Pharmacology is the subject that ties everything else in pharmacy together — it’s where you finally understand why a drug is given, how it works inside the body, and what to watch out for. For D Pharma 2nd Year students, Pharmacology (Course Code: ER20-21T) is one of the heaviest and highest-weightage subjects in the entire diploma, covering everything from basic pharmacokinetics to chemotherapeutic agents and biologicals.
These Pharmacology Notes – All 13 Chapters (D Pharma 2nd Year) are prepared strictly according to the latest PCI-approved ER20-21T syllabus, broken down chapter-wise so you’re not stuck scrolling through one giant unreadable file. Whether you’re revising a week before exams or building your concepts from scratch, these notes are structured to make pharmacology genuinely easy to follow.
Download Pharmacology Notes in PDF – Chapter Wise
Chapter 1: General Pharmacology
Topics Covered: Introduction and scope of pharmacology; various routes of drug administration with their advantages and disadvantages; drug absorption — definition, types, and factors affecting absorption; bioavailability and factors affecting it; drug distribution and the factors influencing it; biotransformation of drugs including definition, types of biotransformation reactions, and factors influencing drug metabolism; excretion of drugs — definition and routes; general mechanisms of drug action and factors that modify how a drug acts in the body.
Open Chapter 1Chapter 2: Drugs Acting on the Peripheral Nervous System
Topics Covered: Steps involved in neurohumoral transmission, followed by the definition, classification, pharmacological actions, dose, indications, and contraindications of cholinergic drugs, anti-cholinergic drugs, adrenergic drugs, anti-adrenergic drugs, neuromuscular blocking agents, drugs used in Myasthenia gravis, local anaesthetic agents, and Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). One of the longest and most exam-heavy chapters in the syllabus.
Open Chapter 2Chapter 3: Drugs Acting on the Eye
Topics Covered: Definition, classification, pharmacological actions, dose, indications, and contraindications of miotics, mydriatics, and drugs used in the management of Glaucoma.
Open Chapter 3Chapter 4: Drugs Acting on the Central Nervous System
Topics Covered: Definition, classification, pharmacological actions, dose, indications, and contraindications of general anaesthetics, hypnotics and sedatives, anti-convulsant drugs, anti-anxiety drugs, anti-depressant drugs, anti-psychotics, nootropic agents, centrally acting muscle relaxants, and opioid analgesics.
Open Chapter 4Chapter 5: Drugs Acting on the Cardiovascular System
Topics Covered: Definition, classification, pharmacological actions, dose, indications, and contraindications of anti-hypertensive drugs, anti-anginal drugs, anti-arrhythmic drugs, drugs used in atherosclerosis and congestive heart failure, and drug therapy for shock.
Open Chapter 5Chapter 6: Drugs Acting on Blood and Blood Forming Organs
Topics Covered: Definition, classification, pharmacological actions, dose, indications, and contraindications of hematinic agents, anti-coagulants, anti-platelet agents, and thrombolytic drugs.
Open Chapter 6Chapter 7: Drugs Acting on the Respiratory System
Topics Covered: Definition, classification, pharmacological actions, dose, indications, and contraindications of bronchodilators, expectorants, anti-tussive agents, and mucolytic agents.
Open Chapter 7Chapter 8: Drugs Acting on the Gastro Intestinal Tract
Topics Covered: Definition, classification, pharmacological actions, dose, indications, and contraindications of anti-ulcer drugs, anti-emetics, laxatives and purgatives, and anti-diarrheal drugs.
Open Chapter 8Chapter 9: Drugs Acting on the Kidney
Topics Covered: Definition, classification, pharmacological actions, dose, indications, and contraindications of diuretics and anti-diuretics.
Open Chapter 9Chapter 10: Hormones and Hormone Antagonists
Topics Covered: Physiological and pathological role and clinical uses of thyroid hormones, anti-thyroid drugs, parathormone, calcitonin, Vitamin D, insulin, oral hypoglycemic agents, estrogen, progesterone, oxytocin, and corticosteroids.
Open Chapter 10Chapter 11: Autocoids
Topics Covered: Physiological role of histamine, 5-HT (serotonin), and prostaglandins; classification, clinical uses, and adverse effects of antihistamines and 5-HT antagonists.
Open Chapter 11Chapter 12: Chemotherapeutic Agents
Topics Covered: Introduction and basic principles of chemotherapy of infections, infestations, and neoplastic diseases. Classification, dose, indications, and contraindications of penicillins, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, tetracyclines, sulphonamides, anti-tubercular drugs, anti-fungal drugs, anti-viral drugs, anti-amoebic agents, anthelmintics, anti-malarial agents, and anti-neoplastic agents. The single largest chapter in the Pharmacology syllabus.
Open Chapter 12Chapter 13: Biologicals
Topics Covered: Definition, types, and indications of biological agents, with relevant examples.
Open Chapter 13What is Pharmacology?
Pharmacology is the branch of medical and pharmaceutical science that studies how drugs interact with living systems — how they’re absorbed, distributed, broken down, and eliminated by the body (pharmacokinetics), and how they produce their effects at the cellular and molecular level (pharmacodynamics). For a pharmacist, pharmacology isn’t just theory — it’s the foundation for every clinical decision: choosing the right drug class, understanding the correct dose, anticipating drug interactions, and recognizing adverse effects before they become dangerous.
For D Pharma 2nd Year students, Pharmacology (ER20-21T) is a 75-hour, 3-hours/week course that builds this foundation system by system — starting from general principles, moving through the peripheral and central nervous systems, then covering the cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and renal systems, before finishing with hormones, autocoids, chemotherapeutic agents, and biologicals.
These notes will help you understand:
General Pharmacology: Core concepts of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics — absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and mechanisms of drug action.
Nervous System Pharmacology: Drugs acting on the peripheral nervous system (cholinergics, adrenergics, NSAIDs) and central nervous system (anaesthetics, anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, opioids).
Organ System Pharmacology: Cardiovascular, respiratory, GI, renal, and ocular drugs — classification, actions, and clinical indications for each class.
Hormones and Autocoids: Clinical uses of thyroid hormones, insulin, corticosteroids, histamine, and serotonin-related drugs.
Chemotherapeutic Agents: Antibiotics, anti-tubercular, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-malarial, and anti-neoplastic drug classes — a heavily tested portion of the syllabus.
Biologicals: Introduction to biological agents used in modern therapeutics.
Scope of Pharmacology
This course provides the basic knowledge of different drug classes used in the pharmacotherapy of common diseases. The indications for use, dosage regimen, routes of administration, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and contraindications covered in this subject are vital for successful professional practice as a pharmacist.
Course Objectives
By the end of this subject, you should be able to understand:
- General concepts of pharmacology, including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and routes of administration.
- Pharmacological classification and indications of drugs.
- Dosage regimen, mechanisms of action, and contraindications of drugs.
- Common adverse effects of drugs.
Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Describe the basic concepts of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
- Enlist the various classes and drugs of choice for any given disease condition.
- Advise the dosage regimen, route of administration, and contraindications for a given drug.
- Describe common adverse drug reactions.
Q1. What is the difference between pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics?
Pharmacokinetics is what the body does to a drug — its absorption, distribution, biotransformation, and excretion, covered in detail in Chapter 1. Pharmacodynamics is what the drug does to the body — its mechanism of action and effects at the receptor or cellular level.
Q2. Which chapter of Pharmacology carries the most weightage?
Chapter 12 (Chemotherapeutic Agents) is the largest chapter, covering antibiotics, anti-tubercular, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-malarial, and anti-neoplastic drugs. Along with Chapter 2 (Peripheral Nervous System) and Chapter 4 (Central Nervous System), it’s one of the most frequently tested sections in both internals and finals.
Q3. What are autocoids in pharmacology?
Autocoids are naturally occurring substances like histamine, serotonin (5-HT), and prostaglandins that act locally in the body. Chapter 11 covers their physiological roles along with the antihistamines and 5-HT antagonists used clinically to counter their effects.
Q4. Why is General Pharmacology (Chapter 1) important even though it has no drug classes?
Chapter 1 builds the foundation — absorption, bioavailability, distribution, biotransformation, and excretion — that every later chapter depends on. Without understanding these basic ADME concepts, the drug-class chapters that follow are much harder to retain.
Q5. Are these Pharmacology notes as per the latest PCI syllabus?
Yes. These notes are mapped to the ER20-21T Pharmacology – Theory syllabus, covering all 13 chapters from General Pharmacology to Biologicals, exactly as prescribed for D Pharma 2nd Year.
Looking for other D Pharma 2nd Year subjects? Check out Community Pharmacy and Management Notes for the complete chapter-wise breakdown.
