A pharmacist's foolproof trick for remembering how to use each medication

Every profession has its own unique characteristics; it also presents different traces, and for pharmacists , memory is just one of them, but it's one that shouldn't be forgotten . In Spain, everyone seems to understand that, if in doubt, you should consult a pharmacist, and for that, they should have an answer.

Not only should you know the medications sold at the store, but you should also know their uses and potential risks , as well as certain contraindications. For this, it's important to have a good memory, but also some very helpful tips, like the one this pharmacist offers on social media.

The trick to remembering to use some medications

Elena Monje García combines the traditional tasks of her profession with those of social media outreach , seeking to bring a little bit of her work closer to the general public, as well as answering common questions and sharing certain tricks, like this one, which makes it a little easier to remember how to use some medications . Small details that are likely to go unnoticed, but that can make the lives of users and professionals in the sector easier.

Elena Monje argues that the names of some medications are key to giving us clues about their uses, and she explains this with specific examples in one of her social media posts. This is the case with Levothyroxine : "In its name, we find 'tiroi' (levoTIROxIna), which reminds us of thyroid, and it's a thyroid hormone used to treat hypothyroidism."

Another example he shares is Allopurinol , highlighting the first letter, A, and the detail of including Uri in the name, "For uric acid," he points out. "This drug reduces uric acid levels, preventing gout." The third example he proposes is Cholestyramine , "it sounds like cholesterol, but it is indeed a drug that reduces high cholesterol levels." Miconazole is the last of the medications he points out, "it begins with 'mycosis,' which is an infection caused by fungi, so it's an antifungal."

This trick can be very useful if you know the drug's generic name , which is required by pharmaceutical companies and coordinated by the WHO (World Health Organization). It usually has a common root with the pharmacological family to which the substance belongs. This should not be confused with the "fancy" name , which is intended to be short and tends to be evocative of its function, although not too obvious.

Tricks to help us remember

Knowing these details, as pharmacist Elena Monje points out, can help us associate data and help us remember information we've already learned, but to do that, we need to know it. Memorizing a large amount of data isn't always easy , but luckily, there are tricks that can make the task easier. Among the most common are repeating out loud what we want to memorize. We can also write it down , but it works best if we do it by hand on paper. This helps our brain retain the data.

You can use visual clues, such as charts or illustrations, create mnemonics, rhymes, songs, or acronyms to help you remember. It's also a good idea to try to explain what you've just studied . If you're doing it with someone, it's a good idea to share knowledge and even try to answer some questions.

References

Structure of a Drug Name . (June 26, 2024). Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products. https://www.aemps.gob.es/estructura-del-nombre-de-un-medicamento/