📖 Introduction
Table of Contents
Pharmacology is one of the most crucial and high-weightage subjects in both GPAT and NIPER JEE exams. Understanding how drugs interact with the body (and vice versa) is essential for pharmacy graduates aiming to pursue M.Pharm or a career in clinical, regulatory, or research domains.
In this post, we cover all essential areas: theory notes, mechanisms, classification, MCQs, and previous year trends.
🔬 What is Pharmacology?
Pharmacology is the branch of science that deals with:
Pharmacokinetics – What the body does to the drug (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion)
Pharmacodynamics – What the drug does to the body (mechanism of action, receptor binding, therapeutic effect)
Toxicology – Harmful effects of chemicals and overdose studies
🧠 GPAT & NIPER Weightage (Pharmacology)
| Topic | Expected Questions |
|---|---|
| Autonomic Nervous System | 5–6 |
| CNS Acting Drugs | 4–5 |
| Cardiovascular Drugs | 3–4 |
| Chemotherapy & Antibiotics | 5–6 |
| Endocrine Pharmacology | 3–4 |
| Toxicology & Miscellaneous | 2–3 |
More than 20% of the paper is pharmacology-based—so mastering it is non-negotiable.
📘 Pharmacology Topics to Master
1. General Pharmacology
Routes of drug administration
Dose-response curves
Therapeutic index
Adverse drug reactions
2. Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic
Adrenergic and Cholinergic drugs
Receptor types (α, β, M1–M5)
3. Central Nervous System (CNS)
Antipsychotics, Antidepressants, Sedatives
Antiepileptics and Anesthetics
4. Cardiovascular Drugs
Antihypertensives, Antianginals, Diuretics
Anticoagulants & Antiplatelet agents
5. Antibiotics & Chemotherapy
Penicillins, Cephalosporins
Antitubercular and Antifungal drugs
Antivirals and Anticancer agents
6. Endocrine and Reproductive
Insulin, Thyroid, Corticosteroids
Contraceptives and fertility agents
📝 Pharmacology Notes (Free PDF)
We’ve compiled simplified notes, classification charts, mechanisms, and flow diagrams for revision.
🔗 Download Pharmacology PDF Notes
Includes:
Classification tables
Mechanism of action charts
Key drug interactions
One-liner facts for MCQs
❓ Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Solving PYQs is the best way to predict what’s important.
Here’s a sample:
Q1. Drug of choice for anaphylaxis?
Answer: Epinephrine
Q2. Mechanism of action of Atropine?
Answer: Muscarinic antagonist
Q3. Example of loop diuretic?
Answer: Furosemide
👉 See All Pharmacology PYQs with Answers
🧠 Practice MCQs – Test Yourself
Which of the following is a beta-1 selective blocker?
a) Propranolol
b) Atenolol
c) Carvedilol
d) Labetalol
✅ Answer: b) AtenololWhich drug inhibits protein synthesis by binding 30S ribosomal subunit?
a) Erythromycin
b) Tetracycline
c) Chloramphenicol
d) Rifampin
✅ Answer: b) TetracyclineWhich class of drugs is used for status epilepticus?
a) Barbiturates
b) Benzodiazepines
c) SSRIs
d) MAO inhibitors
✅ Answer: b) Benzodiazepines
👉 Solve 100+ Pharmacology MCQs Here
📽️ Video Lectures & Short Tricks
Learn faster through video explanations:
Mechanisms of Action
Drug Mnemonics
Disease-wise drug choices
📺 Watch Our Pharmacology Series on YouTube
📬 Subscribe for Weekly MCQs
Every Sunday, we send:
10 MCQs with explanations
Topic-wise cheat sheets
GPAT & NIPER updates
💡 Final Tips
✅ Focus on drug classifications and mechanisms
✅ Revise tables and drug of choice (DOC) lists
✅ Practice MCQs every day
✅ Watch visual mnemonics for hard topics
✅ Attempt at least 3 previous year papers