NURSING PHARMACOLOGY LATEST EXAM 2025 Edition
Alpha 1 and Alpha 2
Alpha 1 = VasoConstriction, while Alpha 2 = VasoDilation. Mnemonic: 1+2 = CD.
Beta 1 and Beta 2
Beta 1 = Increased Heart Rate, while Beta 2 = Bronchodilation and Uterine Relaxation.
Mnemonic: 1 = Heart and 2 = Lung Lobes.
Agonist versus Antagonist or Blockers
Agonist = Increased Effects, while Antagonists or Blockers = Decrease Effects.
Sympathetic Nervous System and Para Sympathetic Nervous System
SNS = All UP except G.I. and G.U.
PNS = All DOWN except G.I. and G.U.
Stands for:
G.I. = Gastrointestinal or Bowel
G.U. = Genitourinary or Void
Major Brain Neurotransmitters in Sympathetic and Para Sympathetic Nervous Systems
SNS = Epinephrine, Nor Epinephrine, and Dopamine, while PNS = Acetylcholine.
Cholinergic Drugs
a.k.a. Parasympathomimetics. The word "Mimetic = Mime", which means to copy.
Mnemonic: Acetyl - CHOLINE = PNS responses.
Anti Cholinergic Drugs
a.k.a. Parasympatholytics. The word "Lytics = Lysis", which means to break - down or stop.
Mnemonic: Completely the reverse of Cholinergic = SNS responses.
Adrenergic Drugs
a.k.a. Sympathomimetics. The word "Mimetic = Mime", which means to copy. Mnemonic:
"Sympatho" = SNS responses.
Adrenergic Blockers
a.k.a. Sympatholytics. The word "Lytics = Lysis", which means to break - down or stop.
Mnemonic: Completely the reverse of "mimetics" = PNS responses.
Neuromuscular Blockers
a.k.a. Muscle Relaxants. Are Pre - Operative medication, which causes relaxation of the
musculo - skeletals.
, Stands for:
Musculo = Muscles
Skeletal = Bones
Analgesics and Opiods
Meaning: "Analgesia" = no pain; and "Opioids" = from the opium plants. Both are pain
relievers.
Opioid Analgesics
a.k.a. CNS Depressants, causes state of "euphoria". May feel drowsy, ADDICTION, respiratory
depression.
Stands for:
CNS = Central Nervous System
Opioid Antagonists
Reverses the effects of Opioids. Mnemonic: Opioid Antagonist = ANTI - Opioid.
Non - Opioid Analgesics and Antipyretic
a.k.a. CNS Depressants. May have effects such as Anti - inflammatory and Anti - platelet. The
word "Pyretics = Pyresis = Pyrexia", which means fever.
Stands for:
Non - Opioid = No Opium contents
Antipyretic = Against - FEVER
Anti - inflammatory = Against - INFLAMMATION
Anti - platelet = Against PLATELET AGGREGATION
Non - steroidal Anti - inflammatory Drugs
Mnemonic: a.k.a. "NSAIDS". Has Antipyretic, Anti - inflammatory, Anti - platelet, but a
Gastric Irritant.
Central Nervous System Stimulants
Counteracts the CNS Depressant effects. Thus may cause hyperactivity of the brain
functions.
Anti Convulsants
a.k.a. CNS Depressant. Given for all types of seizures. Disrupts and/or halts state of
convulsion.
Anti Parkinsonians
Alpha 1 and Alpha 2
Alpha 1 = VasoConstriction, while Alpha 2 = VasoDilation. Mnemonic: 1+2 = CD.
Beta 1 and Beta 2
Beta 1 = Increased Heart Rate, while Beta 2 = Bronchodilation and Uterine Relaxation.
Mnemonic: 1 = Heart and 2 = Lung Lobes.
Agonist versus Antagonist or Blockers
Agonist = Increased Effects, while Antagonists or Blockers = Decrease Effects.
Sympathetic Nervous System and Para Sympathetic Nervous System
SNS = All UP except G.I. and G.U.
PNS = All DOWN except G.I. and G.U.
Stands for:
G.I. = Gastrointestinal or Bowel
G.U. = Genitourinary or Void
Major Brain Neurotransmitters in Sympathetic and Para Sympathetic Nervous Systems
SNS = Epinephrine, Nor Epinephrine, and Dopamine, while PNS = Acetylcholine.
Cholinergic Drugs
a.k.a. Parasympathomimetics. The word "Mimetic = Mime", which means to copy.
Mnemonic: Acetyl - CHOLINE = PNS responses.
Anti Cholinergic Drugs
a.k.a. Parasympatholytics. The word "Lytics = Lysis", which means to break - down or stop.
Mnemonic: Completely the reverse of Cholinergic = SNS responses.
Adrenergic Drugs
a.k.a. Sympathomimetics. The word "Mimetic = Mime", which means to copy. Mnemonic:
"Sympatho" = SNS responses.
Adrenergic Blockers
a.k.a. Sympatholytics. The word "Lytics = Lysis", which means to break - down or stop.
Mnemonic: Completely the reverse of "mimetics" = PNS responses.
Neuromuscular Blockers
a.k.a. Muscle Relaxants. Are Pre - Operative medication, which causes relaxation of the
musculo - skeletals.
, Stands for:
Musculo = Muscles
Skeletal = Bones
Analgesics and Opiods
Meaning: "Analgesia" = no pain; and "Opioids" = from the opium plants. Both are pain
relievers.
Opioid Analgesics
a.k.a. CNS Depressants, causes state of "euphoria". May feel drowsy, ADDICTION, respiratory
depression.
Stands for:
CNS = Central Nervous System
Opioid Antagonists
Reverses the effects of Opioids. Mnemonic: Opioid Antagonist = ANTI - Opioid.
Non - Opioid Analgesics and Antipyretic
a.k.a. CNS Depressants. May have effects such as Anti - inflammatory and Anti - platelet. The
word "Pyretics = Pyresis = Pyrexia", which means fever.
Stands for:
Non - Opioid = No Opium contents
Antipyretic = Against - FEVER
Anti - inflammatory = Against - INFLAMMATION
Anti - platelet = Against PLATELET AGGREGATION
Non - steroidal Anti - inflammatory Drugs
Mnemonic: a.k.a. "NSAIDS". Has Antipyretic, Anti - inflammatory, Anti - platelet, but a
Gastric Irritant.
Central Nervous System Stimulants
Counteracts the CNS Depressant effects. Thus may cause hyperactivity of the brain
functions.
Anti Convulsants
a.k.a. CNS Depressant. Given for all types of seizures. Disrupts and/or halts state of
convulsion.
Anti Parkinsonians
