Ace Your Pharmacology Classes and Exams with Picmonic: #1 Visual Mnemonic Study Tool for Medicine (MD/DO) Students
With Picmonic, facts become pictures. We've taken what the science shows - image mnemonics work - but we've boosted the effectiveness by building and associating memorable characters, interesting audio stories, and built-in quizzing. Whether you're studying for your classes or getting ready for a big exam, we're here to help.
Pharmacology | Medicine (MD/DO) School Study Aid
Prednisone (Glucocorticoids)
- Mechanism
- Glucocorticoid
- Indications
- Inflammatory Conditions
- Organ Transplant Rejection
- Side Effects
- Cataracts and Glaucoma
- Cushing's Syndrome
- Osteoporosis
- Immunosuppression
- Hyperglycemia
- Ulcers
- Considerations
- Adrenal Insufficiency
- Taper Gradually
2 mins
Cyclosporine (Sandimmune) Overview
- Mechanism
- Immunosuppressant
- Inhibits Calcineurin, Decreasing IL-2
- Indications
- Prevent Transplant Rejection
- Psoriasis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Considerations
- Monitor Plasma Levels
- Avoid Grapefruit Juice
- Increased Risk of Lymphoma
2 mins
Cyclosporine (Sandimmune) Side Effects
- Side Effects
- Nephrotoxicity
- Hepatotoxicity
- Infection
- Hypertension
- Hirsutism
- Tremor
- Hyperkalemia
- Hypomagnesemia
- Gingival Hyperplasia
1 min
Tacrolimus (Prograf) Overview
- Mechanisms
- Immunosuppressant
- Inhibits Calcineurin, Decreasing IL-2
- Indications
- Transplant Rejection
- Atopic Dermatitis
- Considerations
- Increased Lymphoma Risk
- Avoid Grapefruit Juice
1 min
Tacrolimus (Prograf) Side Effects
- Nephrotoxicity
- Neurotoxicity
- GI Distress
- Infection
- Hypertension
- Hyperkalemia
- Hyperglycemia
1 min
Methotrexate
- Indications
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Cancer
- Medical Abortion
- Mechanism
- Folic Acid Analog
- Inhibits Dihydrofolate Reductase
- Side Effects
- Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Myelosuppression is Treated with Leucovorin Rescue (Folinic Acid)
- Macrocytic Anemia
- Hepatitis
- Teratogenic
- Mucositis
2 mins
Azathioprine (Imuran)
- Mechanism
- Antimetabolite
- Prodrug of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP)
- Inhibits Synthesis of Nucleic Acids
- Indications
- Autoimmune Disorders
- Kidney Transplantation
- Side Effects
- Myelosuppression
- Increased Toxicity with Allopurinol Use
- Pancreatitis
- Malignancy
3 mins
Bevacizumab Mechanisms and Indications
- Mechanisms
- Monoclonal Antibody to VEGF
- Inhibits Angiogenesis (and Vasculogenesis)
- Indications
- Capillaries Grow CORN (CG-CORN acronym)
- Colorectal Cancer
- Glioblastoma
- Cervical Cancer
- Ovarian Cancer
- Renal Cell Carcinoma
- Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
- Age-related Macular Degeneration
2 mins
Bevacizumab Side Effects
- Impaired (Delayed) Wound Healing
- Hemorrhage
- Nosebleed (Epistaxis)
- GI Perforation
- Thromboembolic Event
- Osteonecrosis of the Jaw
1 min
Cyclophosphamide
- Mechanism
- Requires Bioactivation by Liver
- Cross-links DNA
- Guanine N7 Position
- Indications
- Autoimmune Disorders
- Leukemia
- Lymphoma
- Solid Tumors
- Side Effects
- Myelosuppression
- Hemorrhagic Cystitis
- Prevent with Mesna
3 mins
TNF-Alpha Inhibitors Overview
- Mechanism
- Downregulates Pro-inflammatory Cytokines
- Decreased Lymphocyte Activation and Migration
- Granuloma Breakdown
- Treats
- Crohn's Disease
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Psoriasis
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
1 min
TNF-Alpha Inhibitor Drugs and Complications
- Etanercept
- Decoy TNF- Alpha receptor
- Anti-TNF- Alpha antibody
- Adalimumab
- Infliximab
- Complications
- Increased risk of infection
- Predispose to Tuberculosis (TB) reactivation
- Order Baseline PPD- skin test
- Quantiferon Gold In-Tube
- Order Chest X-Ray
2 mins
Rituximab
- Indications
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA)
- Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (Formerly Wegener's)
- Mechanism
- Monoclonal Antibody Against CD20
- Found on B Cell Neoplasms
- Side Effects
- Infusion Reactions
- Skin and Mouth Reactions
- Reactivation of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
- Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML)
3 mins
Trastuzumab
- Indications
- HER-2+ Breast Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
- Mechanism
- Monoclonal Antibody Against HER-2
- Inhibition of Cellular Signaling
- Cytotoxicity
- Side effects
- Cardiotoxicity
1 min
Fluorouracil (5-FU)
- Mechanism
- Antimetabolite
- "Thymine-less Death"
- Indications
- Slow-growing Solid Tumors
- Co-administered with Leucovorin for Stomach Cancer
- Basal Cell Carcinoma (Topical)
- Side Effects
- Myelosuppression
- Mucositis
- Severe Diarrhea
3 mins
Bleomycin
- Indications
- Testicular Cancer
- Hodgkin's Lymphoma
- Mechanism of Action
- Induces Free Radical Formation
- Breaks in DNA Strands
- Side Effects
- Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Skin Changes
- Mucositis
1 min
Dactinomycin (Actinomycin D)
- Indications
- Wilms' Tumor
- Rhabdomyosarcoma
- Ewing's Sarcoma
- Gestational Trophoblastic Malignancy
- Mechanism
- Intercalates DNA
- Side Effect
- Myelosuppression
1 min
Doxorubicin (Adriamycin)
- Indications
- Solid Tumors
- Lymphomas and Leukemias
- Mechanism
- Free Radical Production
- Intercalates DNA
- Prevents Double Helix from Sealing
- Side Effect
- Cardiotoxicity
- Dexrazoxane Decreases Toxicity
1 min
Busulfan
- Indications
- CML
- Bone Marrow Ablation
- Mechanism
- Cross-Links DNA
- Side Effects
- Myelosuppression
- Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Hyperpigmentation
55 secs
Tamoxifen
- Mechanism of Action
- Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM)
- Antagonist on Breast Tissue
- Indications
- ER-positive Breast Cancer
- Side Effects
- Decreased Risk of Osteoporosis
- Increased Risk of Endometrial Cancer
- Increased Risk of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE)
1 min
Aromatase Inhibitors
- Indications
- Estrogen Receptor-positive (ER+) Breast Tumors
- Systemic Metastases
- Drugs
- Reversible, non-steroid
- Letrozole
- Anastrozole
- Irreversible, steroid
- Exemestane
- Side Effects
- Osteoporosis
- Arthritis
1 min
Imatinib (Gleevec)
- Indications
- Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
- Inhibitor of BCR-ABL Tyrosine Kinase
- Caused by Philadelphia Chromosome
- GI Stromal Tumors
- Inhibitor of C-kit Tyrosine Kinase
- Toxicity
- Fluid Retention
1 min
Hydroxyurea
- Mechanism
- Inhibits Ribonucleotide Reductase
- Decreased DNA Synthesis
- S-phase Specific
- Indications
- Melanoma
- Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Through Increased HbF (Fetal Hemoglobin)
- Side Effects
- Myelosuppression
- GI Distress
2 mins
Etoposide
- Indications
- Small Cell Lung Cancer
- Testicular Cancer
- Mechanism of Action
- Inhibits Topoisomerase II
- Errors in DNA Synthesis Cause Apoptosis
- Side Effects
- Myelosuppression
- Alopecia
- Hypotension
- Nausea and Vomiting
2 mins
Cisplatin
- Indications
- Carcinomas
- Ovarian
- Bladder
- Lung
- Testicular
- Mechanism
- Cross-Links DNA
- Side Effects
- Ototoxicity
- Nephrotoxicity
- Treat with Amifostine and Chloride Diuresis
2 mins
Vincristine (Oncovin)
- Mechanism
- Vinca Alkaloid
- Inhibits Microtubules
- Indications
- Leukemias
- Lymphomas
- Side Effects
- Peripheral Neuropathy
- Paralytic Ileus
- Considerations
- Vesicant
2 mins
Cetuximab and Panitumumab
- Mechanism
- Monoclonal Antibodies Against EGFR
- Indications
- Colorectal Cancer
- Head and Neck Cancer
- Ménétrier Disease
- Side Effects
- Elevated LFTs
- Rash
- Diarrhea
- Hypokalemia
- Hypomagnesemia
1 min
Nitrosoureas
- Mechanism
- Requires Bioactivation by Liver
- Alkylating Agent
- Cross-links DNA
- Crosses Blood-Brain Barrier
- Indications
- Glioblastoma
- Side Effects
- Myelosuppression
- Pulmonary Fibrosis
- CNS Toxicity
- Drugs
- Carmustine
- Lomustine
2 mins
Erlotinib
- Mechanism of Action
- Inhibits EGFR Tyrosine Kinase
- Inhibits Progression of G1 to S Phase
- Indications
- Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Side Effects
- Rash
- Diarrhea
- Considerations
- Avoid Grapefruit Juice
1 min
Paclitaxel (Taxanes)
- Mechanism of Action
- Taxane
- Stabilizes Microtubules
- Indications
- Breast Cancer
- Ovarian Cancer
- Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
- Kaposi Sarcoma (HHV-8)
- Side Effects
- Mucositis
- Myelosuppression
- Peripheral Neuropathy
- Hypersensitivity
- Alopecia
- Considerations
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
2 mins
Rasburicase
- Characteristics
- Recombinant Uricase
- Converts Uric Acid to Allantoin
- Inidication
- Hyperuricemia
- Tumor Lysis Syndrome
- Side Effects
- Hypersensitivity Reaction
- Methemoglobinemia
- Considerations
- Contraindicated in G6PD Deficiency
1 min
BRAF Inhibitors
- Characteristics
- BRAF Proto-oncogene
- Serine/Threonine Kinase
- V600E Mutation
- Indications
- Melanoma
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
- Hairy Cell Leukemia
- Drugs
- Dabrafenib
- Vemurafenib
2 mins
Hydroxychloroquine
- Mechanism of Action
- Immunosuppressant
- Indications
- Malaria
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
- Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
- Side Effects
- Cardiotoxicity
- Retinopathy
- Considerations
- Ophthalmological Exams
3 mins
Leflunomide
- Use And Mechanism
- Immunosuppressant Used In Rheumatoid Arthritis
- DMARD
- Inhibits Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase
- Blocks Pyrimidine Synthesis And T-Cell Proliferation
- Adverse Effects
- Hepatotoxicity
- Bone Marrow Suppression
- GI Upset
- Alopecia
4 mins
Sirolimus
- Mechanism
- mTOR Inhibitor
- Inhibits T-cell Activation
- Inhibits B-cell Differentiation
- Indications
- Drug Eluting Stents
- Kidney Transplant Rejection Prophylaxis
- Side Effects
- Pancytopenia
- Insulin Resistance
- Hyperlipidemia
2 mins
Thrombopoietin
- Mechanism
- Increases Megakaryocyte Proliferation
- Indication
- Autoimmune Thrombocytopenia
- Drugs
- Romiplostim
- Eltrombopag
1 min
Ace Your Medicine (MD/DO) Classes & Exams with Picmonic:
Over 1,990,000 students use Picmonic’s picture mnemonics to improve knowledge, retention, and exam performance.
Choose the #1 Medicine (MD/DO) student study app.
Picmonic for Medicine (MD/DO) covers information that is relevant to your entire Medicine (MD/DO) education. Whether you’re studying for your classes or getting ready to conquer the USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK, COMLEX Level 1, or COMLEX Level 2, we’re here to help.
Works better than traditional Medicine (MD/DO) flashcards.
Research shows that students who use Picmonic see a 331% improvement in memory retention and a 50% improvement in test scores.