Drugs are sorted into classes or related groups, such as beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, benzodiazepines, etc. One of the cool things about pharmacology is, generally speaking, members of drug classifications behavior in a similar fashion. Let’s consider this list:

• Pindolol
• Propranolol
• Sotalol
• Timolol
• Metoprolol

We would note a certain similarity in the last syllable of each and suspect they belong to the same family. Learn the characteristics of the family, and then just study the small differences between the members. That road is a whole lot easier to travel down.

Source: Stressed Out About Pharmacology, HCPro, Inc., 2008. Be sure to pick up your copy today!