it's easier to remember the names and uses.
3. Flashcards (Digital or Paper):
4. Use flashcards for brand/generic names, indications, and common side effects. Apps like Anki or Quizlet let you study in short sessions, which helps long-term retention.
5. Mnemonics:
6. Use simple memory tricks. For example, “LOL” drugs are beta-blockers (like atenolol, metoprolol). Mnemonics make recall easier under exam pressure.
7. Daily Mini-Reviews:
8. Review 10–15 drugs per day rather than cramming all at once. Repetition over time builds stronger memory.
9. Teach It Back:
10. Try explaining the drug names or their purpose out loud or to a friend. Teaching helps lock the information in your mind.
11. Focus on High-Frequency Drugs:
12. Prioritize drugs that appear frequently in practice, such as amoxicillin, lisinopril, metformin, etc. These are more likely to appear on exams.

As a certified pharmacy technician, I help students build confidence with these techniques and more. If you're preparing for an exam or want structured help, I'd be happy to tutor you one-on-one!