Dosage and Absorption VPA is absorbed through the small intestine, and delayed- and extended-release forms are designed to extend the dosage interval and bypass the stomach to reduce dyspepsia. The liquid and tablet forms have a more than 10-fold higher absorption rate constant than the extended-release forms and peak at…
Tag: Pharmacology
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS 
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI) Pharmacology : Mnemonics
Relative Potency in Omeprazole Equivalent (OE) Mnemonic: PLOwER Pantoprazole (4.5 mg OE) Lansoprazole (13.5 mg OE) Omeprazole (20 mg OE) Esomeprazole (32 mg OE) Rabeprazole (36 mg OE) Side effects of PPI Mnemonic: KFC Kidney (Acute interstitial nephritis) Fractures (Hypochlorhydria leading to decreased serum calcium) C. difficile infection Besides, it…
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS 
Opioid Adverse Effects – Mnemonic
Mnemonic: MORPHINES 1. Miosis Mechanism: Stimulation of Edinger-Westphal nucleus of Cranial nerve III 2. Orthostatic hypotension Mechanism: Vasodilation due to – Direct action decreasing tone of blood vessels Histamine release Depression of vasomotor center 3. Respiratory depression Mechanism: Inhibits respiratory center in a dose-dependent manner (neurogenic, hypercapneic and hypoxic drives…
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS 
Pharmacology of Carbapenems : Mnemonics
Commonly used Carbapenems Mnemonic: MEDIC Meropenem Ertapenem Doripenem Imipenem/Cilastatin (renal dehydropeptidase I inhibitor) Besides these, there are other drugs like tebipenem (1st oral carbapenem), panipenem, tomopenem (has MRSA activity), etc. which fall under carbapenems. Coverage As the name suggests, they have carbapenems attached to beta-lactam ring which provides protection against…
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS 
FDA Pregnancy Drug Risk Categories : Mnemonic
We have simplified the information above as following: Category A: Adequate Anthropoid (Human) studies and Absolutely safe (No risk in controlled human studies) Category B: Bounded (limited) human studies and safe in Beast (animal) studies; Better to use (No risk in other studies) Category C: Catastrophic effects in animals and…
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS 
Bisphosphonate Pharmacology
Classification Non-nitrogen containing (1st generation): Etidronate Clodronate Tiludronate Nitrogen containing (2nd and 3rd generation): a. 2nd generation (alky-amino nitrogen containing): Pamidronate Alendronate Ibadronate Olpadronate b. 3rd generation (heterocyclic nitrogen containing): Risedronate Zoledronate Chemical structure Stable derivatives of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) Mechanism of action Strong attachment to hydroxyapatite mineral found in…
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS 
Antimicrobial Mechanism of Actions – Everything you need to know
Cell Wall Synthesis Inhibitors A peptidoglycan monomer consists of 2 joined amino-sugars, N-acetyl glucosamine (NAG) and N-acetyle muramic acid (NAM), with a pentapeptide coming off of the NAM. So, a peptidoglycan monomer is a NAG-NAM-pentapeptide. These peptidoglycan monomers are synthesized in cytosol and transported across cytoplasmic membrane by Bactoprenols (BP)….
Clinical Skills and Approaches 
Drug Eruptions – When the Solution becomes Problem
Before we start to develop our understanding of the drug eruptions. Let’s first lay down the foundation by clearing some basic concepts. What is an Allergy? What is meant by an adverse drug reaction? What is the diversity of allergic reactions due to drugs? Allergy This is a hypersensitivity disorder…