PHARMACOLOGY IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER:

DRUGS OF CHOICE LIST:

DRUGS INDICATION
Epinephrine 1st Line Cardiac Stimulant
ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK
Norepinephrine 1st line inotropic agent in the management of SEPTIC SHOCK
Dobutamine 1st line CARDIOGENIC SHOCK
Acute heart failure
Albumterol/ Salbutamol 1st line bronchodilator in acute asthma attacks
Mephenidate Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Phenoxybenzamine Carcinoid syndrome
Beta blockers 1st line Hypertension (specially if with Hx of MI)
Chronic stable angina pectoris
Thiazide diuretics 1st line Hypertension
Nephrogenic Diabetes insipidus
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 1st line Management of Hypertension in Chronic Kidney Disease and Diabetes
(ACE) inhibitors Mellitus
Base Treatment for Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
Albuminuria
Na Nitroprusside Hypertensive emergencies

Atropine Cholinergic Toxicity

Pralidoxime, Organophosphate Toxicity
Diacetyl monoxide
Atropine
Ipratropium Bronchodilator for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Tiotropium
Oxytropium
Misoprostol NSAID-induced ulcer
Sucralfate Stress-induced ulcer
Methotrexate 1st line Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis
(DMARDs)
Colchicine ACUTE GOUTE
Allopurinol CHRONIC GOUT
Aspirin 325 mg/day Primary and Secondary Prevention of ACUTE THROMBOTIC events
HMG-CoA Reductase inhibitors Hypercholesterolemia
Fibrates Hypertriglycerdimia
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors Open-angle glaucoma
Amyl nitrite Cyanide poisoning
Lidocaine/ Phenytoin Digitalis induced arrhythmia
Lidocaine Ventricular tachycardia with digitalis toxicity
Amiodarone Ventricular tachycardia
Adenosine Acute supraventricular tachycardia
Magnesium Sulfate Torsades de Pointes
Locally acting Glucocorticoids Bronchial Asthma
Systemic Glucocorticoids Status asthmaticus
(Parenteral)
Levothyroxine Hypothyroidism
Liotrix Myxedema Coma
Thioamides (PTU, Methimazole, Hyperthyroidism
Carbimazole)
Perchlorate Amiodarone-induced hyperthyroidism
PHARMACOLOGY IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER:
Metformin Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus among obese patient
Lithium Bipolar disorder
Lorazepam Status epilepticus
Isoflurane Anesthetic in neurosurgery
Diazepam Prevent and arrest convulsion in anesthetic toxicity
Delirium Tremens
Spastic Type of Cerebral Palsy
Cladribine Hairy cell leukemia
Propranolol Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy
Proton Pump Inhibitor Zollinger Elison Syndrome
Nifedipine Raynaud’s disease
Tacrine, Donazepil, Rivastigmine, Alzheimer’s DIsease
Metrifonate, Galantamine
Carbamazepine Trigeminal neuralgia
Levodopa & Carbidopa Parkinson’s Disease
Halothane Inhalational anesthetic for children
Enflurane Anesthetic of choice for patient with asthma
Alprostadil Maintain temporarily Patent Ductus arteriorus
Indomethacin Close Patent Ductus arteriorus

MECHANISM OF ACTIONS:

DRUGS MECHANISM OF ACTION REMARKS

Thiazide Diuretics Inhibit Na and Cl reabsorption in
distal convoluted tubule
Loop Diuretics Inhibit Cl reabsorption in THICK
Ascending Loop of Henle
Potassium Sparring Diuretics Inhibit K secretion and increase Na
excretion
Osmotic Diuretic Inhibit Na and water reabsorption
THROUGHOUT THE NEPHRON
Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitor Inhibit Carbonic Anhydrase in the
PROXIMAL CONVOLUTED TUBULE
Central Anti-Adrenergics Alpha-2 adrenergic agonist
Peripheral Anti-Adrenergics Prevent release of Norepinephrine
from peripheral nerve terminals
Alpha Adrenergic Antagonist Peripheral alpha-1 adrenergic
antagonist
Selective B1 antagonist Block B1 Receptor BEAAMC
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibit Angiotensin Converting ~pril
(ACE) Inhibitors Enzymes *Angiotensin-potent vasoconstrictor
Angiotensin II Antagonist Antagonist Angiotensin II receptor ~sartan
Nitrates Converted to Nitric Oxide that *Causing vasodilation
increase cGMP levels
Calcium channel blocker Block Calcium channel Calcium- promote smooth muscle
contraction
Spironolactone Aldosterone antagonist
Cardiac glycosides Inhibit Na/K ATPase and increase Digoxin
inward current of Calcium
Bipyridine derivatives Inhibit phosphodiesterase Phosphodiesterase  enzyme that
break down cAMP
PHARMACOLOGY IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER:
Class I antiarrhythmic agent Na Channel blocker IA- Quinidine, Procainamide,
Disopyramide – most effective in
increasing refractory period
IB- Lidocaine, Mexiletine, Tocainide –
no clear generalization
IC- Flecainide, Propafenone,
Moricizine – most effective in slowing
conduction velocity
Class II antiarrhythmic agent B-blockers
Class III antiarrhythmic agent Potassium Channel blockers Bretylium, Ibutilide,
Dofetilide,Amiodarone, Sotalol

Class IV antiarrhythmic agent Calcium Channel blocker Verapamil

Diltiazem
Bile acid binding resin Form insoluble complex with bile Cholestyramine
salts Cholestipol
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor Inhibit HMG-CoA Reductase (Enzyme ~statins
that catalyse synthesis of cholesterol)
Heparin Antithrombin III Antidote of Heparin- Protamine
Sulfate
Aspirin Inhibit Cyclooxygenase (COX) COX is the enzyme needed to form
Ibuprofen thromboxane (promotes platelet
aggregation)
Thrombolytic agents Activate plasminogen to plasmin Plasmin dissolves clot
Clopidogrel Inhibit ADP ADP (promote platelet aggregation)
Cilostazol Inhibit phosphodiesterase III Inhibiting phosphodiesterase III 
Dipyridamole increase cAMP  potentiate PGI2
Abciximab Inhibit glycoprotein IIb/IIa
Eptifibatide
Tirofiban
Celecoxib Selectively inhibit COX-2
Rofecoxib
Allopurinol Xanthine Oxidase inhibitor
Probenacid Inhibit renal reabsorption of uric acid
Sulfinpyrazone
Cromolyn Sodium Inhibit release of histamine from
Nedocromil mast cells
Ethanolamines H1 receptor antagonist
Alkylamines
Phenothiazine
Piperidine
Piperazine
Cimetidine H2 Receptor antagonist
Famotidine
Nizatidine
Ranitidine
Gonadorelin Synthetic gonadotropin releasing
hormone
Clomiphene Stimulate Luteinizing Hormone and
Follicle stimulating hormone release
PHARMACOLOGY IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER:
Menotropin Luteinizing Hormone and Follicle
stimulating Hormone from urine of
postmenopausal women
Methimazole Inhibit transformation of inorganic
iodine to organic iodine
Propylthiouracil (PTU) Block conversion of T4 & T3 in
peripheral tissue
Iodine/ Iodide Inhibit release of thyroxine from
thyroid gland
Sulfonylureas Stimulate insulin secretion
Metformin Reduce intestinal uptake and hepatic
production of glucose
Miglitol Slows carbohydrate digestion to
Acarbose result to lower serum glucose after
meal
Alkylating agent Links alkyl group of DNA preventing Not phase specific
repair
Antimetabolites Prevent synthesis of nucleotides or
inhibit enzymes by mimicking
nucleotides
Vinca alkaloids Destroy microtubule Microtubule- essential structure for
mitosis
Podophyllotoxin Inhibit topoisomerase Etoposide
Teniposide
Leuprolide Reduce Luteinizing Hormone and
Goserelin Follicle Stimulating Hormone

COMMON BRAND NAMES

BRAND GENERIC INDICATION

Accolate Zafirlukast Leukotriene Receptor antagonist – tx
Asthma
Accutane Isotretinoin acne vulgaris –(Warning:
Teratogenic)
Tylenol Acetaminophen Analgesic and Antipyretic
Diamox Acetazolamide Treat Glaucoma
Activase Alteplase Tissue Plasminogen Activator –
Thrombolytic agents
Actos Pioglitazone Class: Thiazolidinediones
Diabetes
Zovirax Acyclovir Antiviral – for herpes, shingles and
chickenpox
Adalat Nifedipine Calcium Channel blocker- for
hypertension
Akineton Biperiden Anti-parkinson
Ventolin Albuterol Asthma
Aldactone Spironolactone Potassium sparring diuretic –
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
Aldomet Methyldopa Hypertension
Allegra Fexofenadine Antihistamine
Zyloprim Allopurinol Chronic gout
PHARMACOLOGY IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER:
Xanax Alprazolam Anxiolytic (anti-anxiety)
Symmetrel Amantadine Influenza A
Amikin Amikacin Aminoglycoside antibiotic
Cordarone Amiodarone Anti-arrhythmic agent
Unasyn Ampicillin Sulbactam Antibacterial
Antabuse Disulfiram Alcohol Dependence
Antizole Fomepizole Methanol/Ethylene glycol poisoning
Apresoline Hydralazine Hypertension
Aralen Chloroquine Malaria

Tenormin Atenolol Hypertension

Ativan Lorazepam Anti-anxiety agent
Lipitor Atorvastatin Lipid-lowering
Avandia Rosiglitazone Anti-diabetic
Axid Nizatidine Peptic-ulcer
Imuran Azathioprine Immunosuppressant for organ
transplantation
Zithromax Azathromycin Antibacterial
Bactrim Co-trimoxazole Antibacterial
Bactroban Mupirocin Antibacterial
Benadryl AH Diphenhydramine Antihistamine
Cogentin Benztropin Parkinsonism
Sensorcaine Bupivacaine Anesthetic
Cafergot Ergotamine Migraine
*Ergonovine- uterine relaxant
Capoten Captopril Hypertension
Tegretol Carbamazepine Anticonvulsant
Sinemet Levodopa-Carbidopa Parkinsonism
Cataflam Diclofenac K Anti-inflammatory
Catapress Clonidine Hypertension
Rocephin Ceftriaxone Antibacterial
Celebrex Celecoxib Anti-inflammatory
Keflex Cefalexin Antibacterial
Questran Cholestyramine Lipid-Lowering
Claritin Loratadine Antihistamine
Cleocin Clindamycin Antibacterial
Plavix Clopidogrel Anticoagulant