Top 5 Resources Every Pharmacy Student Should Know About

Your ultimate guide to surviving pharmacy school with the best tools, apps, and websites!

Welcome to The Pharm Frenemy Files, where we mix humor with helpfulness to make pharmacy school life a little less daunting (and maybe even fun). Today’s post is all about setting you up for success with the top resources every pharmacy student needs to know about.

Whether you’re drowning in lecture notes, prepping for exams, or just trying to figure out the difference between pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (hint: one will haunt your dreams more), this list has you covered.

Let’s dive in and make pharmacy school just a bit more manageable with these must-have resources.

1. Pharmacotherapy Handbook (DiPiro)

The Pharmacotherapy Handboook by DiPiro—an absolute rite of passage for pharmacy students. The DiPiro text is a pharmacy school staple—your go-to for understanding disease states and their treatment options. Think of it as your pharmacy Bible, minus the guilt of highlighting it in neon yellow. If you’re stepping into pharmacy school without this beast of a book, it’s like showing up to a sword fight with a butter knife. This is the go-to resource for understanding the what, why, and how of treating various disease states, and it will likely be your constant companion from day one of classes to the day you don your white coat for real.

What Makes It Essential?

The Pharmacotherapy Handbook provides a deep dive into the rationale behind drug therapy. It doesn’t just list drugs for a condition; it explains why certain drugs are preferred, the mechanisms behind them, and their clinical outcomes. It’s like having a conversation with an incredibly wise pharmacist who knows all the treatment guidelines inside out.

Here’s what makes this book indispensable for pharmacy students:

• Comprehensive Coverage: From diabetes to infectious diseases, it covers pretty much every condition you’ll encounter in class and clinical practice.

• Organized Structure: Each chapter is organized by disease state, starting with pathophysiology, followed by pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments.

• Clinical Applications: It connects the dots between drug therapy and patient care, teaching you to think critically about how to manage real-life scenarios.

• Evidence-Based Guidelines: Treatment plans are aligned with the latest clinical guidelines (ACCP, AHA, ADA, etc.), so you’re always learning what’s current.

Use it to supplement your lecture notes. If you didn’t quite grasp that dense PowerPoint slide on heart failure, the handbook breaks it down into digestible sections. More importantly, I’d probably say read it ahead of your classes. Lectures may seem daunting when you show up to class and 80% of the time you might feel so lost wondering ‘what the heck is going on.’ I guarantee you will stay above water if you pre-read this book before your lectures. Professors often pull content straight from this book, so it’s a great companion to lectures.

2. Lexicomp’s Drug Information Handbook

When your professor randomly asks for the dosing of some obscure drug during a lecture, Lexicomp will save you from embarrassment. This comprehensive drug reference is every pharmacy student’s secret weapon for looking like they have it all together. This is to the DiPiro what peanut butter is to jelly. I’m hungry at the moment but I think you get my point.

This drug database is a powerhouse of information, designed to provide quick, accurate, and comprehensive answers to all your medication-related questions.

Whether you're double-checking a dosing regimen, investigating drug interactions, or trying to impress your preceptor during rotations, Lexicomp is the ultimate lifesaver.

It’s the gold standard for pharmacy professionals because it provides detailed monographs for thousands of medications, including pharmacology, dosing, administration, contraindications, and side effects (even though you’ll be tempted to write nausea and vomiting for every question). There’s also information for off-label uses and toxicology data and treatment in special populations like the elderly and pregnant population.

Although I would definitely recommend having the hardcopy in your possession the Lexicomp Mobile App also makes it easy to access information on the go. (Bonus: It works offline, so no Wi-Fi needed during hospital rounds!)

3.  Quizlet: Flashcards on Steroids

If you’re not already using Quizlet, where have you been? This app takes the stress out of creating flashcards and turns studying into a game (sort of). With pre-made decks for pharmacy topics like drug classes, mechanisms of action, and brand/generic names, it’s a lifesaver when you’re cramming for pharmacology exams.

4. The iPad: Your All-in-One Pharmacy School Survival Tool

Hear me out. While the iPad might not be the first thing that comes to mind when listing pharmacy school essentials, it’s quickly becoming a game-changer for students. Think of it as your portable study buddy, note-taking wizard, and clinical sidekick—all rolled into one sleek device. There are numerous to choose from whether it be the iPad Pro (which I highly recommend because it is amazing) or the iPad Air (perfect for students).

From organizing your coursework to enhancing your study sessions with interactive tools, an iPad is the ultimate multitasking machine for pharmacy students. Here’s why it deserves a spot on your must-have list:

• Portability: iPad keeps all your materials in one lightweight device, saving both your back and your sanity.

• Digital Note-Taking: Apps like Notability (which I highly recommend), GoodNotes, and OneNote allow you to take beautiful, organized notes with ease.

• Access to E-Textbooks: Instead of carrying around multiple heavy textbooks (hello, DiPiro and Koda-Kimble), you can store e-books directly on your iPad. Many pharmacy texts are available in interactive digital formats with built-in search functions.

• Interactive Study Tools: Anki for flashcards, Quizlet for review sessions, and even anatomy or pharmacology apps for interactive learning.

• Multitasking: With split-screen functionality, you can watch recorded lectures on one side and take notes on the other—or review case studies while referencing guidelines at the same time.

• Cloud Syncing: access your work from anywhere.

5. Medscape

When it comes to staying informed and connected in the world of healthcare, Medscape is a treasure trove of knowledge. Designed for healthcare professionals—including pharmacists and pharmacy students—Medscape offers a wide array of resources, from drug information and disease insights to medical news and continuing education.

As a pharmacy student, Medscape can be your go-to for everything from understanding drug mechanisms to preparing for clinical rotations. Plus, it’s free!

Pharmacy school isn’t easy, but with the right resources, you can survive (and even thrive). These tools will help you study smarter, understand clinical concepts, and tackle those terrifying exams head-on.

If you’re just starting, pick a couple of resources to try out and build from there. You don’t need all of them right away—just focus on what works for you.

What’s your favorite pharmacy resource? Let me know in the comments! And don’t forget to subscribe to “The Pharm Frenemy Files” for more relatable posts, tips, and pharmacy school shenanigans.