Sketchy Pharmacology , often referred to as "Sketchy Pharm," is a cornerstone resource for medical, PA, and nursing students. It utilizes the Method of Loci
—a memory technique that uses visual memory palaces and storytelling to make dense pharmacological concepts like drug classes, mechanisms of action, and side effects unforgettable. Must-Watch Sketchy Pharm Video Highlights While the full Sketchy Pharmacology course
covers over 1,300 high-yield lessons, these specific videos are frequently cited by students on platforms like as "bangers" for their clarity and memorability. 1. Autonomics & Cardiovascular ACE Inhibitors ("The Ace in Vegas"):
A classic Vegas-themed sketch that nails ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and Aliskiren. Class I Antiarrhythmics ("The Prom"):
Famous for using "Prom Queen" (Procainamide), "Prom King" (Quinidine), and "Disappeared" (Disopyramide) to help students differentiate complex Class IA, IB, and IC drugs. Beta Blockers:
A foundational sketch that clarifies the difference between selective and non-selective blockers. 2. Antimicrobials (The "Bugs and Drugs" Essentials) Sulfonamides (" The Halloween Party
Highly rated for how every detail, from "Prostatitis pranks" to "Photosensitivity photos," fits perfectly into the spooky theme. Cell Wall Inhibitors:
Essential videos covering Penicillins, Cephalosporins, and Vancomycin (" Antifungals:
Specifically the "Amphotericin" and "Azoles" sketches, which use distinct visual cues for systemic versus local treatments. 3. Neuro & Psych Lithium ("The Mood Stabilizer"):
A critical, high-yield sketch for both Step 1 and clinical rotations. Benzodiazepines ("The Benzo Diner"): list of sketchy pharm videos
Breaks down short-, medium-, and long-acting benzos alongside their antidote, Flumazenil. SSRIs & SNRIs:
Uses a recurring "Sun" theme to represent serotonin, making the complex side effect profiles easier to visualize. Organized Video List by Category
The full curriculum is divided into major organ systems and drug classes to align with USMLE Step 1 High-Yield Topics Included Autonomic Drugs Cholinomimetics, Muscarinic Antagonists, Sympathomimetics CV & Renal
Diuretics (Loop, Thiazides), Heart Failure, Antihypertensives Blood & Inflammation Anticoagulants (Warfarin/Heparin), Statins, NSAIDs, Gout GI & Endocrine
Diabetes (Insulin/Metformin), PPIs, Thyroid meds, Glucocorticoids Antineoplastics Methotrexate, Kinase Inhibitors, Monoclonal Antibodies Why Students Use It Sketchy Pharm Video Runtimes List | PDF | Drugs - Scribd
Autonomic Drugs: Includes cholinomimetics, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, muscarinic antagonists, and sympathomimetics.
CV & Renal: Covers heart failure drugs (like Digoxin and ACE inhibitors), diuretics, and antihypertensives.
Blood & Inflammation: Focuses on anticoagulants, antiplatelets, and NSAIDs.
Smooth Muscle: Deals with drugs for asthma, pulmonary hypertension, and uterine motility. Sketchy Pharmacology , often referred to as "Sketchy
GI & Endocrine: Covers diabetes medications, thyroid drugs, and GI-specific treatments.
Neuro & Psych: Includes anesthetics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and antiepileptic drugs.
Antimicrobials: A large section detailing antibiotics, antifungals, and antivirals.
Antineoplastics: Focuses on chemotherapy agents and cancer treatments. Study Resources & Checklists
If you are looking for specific checklists or runtime trackers to manage your study schedule, the following community resources are frequently used by students:
Video Runtime List: A detailed breakdown of each video's length (totaling roughly 27 hours) is available on Scribd.
Study Spreadsheets: Students often share workflow spreadsheets on Reddit that combine Sketchy lists with Anki or other resources like Pathoma.
Free Previews: You can find a playlist of preview lessons on the Sketchy Learning YouTube channel.
Based on your request, I have organized the Sketchy Pharm curriculum into a structured table that mimics a medical school course syllabus. Following that, I have drafted a formal academic paper proposal that evaluates the efficacy of this specific learning modality. Section 8: CNS & Psychiatric Pharmacology This section
Here is the organizational breakdown and the subsequent paper.
The SketchyPharm library uses visual mnemonics to simplify complex pharmacology. Each video embeds high-yield drug mechanisms, side effects, and contraindications into a single, memorable scene. As of the 2024-2025 curriculum, the library contains over 100 core videos organized into 7 major organ/system blocks.
Below is the complete, categorized list.
This section is crucial for psychiatry rotations.
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.
From ulcers to antiemetics, these are story-rich videos.
We have broken the list into nine major sections.