Here is a comprehensive set of mnemonics for Pharmacology 1 (B.Pharm), organized by the standard syllabus units:
🧠 Pharmacology 1 — B.Pharm Mnemonics
UNIT 1 — General Pharmacology
Routes of Administration
"Some People Really Love Intravenous Drugs Subcutaneously"
Sublingual · Patch (transdermal) · Rectal · Lung (inhalation) · Intravenous · Dermal · Subcutaneous
Pharmacokinetics — ADME
"A Drug Moves Everywhere"
Absorption · Distribution · Metabolism · Excretion
Factors Affecting Drug Absorption
"SLIP"
Solubility · Lipophilicity · Ionization (pKa/pH) · Particle size
Zero-Order vs First-Order Kinetics
- Zero-order: "Alcohol, Aspirin, Phenytoin" — "AAP" (fixed amount eliminated per time, get saturated)
- First-order: Most drugs — constant fraction eliminated per time
Drug Receptor Theory — Types of Drug Action
"ASIA"
Agonist · Superagonist / Select partial agonist · Inverse agonist · Antagonist
Adverse Drug Reactions — Types (Rawlins & Thompson)
"ABCDE"
Augmented (dose-related) · Bizarre (allergic/immune) · Chronic (long-term) · Delayed · End-of-treatment
UNIT 2 — Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
Divisions of ANS
"SPARS"
Sympathetic – Preganglionic short, Acetylcholine → Receptor (nicotinic) → Sympathetic ganglia
Neurotransmitters at Each Junction
| Junction | Transmitter | Receptor |
|---|
| All preganglionic → ganglia | ACh | Nicotinic (Nn) |
| Parasympathetic post-ganglionic → effector | ACh | Muscarinic |
| Sympathetic post-ganglionic → effector | NE | Adrenergic |
| Sweat glands (exception!) | ACh | Muscarinic |
Mnemonic for the exception: "Sweaty Muscular Conditions" → Sweat glands = Muscarinic despite sympathetic innervation
Muscarinic Effects (Parasympathomimetics)
"SLUD BAGS"
Salivation · Lacrimation · Urination · Defecation
Bradycardia · Abdominal cramps · GI motility ↑ · Sweating
Cholinergic Crisis vs Nicotinic Effects
"DUMBELS" (organophosphate poisoning — muscarinic)
Defecation/Diarrhea · Urination · Miosis · Bradycardia/Bronchospasm · Emesis · Lacrimation · Salivation
"MTW" (nicotinic effects)
Muscle weakness/paralysis · Tachycardia · Weakness (diaphragm → respiratory failure)
Cholinergic Drugs — Direct Acting
"Ace Betty Carboplatin Pilots"
Acetylcholine · Bethanechol · Carbachol · Pilocarpine
Anticholinesterases (Indirect Cholinomimetics)
"NePO" — Reversible
Neostigmine · Phyostigmine · Organophosphates (irreversible)
Reversible vs Irreversible: "REversible = REcoverable" (neostigmine, pyridostigmine) vs Irreversible = organophosphates, nerve agents
Anticholinergic (Muscarinic Blockers) Side Effects
"Can't See, Can't Spit, Can't Pee, Can't Poop, Red as a Beet, Hot as a Hare, Mad as a Hatter"
Mydriasis · Dry mouth · Urinary retention · Constipation · Flushing · Hyperthermia · Confusion/CNS
Adrenergic Receptors — Actions
"α1: VASC" (Vascular smooth muscle Contraction)
Vasoconstriction · Alpha-1 · Sweat glands · Contraction (urinary sphincter)
"α2: Pre-synaptic Inhibition" — "α2 = Auto-brake"
Decreases NE release from pre-synaptic terminal
"β1 = 1 Heart" (1 heart in the chest → cardiac effects)
Increases heart rate, contractility (cardiac)
"β2 = 2 Lungs" (2 lungs in the chest → pulmonary + vascular)
Bronchodilation, vasodilation, uterine relaxation
"β3 = 3 Fat cells" → Lipolysis
Sympathomimetic Drugs
"AIDEN" — Direct acting
Adrenaline (Epinephrine) · Isoprenaline · Dopamine · Ephredrine (mixed) · Norepinephrine
Adrenergic Blockers
Alpha blockers: "PTTD"
Phentolamine · Tolazoline · Trazosin · Doxazosin (selective α1: prazosin, terazosin, doxazosin)
Selective α1 blockers: "PHAT" (Prazosin, doxazosin, alfuzosin, terazosin)
Beta blockers — Non-selective: "PT" → Propranolol · Timolol
Beta blockers — Cardioselective (β1): "AMEN"
Atenolol · Metoprolol · Esmolol · Nebivolol
UNIT 3 — Local Anesthetics
Properties of Ideal Local Anesthetic
"RSNR"
Reversible · Selective · Non-irritant · Rapid onset
Esters vs Amides
"Esters have ONE 'i' in the name; Amides have TWO 'i's"
Esters: Procaine, Tetracaine, Benzocaine (1 'i' or less)
Amides: Lidocaine, Bupivacaine, Prilocaine, Mepivacaine (note: double 'i')
A simpler version:
"I Am Lidocaine" — amides have "i" before "-caine" in the suffix pattern, and all contain an amide bond
UNIT 4 — Neuromuscular Blocking Agents
Depolarizing vs Non-depolarizing NMBAs
| Feature | Depolarizing | Non-depolarizing |
|---|
| Example | Succinylcholine | Tubocurarine, Vecuronium |
| Reversed by neostigmine? | No (worsened) | Yes |
| Fasciculations? | Yes | No |
Mnemonic: "Suck it up — Succinylcholine is the only depolarizing agent"
UNIT 5 — CNS Drugs (Intro)
Sedative-Hypnotics — Benzodiazepines
"TDDB" — Mechanism:
Tranquilizer · Diazepam-type · Denhance GABA · Benzodiazepine receptor
Benzodiazepine effects — "CASH":
Convulsion control (anticonvulsant) · Anxiolytic · Sedation/Sleep · Muscle relaxation (myorelaxant) → use "CASM"
UNIT 6 — Autacoids
Histamine H1 vs H2 Receptors
"H1 = Inflammation, H2 = Acid"
H1 → allergy, bronchoconstriction, itch
H2 → gastric acid secretion
Antihistamines (H1 blockers) — 1st Gen Side Effects
"3 Ds"
Drowsiness · Dry mouth · Diplopia (blurred vision)
Prostaglandins — Key Actions
"PGE2 = Pain, Fever, Vasodilation"
"TXA2 = Thrombus (aggregation + vasoconstriction)"
"PGI2 = Prostacyclin = Protective" (inhibits platelet aggregation, vasodilator)
Quick Reference Card
| Topic | Mnemonic |
|---|
| ADME | "A Drug Moves Everywhere" |
| Muscarinic effects | "SLUD BAGS" |
| Organophosphate poisoning | "DUMBELS" |
| Anticholinergic effects | "Can't See, Spit, Pee, Poop…" |
| β1 vs β2 | β1 = 1 Heart, β2 = 2 Lungs |
| Cardioselective β-blockers | "AMEN" |
| Esters vs Amides (LA) | "I Am Lidocaine" |
| Depolarizing NMBA | "Suck it up = Succinylcholine" |
| BZD effects | "CASM" |
| H1 vs H2 | H1 = Inflammation, H2 = Acid |
These mnemonics cover the standard B.Pharm Pharmacology 1 syllabus as per PCI/university guidelines — General Pharmacology, ANS, Local Anesthetics, NMBAs, CNS Sedatives, and Autacoids. Let me know if you want mnemonics for any specific topic in more detail!