Pharmacology
121 written of 121 topics · 23 entries (derived from exam corpus)
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Concepts
Tier 1frequently tested
Toxicology and overdose
Dialysability of drugs in overdose (protein binding, Vd, molecular weight)1Drug-induced seizures and seizure threshold effectsHepatotoxicity of complementary and alternative medicines2Lead poisoning - haematological and clinical features (basophilic stippling)🔒 Mechanisms of action of drugs of addiction/dependence (alcohol-GABA, opioids-mu, stimulants-dopamine)2🔒 N-acetylcysteine mechanism in paracetamol toxicity4🔒 Specific antidotes in poisoning/overdose1🔒 TCA overdose - sodium channel blockade and ECG predictors (QRS widening)4🔒 Toxidrome recognition (cholinergic, anticholinergic, sympathomimetic, opioid)1
Drug-induced syndromes and toxidromes
Renal pharmacology
🔒 Diuretic classes - site and mechanism of action3🔒 Drug and metabolic causes of crystal nephropathy (acyclovir, ethylene glycol, tumour lysis, indinavir)2🔒 Novel renoprotective drug targets in diabetic kidney disease (endothelin antagonists, finerenone, SGLT2i)1🔒 Renal tubular drug secretion (organic cation/anion transporters)1🔒 Vasopressin receptor antagonists (tolvaptan) - mechanism1
Chemotherapy pharmacology
🔒 Alkylating agent gonadotoxicity3🔒 All-trans retinoic acid - differentiation syndrome🔒 Antibody-drug conjugate mechanism (targeted drug delivery)1🔒 Cell cycle phases and drug-induced cell cycle arrest (tamoxifen and other agents)4🔒 Chemotherapy agent characteristic toxicities1🔒 Chemotherapy drug mechanisms of action by class2🔒 Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting - neurotransmitter pathways (5-HT3, NK1, D2)3🔒 Immunohistochemical markers in cancer pathology (Ki-67, HER2, hormone receptors)3🔒 Monoclonal antibody/targeted cancer therapy - target identification (VEGF, EGFR, HER2, CD20)2🔒 Predictive biomarkers for targeted cancer therapy response (KRAS, BRAF, MSI)5
Cardiovascular pharmacology
🔒 Adenosine - mechanism and contraindications1🔒 Anti-anginal drug classes and mechanisms1🔒 Antiplatelet and anticoagulant mechanisms of action2🔒 Beta-blocker comparative pharmacology (selectivity, ancillary properties, CNS penetration)1🔒 Digoxin mechanism of action (Na+/K+-ATPase inhibition)1🔒 Drug-induced long QT syndrome - ion channel mechanism3🔒 Drug withdrawal/rebound phenomena (clonidine, beta-blockers, benzodiazepines)1🔒 Evidence-based pharmacotherapy in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (ACEi, beta-blockers, MRA, ARNI)1🔒 Ivabradine - funny channel (If) mechanism🔒 Lipid-lowering drug mechanisms (statins, ezetimibe, fibrates, PCSK9i)1🔒 Neprilysin inhibition mechanism in heart failure (sacubitril)1🔒 Statin-associated myopathy - spectrum and risk (myalgia, myositis, rhabdomyolysis)🔒 Uricosuric/urate-lowering effects of antihypertensive drugs (losartan)2🔒 Vasopressor mechanisms of action (noradrenaline, adrenaline, vasopressin)8🔒 Vaughan Williams antiarrhythmic drug classification (Na, K, Ca channel, beta-blockade)1
Pharmacogenomics and drug metabolism
🔒 CYP2D6 pharmacogenomics (poor/fast metabolisers)2🔒 CYP450-mediated drug-drug interactions2🔒 HLA associations with drug hypersensitivity (pharmacogenomics)1🔒 MAOI-tyramine interaction (hypertensive crisis mechanism)🔒 P-glycoprotein-mediated drug interactions3🔒 Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) pharmacogenomics and azathioprine toxicity1
Pharmacokinetics
🔒 Age-related pharmacokinetic changes (renal clearance, Vd, protein binding)2🔒 Anticoagulant safety in pregnancy (warfarin teratogenicity vs heparins)🔒 Blood-brain barrier drug penetration determinants (P-glycoprotein efflux)🔒 Determinants of steady-state drug concentration (clearance vs half-life vs Vd)3🔒 Dose adjustment calculation from clearance changes1🔒 Drug metabolism adjustments in liver failure (LOT benzodiazepines)1🔒 Half-life calculation from clearance and volume of distribution🔒 Hepatic extraction ratio and first-pass metabolism - effect on bioavailability1🔒 Ion trapping and urinary pH manipulation in drug elimination (weak acids/bases)🔒 Loading dose calculation (Vd x target concentration / bioavailability)🔒 Oral bioavailability calculation (AUC ratio method)3🔒 Protein binding and free drug concentration (valproate, phenytoin)🔒 Therapeutic drug monitoring - timing and pitfalls🔒 Zero-order (saturable) vs first-order pharmacokinetics (phenytoin); enzyme autoinduction (carbamazepine)
Endocrine pharmacology
🔒 Amiodarone-induced thyroid dysfunction (type 1 vs type 2 thyrotoxicosis, hypothyroidism)🔒 Corticosteroid potency and mineralocorticoid activity comparison2🔒 Cortisol synthesis/action inhibitor drugs (metyrapone, ketoconazole, mifepristone, pasireotide)🔒 Diabetes drug mechanisms of action by class (sulfonylureas, biguanides, SGLT2i, DPP-4i, GLP-1, TZDs)4🔒 Drug-induced hyperprolactinaemia (dopamine antagonists)🔒 Drug interference with aldosterone-renin ratio testing🔒 Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis - distinguishing features1🔒 Growth hormone axis drug mechanisms (pegvisomant, somatostatin analogues)1🔒 Insulin preparations - duration/onset of action comparison2🔒 Mechanisms of hypoglycaemia risk by diabetic drug class2🔒 Osteoporosis drug mechanisms (teriparatide, denosumab/RANKL, bisphosphonates, SERMs)5🔒 Selective estrogen receptor modulator (tamoxifen) effects and adverse effects3🔒 SGLT2 inhibitor metabolic effects (BP, weight, lipids, cardiovascular benefit)3🔒 Stress-dose corticosteroid adjustment in adrenal insufficiency🔒 Thyroid drug mechanisms (thionamides vs iodine - synthesis vs release blockade)2
Antimicrobial pharmacology
🔒 Aminoglycoside toxicity (ototoxic/vestibular, nephrotoxic)🔒 Antibiotic class-specific adverse effects (fluoroquinolone tendinopathy, nitrofurantoin pulmonary fibrosis)🔒 Antibiotic classification by mechanism of action and bactericidal/bacteriostatic activity🔒 Antibiotic mechanisms beyond bactericidal activity (antitoxin effect)🔒 Antimalarial drug mechanisms and radical cure of relapsing malaria (primaquine, G6PD)2🔒 Antitubercular drug adverse effects (ethambutol-optic neuropathy, isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide)🔒 Antiviral drug mechanisms by target (polymerase, protease, entry, integrase)1🔒 Antiviral resistance patterns in chronic hepatitis B treatment1🔒 Beta-lactam cross-reactivity (penicillin-cephalosporin-carbapenem)🔒 Cephalosporin generations - spectrum and renal dosing (anti-pseudomonal, anti-MRSA, no renal adjustment)🔒 Direct-acting antiviral mechanisms in hepatitis C (NS3/4A, NS5A, NS5B inhibitors)1🔒 Evidence base for neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir) in influenza1🔒 Pharmacodynamic indices of antibiotic efficacy (concentration- vs time-dependent killing)2
Emergency pharmacology
Autonomic and CNS pharmacology
Immunosuppressant pharmacology
Analgesic pharmacology
Respiratory pharmacology
🔒 Anti-IgE and anti-cytokine biologics in asthma (omalizumab, mepolizumab, benralizumab, dupilumab)2🔒 CFTR modulator mechanisms (potentiators vs correctors - ivacaftor, lumacaftor)3🔒 Pulmonary arterial hypertension drug classes and mechanisms (endothelin antagonists, PDE5i, prostacyclin analogues, sGC stimulators)3
Pharmacodynamics
Neurological pharmacology
🔒 Antidepressant pharmacokinetics (half-life comparison, active metabolites)3🔒 Botulinum toxin mechanism (presynaptic SNARE cleavage, NMJ)🔒 CGRP pathway drugs in migraine (CGRP mAbs, gepants)2🔒 Clozapine adverse effects (myocarditis, agranulocytosis)3🔒 Smoking cessation pharmacotherapy (varenicline, bupropion, NRT) - mechanisms and contraindications1
Tier 2tested occasionally
Drug classes and comparative pharmacology
Critical care pharmacology
Electrolyte pharmacology
Haematology pharmacology
🔒 Anticoagulant reversal agents (vitamin K, idarucizumab, andexanet alfa, PCC)1🔒 CAR-T cell therapy - mechanism and effector cell1🔒 Coagulation test sensitivity to direct oral anticoagulants (TCT/dabigatran, anti-Xa/rivaroxaban)2🔒 Emicizumab mechanism (bispecific factor IXa/X antibody mimicking factor VIII)🔒 Gene therapy in haemophilia (Factor IX Padua, AAV vectors)🔒 Hydroxyurea mechanism in sickle cell disease (HbF induction)🔒 Tranexamic acid mechanism of action (antifibrinolytic)
Hepatic pharmacology
Gastrointestinal pharmacology
Musculoskeletal pharmacology