Pharm Mnemonics

Question 1

Protein synthesis inhibitors

Answer 1

buy AT 30

• Aminoglycosides: TobraGent30
• Tetracyclines: doxy and minocycline

CEL at 50

• Chloramphenicol
• Erythro/azithro/clarithromycin
• Linco/clindamycin

Question 2

Pregnancy

Answer 2

she’s not FATS, she’s just PACking a baby

• no: Fluoros (bones), Aminoglycosides (nephro/ototoxicity), Tetracyclines (pseudotumor, bone growth, teeth), or Sulfonamides (kernicterus from bilirubin)
• yes: Penicillin, Azithromycin (safest, also erythromycin), Cephalosporins

Question 3

Take on empty stomach

Answer 3

PAT

• Penicillin
• Azithromycin
• Tetracycline*

*doxy can be taken with food

Question 4

MRSA

Answer 4

Bacteria Can’t Decide Today

• Bactrim (tmp/smx)
• Clindamycin
• Doxycycline
• Trimethoprim (polytrim)

*ocular TRUST study said: TMP and Tobramycin are most potent topical ophthalmic against MRSA. Besivance and vancomycin also work to lesser extent

Question 5

Whorl K

Answer 5

Mr. Fabry whorls his CHAI-T

• Fabry dz
• Chloroquine (reversible whorl, bull’s eye mac)
• Hydroxychloroquine
• Amiodarone
• Indomethacin (NSAID for gout; retinal and lens pigment)
• Tamoxifen (inhib estrogen; crystalline retinopathy, whorl, thrombus formation (C/BRVO), possibly cataracts )

Question 6

ASC cataracts

Answer 6

May Trigger Anterior Cataracts

• Miotics (vacuoles)
• Thioridazine
• Amiodarone (deposits)
• Chlorpromazine (pigment at k endo, anterior stellate cts, RPE hyperpigmentation, anti-cholinergic (dry, mydriasis, incr IOP), oculogyric crisis)

Question 7

NAION

Answer 7

VIAgra

• Vardenafil (cyanopsia/blue tint, blur, photosensitivity, NAION)
• Imitrex (sumatriptan; migraine tx (5HT1B and 1D agonist); NAION, ret artery occlusion/venous thromboses, MI, ichemic stroke)
• Amiodarone (NAION, whorl, ASC)

Question 8

Pseudotumor

Answer 8

CATS

• Contraceptives (dry, optic neuritis and papilledema (IIH), venous blood clots (C/BRVO, DVT, PE))
• Accutane*, vit A
• Tetracyclines
• Synthroid, steroids

*only mnemonic with accutane! Though is in NOTICE as isotrentinoin (blepharoconjunctivitis, dry eye, IIH, lid edema, color vision loss, nyctalopia, possibly cataracts)

Question 9

Bacteriocidal vs bacteriostatic

Answer 9

Cidal: BACk FLiP

• Bacitracin
• Aminoglycosides
• Cephs
• Fluoros
• Pcns

Static: still/static during a TEST

• Tetracyclines
• Erythromycin
• Sulfa
• Tmp

Question 10

Aplastic anemia

Answer 10

Chloramphenicol (dinosaur), Diamox, and TMP

• Tmp
• Methotrextae
• Pyromethamine

Question 11

Bull’s eye mac

Answer 11

Some People Can’t Handle The bull

• Stargardt’s (most common hereditary mac dyst, onset 6-20yo, AR, yellow pisciform flecks at pole/mid-periph, VA worse than signs, beaten bronze late app, rapid VA loss then stable at 20/200 by 3rd decade)
• Progressive cone dystrophy (AD, temporal disc pallor, gyrate atrophy, vessel attenuation)
• Chloroquine (reversible whorl, bull’s eye mac)
• Hydroxychloroquine
• Thioridazine (pigment at k endo, anterior stellate cts, RPE hyperpigmentation, anti-cholinergic (dry, mydriasis, incr IOP), oculogyric crisis)

Question 12

Antihistamine/MCS combos

Answer 12

BEZPOP

• Beprive
• Elestat
• Zaditor
• Patanol
• Olopatadine
• Pataday

Question 13

Optic neuritis

Answer 13

DICE

• Digoxin (NaK; retrobulbar, BY defects, entopic/snowy vision)
• Isoniazid (TB; hepatotoxicity, pyridoxine/B6 deficiency, optic neuropathy, optic atrophy)
• Chloramphenicol, contraceptives
• Ethambutol (TB; bilateral retrobulbar, vision loss is normally reversible in months)

Question 14

Other retinal: NOTICE

Answer 14

• Nsaids: heme
• Oral contraceptives: vasculopathy, heme, throbmus/VO
• Talc and Tamoxifen: crystalline ret
• Isotretinoin (accutane): color vision loss
• Chloroquine
• Epinephrine: CME