List Of Sketchy Pharm: Videos

Focus: Acid control, Asthma, Gout, Antidotes.

| Video Title | Key Drugs Covered | | :--- | :--- | | Antacids & Sucralfate | Aluminum hydroxide, Calcium carbonate | | H2 Blockers | Ranitidine, Famotidine, Cimetidine | | Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) | Omeprazole, Esomeprazole, Pantoprazole | | Anti-emetics (5-HT3 & NK1) | Ondansetron, Aprepitant, Metoclopramide | | Asthma (Short-acting Bronchodilators) | Albuterol, Levalbuterol, Ipratropium | | Asthma (Long-term Control) | Fluticasone, Montelukast, Theophylline | | Gout Drugs (Acute) | Colchicine, Indomethacin, Prednisone | | Gout Drugs (Chronic) | Allopurinol, Febuxostat, Probenecid | | Smoking Cessation | Varenicline, Bupropion, Nicotine replacement | | Antidotes | N-acetylcysteine (APAP), Digibind (Digoxin), Deferoxamine (Iron) |


Note: Sketchy releases new videos quarterly. Recent additions (2024) include "GLP-1 Agonists (Semaglutide)," "CGRP Antagonists (Migraine)," and "Newer Anticoagulants (Andexxa)." Always check the official Sketchy dashboard for the real-time library.

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The Sketchy Pharmacology curriculum is organized into comprehensive units that use the "Method of Loci" (visual mnemonics) to help students memorize drug mechanisms, side effects, and clinical indications. The entire pharmacology course totals approximately 20 hours of video content. Comprehensive Sketchy Pharmacology Video List

The library is categorized by physiological systems and drug classes. High-yield and student-favorite videos are often highlighted for their effectiveness in board preparation. Autonomic Drugs (approx. 2.5 hours)

Parasympathetic: Cholinomimetics, Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors, Muscarinic Antagonists.

Sympathetic: Sympathomimetics, Indirect Sympathomimetics, Alpha drugs, Beta blockers. Cardiovascular & Renal (approx. 4.2 hours)

Heart Failure: Digoxin, Milrinone, Nesiritide, ACE Inhibitors, ARBs, Aliskiren.

Diuretics: Acetazolamide, Mannitol, Loop Diuretics, Thiazides, K+ Sparing Diuretics.

Antihypertensives: Calcium channel blockers, Primary HTN & Emergency drugs.

Antiarrhythmics: Classes I (A, B, C), II, III, IV, and "Class V". Blood & Inflammation (approx. 3.5 hours)

Anticoagulants/Thrombolytics: Heparin, LMWH, Warfarin, Antiplatelet agents.

Dyslipidemia: Statins, Cholestyramine, Ezetimibe, Fibrates, Niacin. Anti-inflammatory: NSAIDs (Parts 1 & 2), Gout drugs. Neuro & Psych (approx. 4.5 hours)

Sedative-Hypnotics: Benzodiazepines, Flumazenil, Barbiturates.

Anesthetics/Analgesics: Propofol, Etomidate, Ketamine, Opiates.

Antidepressants: SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAO Inhibitors, Bupropion. Antipsychotics: First and Second Generation Antipsychotics. Antimicrobials (approx. 5 hours)

Cell Wall Inhibitors: Penicillins, Cephalosporins, Vancomycin, Daptomycin.

Protein Synthesis Inhibitors: Tetracyclines, Macrolides, Clindamycin, Aminoglycosides.

Antivirals: HIV drugs (NRTIs, NNRTIs, PIs), Hepatitis drugs. GI & Endocrine (approx. 3.8 hours)

Diabetes: Insulin, Metformin, Sulfonylureas, SGLT2 inhibitors. list of sketchy pharm videos

Thyroid/Adrenal: Levothyroxine, Bisphosphonates, Glucocorticoids. Antineoplastics (approx. 2.1 hours) Antimetabolites: Methotrexate, 5-FU, 6-MP.

DNA Damage: Cyclophosphamide, Cisplatin, Doxorubicin, Vincristine. Highly Recommended "Must-Watch" Videos

Based on student feedback and board relevance, these are considered the most effective sketches:

First & Second Generation Antipsychotics: Critical for both psychiatry and pharmacology exams.

Benzodiazepines & Flumazenil: Frequently tested high-yield material.

Antiarrhythmics (Class I & III): Known for making complex electrophysiology memorable (e.g., "The curtain" mnemonic for QT interval).

Autonomic System (Sympathomimetics/Beta Blockers): Foundational for clinical rotations. Study Resources & Implementation

Sketchy Pharmacology (Sketchy Pharm) is a popular visual learning resource for medical students that uses "sketches" to represent drug mechanisms, side effects, and clinical uses through memorable symbols and stories [21, 26].

Below is an informative breakdown of high-yield video categories, runtimes, and study strategies based on current medical board prep standards. High-Yield Video Categories

While Sketchy covers the entire pharmacology curriculum, specific sections are considered "high-yield" for exams like USMLE Step 1 and clinical shelf exams [4, 8]:

Autonomic Drugs: Includes cholinomimetics, muscarinic antagonists, and adrenergics. This foundational section is approximately 2.5 hours long [7].

Cardiovascular & Renal: High-yield topics like antihypertensives, diuretics, and heart failure medications (e.g., Digoxin, ACE inhibitors). This section totals about 4 hours and 10 minutes [7, 8].

Antimicrobials: Known as the "Bugs and Drugs" section, it covers penicillin, cephalosporins, and TB drugs. It is essential for both Step 1 and infectious disease rotations [5, 6].

Blood & Inflammation: Covers anticoagulants (Heparin, Warfarin) and NSAIDs. Total runtime is roughly 3.5 hours [7].

CNS Drugs: Essential for Psychiatry rotations, covering antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants [4, 8]. Typical Video Runtimes

Most individual videos range from 15 to 30 minutes. For planning purposes, here are some sample runtimes [5, 7]: Heparin/Warfarin: ~21–30 minutes Statins: ~26 minutes ACE Inhibitors/ARBs: ~26 minutes Thrombolytics: ~15 minutes Effective Study Strategies

To maximize retention and avoid "video fatigue," consider these community-recommended approaches [10, 15]:

The "Active" Pass: Don't just watch passively. Many students use annotatable PDFs or official Sketchy workbooks to take notes while watching [22, 29].

Spaced Repetition: Use Anki (specifically the AnKing deck) to review the visual symbols regularly after watching the corresponding video [13, 19].

Speed Adjustment: Watching at 1.5x or 2x speed is common for students who want to get a quick overview before diving into deep review [3, 10]. Focus: Acid control, Asthma, Gout, Antidotes

Batching: Group videos by system (e.g., all Autonomic drugs in one week) to build a cohesive mental map [10, 11]. Checklists & Progress Tracking

To track your progress through the hundreds of videos, you can use community-created checklists: Full Sketchy Excel Checklist (Reddit) [12, 32] Sketchy Step 1 Content Review Guide (Official) [11]

Sketchy Pharmacology (Sketchy Pharm) is a popular visual learning tool for medical students, using "sketches" to link drug facts with memorable scenes

. While highly praised for its long-term retention benefits, its effectiveness varies by drug class and student learning style. Core Video Curriculum

The course is organized into nine major chapters covering approximately of video content:

Comprehensive lists and academic reviews of Sketchy Pharmacology

videos are widely available through educational repositories and student-authored study guides. The curriculum typically covers over 100 drug classes , totaling approximately of video content. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | UTRGV Academic Perspectives and "Helpful Papers"

While "Sketchy" is a commercial platform, its effectiveness in medical education has been explored in academic contexts: Cognitive Load and Retention : Research indicates that cartoon mnemonics

help manage the high volume of pharmaceutical information by creating visual memory hooks. Student Performance : Studies and student reports suggest that up to 96%–97% of learners

feel more confident in clinical reasoning after using these visual tools. Complementary Learning

: Academic reviews often suggest combining visual mnemonics like Sketchy with Anki flashcard decks to ensure long-term retention of specific drug details. Sketchy Blog Indexed Lists of Sketchy Pharm Videos

Detailed curriculum breakdowns can be found on platforms like Why Is Sketchy Micro and Pharm So Effective?

Sketchy Pharmacology (Sketchy Pharm) is a visual learning platform that uses memorable "sketches" to help medical and pharmacy students master complex drug data. The curriculum is structured by body system and drug class, totaling over 1,300 high-yield lessons. Top-Rated "Banger" Videos

Based on medical student consensus, these videos are considered the most effective for long-term retention:

Autonomic Drugs: Many students consider the Sympathomimetics and Beta Blockers videos essential for understanding the complex "fight or flight" pathways.

Cardiovascular: The Class I and III Antiarrhythmics are highly praised for making one of the hardest pharm topics manageable through specific character stories (e.g., the "Prom King/Queen" for Class IA).

Blood & Inflammation: The Sulfonamides and NSAIDs sketches are noted for how perfectly their symbols fit the drug mechanisms and side effects.

Diuretics: Videos on Loop Diuretics and Thiazides are frequently recommended for clearly differentiating site-specific renal actions. Curriculum Overview & Runtimes

The full Sketchy Pharm curriculum is divided into several major chapters: Key Topics Included Estimated Total Runtime 1. Autonomic Drugs

Cholinomimetics, Muscarinic Antagonists, Sympathomimetics, Beta Blockers 2. CV & Renal Note: Sketchy releases new videos quarterly

Heart Failure, Diuretics, Antihypertensives, Antiarrhythmics 3. Blood & Inflammation Anticoagulants, Dyslipidemia, NSAIDs, Gout 4. Smooth Muscle Vasoactive drugs and related agents 5. Antimicrobials Antibiotics, Antifungals, Antivirals, Antiparasitics High-Yield How to Use Effectively

For maximum utility, use these videos as part of an active learning workflow:

Title: Visual Mnemonics in Pharmacological Education: A Retrospective Analysis of the "Sketchy Medical" Pedagogical Model

Abstract Pharmacology remains one of the most voluminous and challenging disciplines in medical education, requiring the rote memorization of complex drug mechanisms, adverse effects, and interactions. Traditional pedagogical methods rely heavily on text-based repetition. This paper examines the efficacy of the "Sketchy Medical" curriculum, a video-based learning platform that utilizes the "Method of Loci" and visual associative learning to teach pharmacology. By analyzing user retention rates, cognitive load theory, and the integration of narrative into medical schema, this study argues that visual mnemonic storytelling offers a superior mechanism for long-term retention compared to traditional flashcard methods.

1. Introduction The volume of pharmacological data required for medical licensure (USMLE Step 1) creates a significant cognitive burden for students. "Sketchy Pharm" represents a paradigm shift in study methodology. Rather than relying on semantic memory (facts and concepts), Sketchy utilizes episodic memory (stories and visuals). This paper categorizes the Sketchy Pharm library and evaluates its alignment with established learning theories.

2. Theoretical Framework 2.1 The Method of Loci Sketchy Pharm is a digital adaptation of the ancient "Memory Palace" technique. By placing pharmacological facts (e.g., adverse effects) as visual symbols (e.g., a "sulfa" sun) within a static scene (e.g., a beach), students create a spatial cognitive map.

2.2 Dual Coding Theory Paivio’s Dual Coding Theory suggests that memory is enhanced when information is processed through both verbal and visual channels. Sketchy videos provide simultaneous auditory explanation and visual representation, strengthening the memory trace compared to text-only resources like First Aid for the USMLE.

3. Curriculum Analysis 3.1 The "Symbol-to-Mechanism" Correlation The paper analyzes the consistency of symbols across the Sketchy library. For example, the symbol for Staphylococcus aureus (a staff of grapes) appears in antimicrobial videos (Vancomycin) and infectious disease videos. This cross-referencing reinforces connections between microbiology and pharmacology, breaking down the silos of medical education.

3.2 Narrative Engagement Pharmacology is inherently dry. Sketchy introduces narrative elements—mini-stories involving recurring characters—that increase student engagement and "time-on-task," a known predictor of academic success.

4. Discussion: Efficacy and Limitations 4.1 Long-term Retention vs. Cramming While effective for board exams, questions remain regarding the clinical applicability of these memories. Does a student remember the dosing of a drug, or merely the symbol? The paper argues that while the initial hook is the visual symbol, the retrieval practice leads to deeper conceptual understanding.

4.2 The "Recall Overhead" A potential limitation is "recall overhead"—the time it takes to decode a visual symbol to retrieve the drug fact. However, with spaced repetition, this overhead diminishes, and the association becomes automatic.

5. Conclusion The Sketchy Pharm video series has successfully gamified pharmacology through visual association. As medical education moves toward integrated, systems-based curricula, visual mnemonic resources provide a necessary tool for managing the exponential growth of medical knowledge. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies comparing prescribing accuracy between physicians trained via visual mnemonics versus traditional text-based learning.

Keywords: Medical Education, Pharmacology, Mnemonics, Visual Learning, USMLE, Cognitive Load.

This guide is organized by body system, following the standard order used in most medical school curriculums (and the SketchyPharm playlist order). This list covers the high-yield videos you should prioritize for Step 1 and Step 2 preparation.


These videos cover the cholinergic and adrenergic systems. They are the most frequently referenced early in med school.

However, the obsessive curation of the “list” reveals a deeper, darker pathology in medical education: the fear of the unknown. The canonical Sketchy Pharm curriculum covers roughly 130-150 drugs. But the real pharmacopoeia contains thousands. The student staring at their meticulously color-coded list feels a phantom limb pain for the drugs not on the list.

The list becomes a talisman. It promises a closed system. If I master everything on this list, I will pass the boards. This is a necessary fiction. Medical training is an exercise in bounded rationality; you cannot know everything, so you learn the high-yield. The Sketchy list is the agreed-upon canon of the high-yield.

But this creates a specific cognitive dissonance. Students often report that after watching the videos, they can recall that the “Quinolone” video featured a flaming key (fluoroquinolone) breaking a DNA helix (topoisomerase inhibition) next to a cactus (C. diff risk). They remember the story. Yet, ask them the drug’s generic name (levofloxacin) or its pregnancy category, and they pause. The list tracks scenes, not knowledge. It is a map of triggers, not a territory of understanding. The student clutches the list not because they know the drugs, but because they are terrified of forgetting the story that contains the drugs.

Focus: Antihypertensives, Diuretics, Antiarrhythmics, Anticoagulants.

| Video Title | Key Drugs Covered | | :--- | :--- | | Loop Diuretics | Furosemide, Bumetanide, Torsemide | | Thiazide Diuretics | Hydrochlorothiazide, Chlorthalidone | | Potassium-Sparing Diuretics | Spironolactone, Eplerenone, Amiloride | | Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors | Acetazolamide | | Osmotic Diuretics | Mannitol | | ACE Inhibitors | Lisinopril, Captopril, Ramipril | | ARBs (Angiotensin II Blockers) | Losartan, Valsartan, Candesartan | | Direct Renin Inhibitors | Aliskiren | | Calcium Channel Blockers (DHP) | Amlodipine, Nifedipine (Vascular) | | Calcium Channel Blockers (Non-DHP) | Verapamil, Diltiazem (Cardiac) | | Vasodilators (Arterial) | Hydralazine, Minoxidil | | Vasodilators (Mixed) | Nitroprusside, Fenoldopam | | Nitrates | Nitroglycerin, Isosorbide Mononitrate | | Class I Antiarrhythmics (Na+ Blockers) | Quinidine, Lidocaine, Flecainide | | Class III Antiarrhythmics (K+ Blockers) | Amiodarone, Dronedarone, Dofetilide | | Unstable Angina / MI Agents | Heparin, Enoxaparin, Bivalirudin | | Oral Anticoagulants | Warfarin, Apixaban, Rivaroxaban | | Antiplatelet Agents | Aspirin, Clopidogrel, Ticagrelor, Abciximab | | Thrombolytics | Alteplase (tPA), Streptokinase | | HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins) | Atorvastatin, Simvastatin, Rosuvastatin | | Other Lipid Drugs | Ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors, Fibrates, Niacin |