High-Yield Topics for Pharmacology

Unit Name

Most Important Topics

General Pharmacology

• Concept of Bioavailability - its clinical importance and how to calculate bioavailability 
• First Pass Metabolism
• PC-T Graph
• Factors affecting volume of distribution
• Routes of drug administration
• Plasma protein binding
• CYP substrates, inducers, inhibitors
• Bioavailability and Dose response curve graphs
• Drug antagonism types and examples
• Competitive vs. non-Competitive antagonism
• Drug schedules, essential medicines, FDC,TDM
• First and zero-order kinetics
• Phases of clinical trials(aim, participants and type of study)
• Different types of receptors & which drugs act upon which receptors
• Receptor location, second messenger and examples
• Major teratogenic drug list
• pk problems
• Clinical Trials
• Practicals including prescription 

ANS

• Basic architecture and functions of the divisions of ANS
• Uses of cholinergic drugs
• Management of OP, Carbamate and atropine poisoning
• Drugs acting at neuromuscular junction
• Drugs used in myasthenia gravis and Alzheimer’s disease
• Atropine and glycopyrrolate
• Drugs used in bladder conditions (overactive bladder and BPH)
• Adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine in detail
• Receptors of the sympathetic and parasympathetic system
• AChe inhibitors, including OP poisoning 
• Uses of anticholinergic drugs and poisoning 
• Used of adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine
• Beta-blockers (cardio selective vs. non-selective)
• Contraindications of beta blockers
• Prazosin uses and adverse effects
• Anti-glaucoma drugs
• Anti-obesity drugs

Autacoids

• Difference between first and second-generation antihistamines
• Drugs for Migraine (attack and prophylaxis) 
• Antihistaminics (1st vs 2nd generation)
• Antihistamine causing QT prolongation
• Prostaglandin preparation and uses
• Contraindications of Prostaglandin preparations
• 5HT receptors
• NSAIDs: PCM and aspirin in detail
• Drugs for gout (acute vs. chronic)
• Drugs for RA
• DMARDs (mainly mechanism of action)

Renal Pharmacology

• Mechanism and site of action of diuretics
• Adverse effects of loop, thiazides and spironolactone
• DOC in various edema conditions
• Contraindications of mannitol
• Tolvaptan
• Uses of desmopressin and terlipressin

CVS

• Difference between ACE inhibitors and ARBs
• Reason for angioedema and dry cough with ACE inhibitors
• Contraindications of ACE inhibitors
• Drugs decreasing mortality in chronic CHF
• Basic concepts and drugs in acute and chronic CHF
• Digoxin in detail
• Nesiritide
• Nitrates mechanism of action in angina
• Nitrates plus sildenafil
• Calcium channel blockers( DHPs vs. Non DHPs)
• Newer drugs in angina pectoris
• First line antihypertensive drugs
• Drugs used in hypertensive crisis
• Antihypertensive drugs mechanism and major adverse effects
• Antihypertensive drugs contraindicated in pregnancy
• Drugs used in pulmonary hypertension
• Classification of anti-arrhythmic
• DOC for various arrhythmias
• Amiodarone in details particularly adverse effects
• Nitrates
• New drugs for angina
• Mechanism and names of anti-arrhythmic drugs
• Statins and new anti-dyslipidemic drugs

Endocrine

• Bromocriptine, cabergoline uses
• Uses of octreotide
• Drugs used in acromegaly
• Uses of GnRH agonist and antagonist
• Uterine relaxant and stimulants
• Propylthiouracil and carbimazole difference
• Insulin preparations
• Metformin in detail
• Anti-diabetic drugs-MOA, effect on glucose, weight and routes of administration
• SGLT2 Inhibitors adverse effects
• Teduglutide, Sotagliflozin, tirzepatide and saroglitazaar
• Adverse effects and contraindications of corticosteroids
• Steroids use in preterm labour and CAH
• Drugs to treat Cushing disease
• Bisphosphonates-MOA, USES and A/E
• Bone forming and resorbing agents
• Drugs used for BPH, Erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and prostate cancer 
• SERM,SERD and aromatase inhibitors
• Tamoxifen in detail
• Mifepristone, clomiphene citrate
• Osteoporosis

CNS

• Difference between benzodiazepines and barbiturates
• Management of benzodiazepines and barbiturates poisoning
• Benzodiazepines safe in liver disease patient
• Orexin antagonist and melatonin agonist
• Types of seizures and DOC
• Valproate, phenytoin, carbamazepine, topiramte and lamotrigene in details
• Mechanism of action of anti-epileptic drugs
• Drugs in alcohol, smoking and opioid de-addiction
• Lithium in detail
• Difference between typical and atypical antipsychotic
• Adverse effects of typical antipsychotic, particularly extra-pyramidal symptoms and management
• Clozapine, risperidone, aripiprazole in details
• Drugs used in Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Advantages and disadvantages of levodopa and carbidopa combination
• SSRIs uses and adverse effects
• Antidepressants causing sexual dysfunction
• Morphine uses, contraindications and poisoning
• Morphine vs. Pethidine
• Tramadol and methadone specialty
• Drugs used in neuropathic pain

Hematology

• Warfarin and Heparin 
• Basic mechanism of antiplatelet drugs
• Newer oral anticoagulants

Drugs affecting blood and blood formation

• Mechanism of action of anticoagulants, adverse effects, antidote and lab monitoring
• Anticoagulants in pregnancy
• NOACs/DOACs
• Mechanism of action of antiplatelet drugs
• Clopidogrel and CYP2C19
• Management of acute and chronic iron overdose
• Fibrinolytics and antifibrinolytics
• Mechanism of action uses and adverse effects of statins, fibrates and Niacin

Respiratory System

• Drugs used for prophylaxis and attack of asthma
• MOA-Montelukast, omalizumab, cromoglycate
• Bronchodilators
• Adverse effects of salbutamol 
• New drugs in asthma and COPD
• Drugs used in Dry and productive cough
• Bronchial Asthma
• Peptic ulcer
• Anti-emetic drugs

GIT

• Metoclopramide and dystonia management
• DOC for CINV, Morning sickness and motion sickness
• PPIs – MOA and uses
• H.pylori eradication regimen

Antimicrobials

• Mechanism of action of antibacterial drugs
• Major bacterial infection( DOC/First choice)
• Anti-bacterial: cidal and static
• Adverse effects of antibacterial drugs
• Anti-bacterial safe in pregnancy, children and renal failure
• Drugs used in STIs and prophylaxis
• First line Anti TB drugs in detail(HRZE)
• Bedaquiline in details
• Second line TB drugs
• Definition of MDR, pre XDR and XDR TB
• Leprosy treatment regimen and management of lepra reaction
• List of ineffective antimicrobials in certain infections
• Metronidazole in detail
• DOC for Helminthic infections
• Mechanism of antifungals and DOC for systemic fungal infections
• MOA of oseltamivir
• Drugs used for COVID management
• DOC for HSV, VZV,CMV, Hepatitis B and C
• MOA and adverse effects of Anti HIV drugs
• Treatment and prophylaxis of HIV and treatment of opportunistic infection in HIV patients
• Malaria treatment and prophylaxis
• Chloroquine, primaquine in detail

Anticancer and IS

• Common adverse effects Anti-cancer drugs and the treatment/prevention of them
• Mechanism of action of anticancer drugs
• Cell cycle and non-cell cycle specific anticancer drugs
• Cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, 5flurouracil, vincristine (in detail)
• Methotrexate in detail
• Small molecule inhibitors and Monoclonal antibodies in anticancer therapy
• Immune check point inhibitors in anticancer therapy
• Mechanism of action of immunosuppressant Drugs
• Calcineurin inhibitors
• Adverse effects of cyclosporine

Miscellaneous

• Treatment of Hyperkalemia
• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Antidotes of various drugs