Course Overview
Top 200 Drugs Intensive takes students from flash card recognition to deep clinical understanding of every high-yield drug category on the PTCE® and ExCPT® exams. This is not a memorization course — it is a mastery system.
Each module builds on the last, using suffix pattern recognition, mechanism-first learning, and real clinical stories to create retention that lasts through exam day and into the career.
Learning Objectives
- Recognize and classify all Top 200 drugs by suffix, drug class, and mechanism of action
- Identify ISMP High-Alert, Black Box, NTI, BEERS, LASA, and DEA-controlled drugs
- Apply drug interaction knowledge to the most frequently tested DDI pairs
- Demonstrate 80% mastery on each module quiz before advancing
- Complete a 50-question cumulative practice exam in PTCE and ExCPT format
- Receive a PlanRx certificate of completion upon passing the final exam
How This Course Works With Your Flash Cards
This mini-course is designed as the video-and-quiz companion to the PlanRx Top 200 Drug Flash Card Set in the Shop. Use the cards for daily active recall drills and bring them to each module session. The course deepens what the cards introduce.
Course Features
- Lectures 83
- Quiz 1
- Duration 8 hours
- Skill level All levels
- Language English
- Students 0
- Assessments Self
- 14 Sections
- 83 Lessons
- Lifetime
Expand all sectionsCollapse all sections
- Module 1: How to Learn Drugs Like a ProLearn the PlanRx 4-step drug learning framework and the safety vocabulary you must know before studying a single drug.7
- 1.1Welcome & How This Course Works3 Minutes
- 1.2Why Memorization Alone Fails on the PTCE and ExCPT4 Minutes
- 1.3The PlanRX 4-Step Drug Learning Framework5 Minutes
- 1.4Suffix Patterns: Learn One Class, Know the Whole Family
- 1.5How to Use Your Flash Cards With This Course
- 1.6Safety Vocabulary: NTI, ISMP, BEERS, Black Box, LASA, DEA Schedules
- 1.7Module 1 Quiz: How to Learn Drugs Like a Pro5 Questions
- Module 2: Cardiovascular DrugsMaster the full cardiac drug ladder; beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, diuretics, nitrates, and alpha blockers with ISMP and DDI flags.8
- 2.1Beta Blockers (-olol): Metoprolol, Atenolol, Carvedilol, Bisoprolol
- 2.2ACE Inhibitors (-pril): Lisinopril, Enalapril, Ramipril, Perindopril
- 2.3ARBs (-sartan): Olmesartan, Losartan & Combination Products
- 2.4Calcium Channel Blockers (-dipine): Amlodipine & Combinations
- 2.5Nitrates: Nitroglycerin & Isosorbide Mononitrate
- 2.6Diuretics: Furosemide, HCTZ, Spironolactone, Triamterene
- 2.7Alpha Blockers & Vasodilators: Terazosin, Doxazosin, Hydralazine
- 2.8Cardiovascular DDIs & Safety Flag Rapid Review
- Module 3: Cholesterol & Lipid DrugsLearn every statin, fibrate, and lipid-lowering agent with the DDI patterns that make this class a frequent exam target.4
- Module 4: Diabetes & Endocrine DrugsCover all insulin types, oral agents, and levothyroxine with onset/peak/duration charts and high-yield safety flags.8
- 4.1Biguanides: Metformin — Renal Dosing & Lactic Acidosis Risk
- 4.2Sulfonylureas: Glipizide, Glyburide, Glimepiride — Hypoglycemia Risk
- 4.3DPP-4 Inhibitors (-gliptin): Sitagliptin, Linagliptin
- 4.4SGLT-2 Inhibitors (-flozin): Canagliflozin, Empagliflozin
- 4.5GLP-1 Agonists: Liraglutide & Semaglutide
- 4.6Thiazolidinediones: Pioglitazone — Fluid Retention & HF Risk
- 4.7Insulins: Glargine, Detemir, Lispro, Aspart, NPH — Onset/Peak/Duration Chart
- 4.8Thyroid: Levothyroxine — NTI Flag & Fasting Administration Rule
- Module 5: CNS: Antidepressants & MoodSSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, mood stabilizers, Black Box Warnings, and serotonin syndrome — everything the exam tests on psychiatric medications.7
- 5.1SSRIs: Escitalopram, Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Sertraline, Citalopram, Fluvoxamine
- 5.2SNRIs: Venlafaxine & Duloxetine
- 5.3TCAs: Amitriptyline, Nortriptyline, Imipramine — Anticholinergic Effects & BEERS
- 5.4Other Antidepressants: Bupropion, Trazodone, Mirtazapine
- 5.5Mood Stabilizers: Lithium — NTI, Toxicity Signs & Narrow Therapeutic Window
- 5.6Black Box Warning: Antidepressants & Suicidal Ideation in Patients Under 25
- 5.7Serotonin Syndrome: Recognition, Causative Drugs & Management
- Module 6: CNS: Anxiety, Sleep & SeizuresBenzodiazepines, non-benzo sleep aids, and antiepileptics; with DEA schedule rules, BEERS flags, and NTI monitoring requirements.4
- 6.1Benzodiazepines: Alprazolam, Lorazepam, Diazepam, Clonazepam, Temazepam — DEA Schedule IV & BEERS
- 6.2Non-Benzo Sleep Aids: Zolpidem, Eszopiclone, Zaleplon — DEA Schedule IV & BEERS
- 6.3Antiepileptics Part 1: Phenytoin (NTI), Lamotrigine, Levetiracetam
- 6.4Antiepileptics Part 2: Valproate (NTI), Topiramate, Pregabalin, Gabapentin
- Module 7: CNS: Pain, Opioids & Controlled SubstancesThe most safety-heavy module. DEA schedules, ISMP High-Alert opioids, naloxone, MAT, stimulants, and the complete Schedule I–V review.8
- 7.1Opioids Overview: Oxycodone, Fentanyl, Methadone, Tramadol — DEA Schedules & ISMP
- 7.2Opioid Rescue: Naloxone — Indications, Intranasal & IV Routes
- 7.3MAT: Buprenorphine/Naloxone — DEA Context & ISMP Flag
- 7.4ADHD Stimulants: Lisdexamfetamine & Methylphenidate — DEA Schedule II
- 7.5Non-Stimulant ADHD: Atomoxetine — Black Box Warning
- 7.6Muscle Relaxants: Baclofen, Methocarbamol, Tizanidine, Cyclobenzaprine
- 7.7Migraine: Sumatriptan & Zolmitriptan — Triptan Class Review
- 7.8DEA Schedule I–V Complete Review With Drug Examples
- Module 8: CNS: Antipsychotics & NeurologicalAtypical and typical antipsychotics, Alzheimer's agents, Parkinson's drugs, and MS medications with EPS and metabolic risk flags.5
- 8.1Atypical Antipsychotics: Quetiapine, Olanzapine, Risperidone — Metabolic Syndrome Risk
- 8.2Typical Antipsychotics: Haloperidol — EPS & Tardive Dyskinesia
- 8.3Alzheimer’s Agents: Donepezil & Memantine
- 8.4Parkinson’s Drugs: Levodopa, Levodopa/Carbidopa/Entacapone, Ropinirole
- 8.5Anticholinergic & MS Agents: Benztropine & Fingolimod
- Module 9: Respiratory & AllergyInhaler classification, SABA vs. LABA rules, ICS administration, leukotriene modifiers, and the montelukast Black Box Warning.5
- 9.1SABAs: Albuterol — Rescue Use Only, Not for Maintenance
- 9.2LABAs & ICS Combinations: Salmeterol/Fluticasone — Black Box Warning
- 9.3Inhaled Corticosteroids: Fluticasone Propionate & Budesonide — Rinse After Use
- 9.4Anticholinergics & Leukotriene Modifiers: Tiotropium & Montelukast
- 9.5Antihistamines & Biologics: Chlorpheniramine (BEERS) & Omalizumab
- Module 10: GI & Urological DrugsAll five PPIs, H2 blockers, antiemetics, laxatives, overactive bladder agents, and the nitrate contraindication for ED drugs.6
- 10.1PPIs (-prazole): Omeprazole, Pantoprazole, Lansoprazole, Esomeprazole, Rabeprazole
- 10.2H2 Blockers: Famotidine — Comparison to PPIs
- 10.3Antiemetics: Ondansetron, Granisetron, Metoclopramide — Black Box Warning
- 10.4GI Spasm & Laxatives: Dicyclomine, Senna, Lactulose
- 10.5Overactive Bladder: Solifenacin & Oxybutynin — BEERS Flag
- 10.6ED & BPH Agents: Sildenafil, Tadalafil, Vardenafil — Nitrate Contraindication
- Module 11: Musculoskeletal, Bone & Anti-InflammatoryNSAID safety, acetaminophen dosing limits, corticosteroid taper rules, gout agents, and bisphosphonate administration requirements.5
- 11.1NSAIDs: Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Meloxicam, Diclofenac, Nabumetone, Celecoxib — Risks
- 11.2Acetaminophen: Hepatotoxicity Threshold, Max Daily Dose & Combo Products
- 11.3Corticosteroids: Prednisone, Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone — Taper Rules
- 11.4Gout Agents: Colchicine (CYP3A4 DDI) & Allopurinol (Rash Risk)
- 11.5Bisphosphonates: Alendronate, Ibandronate, Risedronate — Upright 30–60 Min Rule
- Module 12: Anti-InfectivesAntibiotic class patterns, Black Box Warnings for fluoroquinolones and macrolides, antifungals, antivirals, and resistance concepts.7
- 12.1Penicillins: Amoxicillin, Amoxicillin/Clavulanate — Allergy Cross-Reactivity
- 12.2Cephalosporins: Cefdinir, Cefalexin, Ceftriaxone — Generation Comparison
- 12.3Macrolides: Azithromycin & Clarithromycin — QT Prolongation & CYP3A4
- 12.4Fluoroquinolones: Ciprofloxacin & Levofloxacin — Black Box Warning
- 12.5Tetracyclines & Other Antibacterials: Doxycycline, Clindamycin, Metronidazole, Nitrofurantoin
- 12.6Antivirals: Acyclovir, Oseltamivir, Valganciclovir
- 12.7Antifungals & Antiretrovirals: Fluconazole, Ketoconazole, Clotrimazole, Raltegravir
- Module 13: Specialty, Biologics & MiscellaneousAnticoagulants, immunosuppressants, biologics, hormonal agents, and specialty drugs — highest ISMP flag density of any module.5
- 13.1Anticoagulants: Warfarin (NTI/INR), Apixaban, Rivaroxaban, Dabigatran — ISMP
- 13.2Injectable Anticoagulants & Antiplatelets: Enoxaparin, Dalteparin, Clopidogrel
- 13.3Immunosuppressants: Cyclosporine, Tacrolimus, Methotrexate — ISMP & Hazardous
- 13.4Biologics & Hormonal Agents: Omalizumab, Denosumab, Ethinyl Estradiol/Drospirenone
- 13.5Specialty & Miscellaneous: Varenicline, Epoetin Alfa, Ferrous Sulfate, Finasteride
- Final Exam & Certification Readiness50-question cumulative practice exam, high-yield safety rapid review, LASA master list, DEA schedule reference, and test day strategy from Mardesia.5
- 14.1High-Yield Safety Rapid Review: All ISMP, Black Box, NTI & BEERS Drugs
- 14.2LASA Master List Review — Most Commonly Tested Pairs
- 14.3DEA Schedule I–V Quick Reference With Drug Examples
- 14.4Test Day Strategy From Mardesia — Timing, Flagging & Educated Guessing
- 14.550-Question Cumulative Final Exam (PTCE & ExCPT Format)
Target audiences
- Pharmacy Technicians preparing for PTCE or ExCPT, Allied Health students needing foundational drug knowledge