Gujarat Govt Pharmacist Previous Year Question Papers

A. Pharma Syllabus :

1. Pharmaceutics (General, Physical & Engineering)

• Metrology: Imperial & Metric systems, Posology, Calculation of doses for pediatrics (Young’s formula, Dilling’s formula), Isotonicity.
• Prescription: Reading, parts, handling, and Latin terms.
• Sterilization: Concepts of sterilization, Autoclave, Hot Air Oven, Aseptic techniques.
• Processing of Tablets: Excipients, Granulation methods, Tablet coating, Defects in tablets (Capping, Lamination, Picking, Sticking).
• Processing of Capsules: Hard vs Soft gelatin capsules, Shell composition, Filling methods.
• Liquid Dosage Forms:
  • Emulsions: Types, Emulsifying agents, Instability (Cracking, Creaming).
  • Suspensions: Flocculated vs Deflocculated, Suspending agents.
• Semisolid Dosage Forms: Ointments, Pastes, Jellies, Suppositories (Bases used).
• Physical Pharmaceutics: Micromeritics (Particle size), Rheology (Flow of fluids), Surface Tension, Viscosity.

2. Pharmaceutical Chemistry (Inorganic & Organic)

• Inorganic Chemistry:
  • Gastrointestinal Agents: Antacids, Acidifiers, Protective and Adsorbents, Saline Cathartics.
  • Topical Agents: Anti-microbials, Astringents.
  • Dental Products: Anti-caries agents, Dentifrices.
  • Major Intra/Extra-cellular Electrolytes: ORS, Sodium, Potassium, Calcium.
  • Limit Tests: Arsenic, Iron, Lead, Chloride, Sulfate.
• Organic Chemistry: IUPAC Nomenclature, Heterocyclic compounds basics.

3. Medicinal Chemistry

• Structure & Activity: Basic structure and therapeutic uses of drugs.
• Classification: Chemical classification of important drug classes.
• Physico-chemical properties: Factors affecting drug action.
• Key Drug Classes:
  • General & Local Anesthetics.
  • Sedatives & Hypnotics (Barbiturates).
  • Anti-Psychotics & Anti-Depressants.
  • Anti-Malarial, Anti-Tubercular, Anti-Amoebic.
  • Diuretics & Anti-Hypertensives.
  • Sulphonamides & Antibiotics.

4. Pharmacology & Toxicology

• General Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics (ADME), Pharmacodynamics (Receptors), Routes of Administration.
• Drugs Acting on CNS: General Anesthetics, Alcohol, Sedatives, Anti-epileptics, Analgesics (Opioids & NSAIDs).
• Drugs Acting on ANS: Adrenergic & Cholinergic drugs (Agonists & Antagonists).
• Drugs Acting on CVS: Anti-hypertensive, Anti-anginal, Anti-arrhythmic drugs.
• Drugs Acting on Kidney: Diuretics.
• Chemotherapy: Penicillin, Cephalosporins, Aminoglycosides, Macrolides, Tetracyclines, Quinolones.
• Toxicology: Acute poisoning and Antidotes (Heavy metals, Organophosphorus).

5. Pharmacognosy (Herbal Drugs)

• Evaluation: Adulteration and Evaluation of crude drugs (Organoleptic, Microscopic, Physical, Chemical).
• Plant Products: Study of Biological source, Family, Chemical constituents, and Uses of:
  • Alkaloids: Datura, Vinca, Rauwolfia, Cinchona, Opium, Nux-vomica.
  • Glycosides: Senna, Aloe, Digitalis, Liquorice.
  • Tannins: Catechu, Myrobalan.
  • Volatile Oils: Clove, Fennel, Cardamom, Coriander.
  • Resins: Asafoetida, Benzoin, Guggul.
  • Carbohydrates: Acacia, Tragacanth, Agar, Honey.

6. Biochemistry & Clinical Pathology

• Carbohydrates: Metabolism (Glycolysis, Krebs cycle), Diabetes Mellitus.
• Proteins: Amino acids, Urea cycle.
• Lipids: Fatty acids, Cholesterol, Lipoproteins (HDL/LDL).
• Vitamins: Water-soluble vs Fat-soluble, Deficiency diseases.
• Enzymes: Properties and functions.
• Pathology of Blood/Urine: Lymphocytes, Platelets, Abnormal constituents in urine.

7. Human Anatomy & Physiology (HAP)

• Cell & Tissue: Structure of cell, Epithelial, Connective, Muscular, and Nervous tissues.
• Skeletal System: Structure of bone, Types of joints.
• Blood: Composition, Clotting time, Bleeding time, Blood groups.
• Cardiovascular System: Heart anatomy, Cardiac cycle, ECG, Blood pressure.
• Respiratory System: Mechanism of respiration.
• Digestive System: Anatomy and Physiology of digestion.
• Nervous System: Brain parts (Cerebrum, Cerebellum, Medulla), Reflex action.

8. Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence (Laws)

• Pharmacy Act, 1948: Registration of Pharmacists, PCI.
• Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940: Schedules (C, G, H, K, M, N, P, X), Labeling and Packing requirements.
• Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS).
• Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (MTP).
• Drug Price Control Order (DPCO).

9. Drug Store and Business Management (DSBM)

• Trade: Wholesale & Retail trade.
• Inventory Control: ABC Analysis, VED Analysis, EOQ (Economic Order Quantity).
• Banking & Finance: Cheques, Cash book, Balance sheet, Profit & Loss Account.

10. Hospital & Clinical Pharmacy

• Hospital Pharmacy: Functions, Hospital Formulary, Drug Distribution systems (In-patient/Out-patient).
• Clinical Pharmacy: Drug Interactions, Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR), Patient Compliance.
• Health Education: Communicable diseases (Cause & Prevention of TB, AIDS, Malaria, Typhoid), Immunization schedule.

11. Physical Pharmaceutics

This subject focuses on the physical properties of drugs and how they affect formulation stability.

• Micromeritics (Particle Science):
  • Particle size and distribution, Methods for determining particle size (Sieving, Microscopy, Sedimentation).
  • Particle shape and surface area.
  • Derived Properties: Porosity, Packing arrangement, Density (Bulk, Tapped, True), Bulkiness, and Flow properties (Angle of Repose).
• Rheology (Flow of Fluids):
  • Newtonian systems vs. Non-Newtonian systems (Plastic, Pseudoplastic, Dilatant flow).
  • Thixotropy: Application in suspension and emulsion formulations.
  • Viscosity measurement (Capillary, Falling sphere, Rotational viscometers).
• Surface and Interfacial Tension:
  • Surfactants, HLB Scale (Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance), and its applications.
  • Adsorption at liquid and solid interfaces.
• Solubility & Distribution:
  • Factors affecting solubility (pH, Temperature, Solvents).
  • Diffusion: Fick’s Laws of Diffusion.
  • Dissolution: Theories of dissolution (Noyes-Whitney equation).
• Complexation and Protein Binding:
  • Classification of complexes (Metal, Organic, Inclusion/Occlusion).
  • Protein binding and its effect on drug action.
• Coarse Dispersions (Suspensions & Emulsions):
  • Interfacial properties: Flocculated vs. Deflocculated suspensions.
  • Emulsion stability: Theories of emulsification, Phase inversion, Cracking, Creaming.
• Kinetics & Stability:
  • Order of reaction (Zero order, First order).
  • Shelf-life calculation ($t_{90}$, $t_{50}$).
  • Accelerated stability testing (ICH Guidelines).

12. Medicinal Chemistry

Focuses on Chemical Structure, SAR (Structure-Activity Relationship), and Synthesis.

• Introduction to Drug Design:
  • Physicochemical Properties: Ionization, Solubility, Partition Coefficient, Hydrogen bonding, Protein binding, Chelation, Bioisosterism.
  • Drug Metabolism: Phase I (Oxidation, Reduction, Hydrolysis) and Phase II (Conjugation) reactions.
• Drugs Acting on Autonomic Nervous System (ANS):
  • Adrenergic Agents: SAR of Sympathomimetics (Adrenaline, Nor-adrenaline, Phenylephrine, Salbutamol).
  • Adrenergic Antagonists: Beta-blockers (SAR of Propranolol, Atenolol).
  • Cholinergic Agents: SAR of Acetylcholine, Carbachol.
  • Cholinergic Antagonists: Atropine derivatives.
• Drugs Acting on Central Nervous System (CNS):
  • Sedatives & Hypnotics: SAR of Barbiturates (Phenobarbitone) and Benzodiazepines (Diazepam).
  • Antipsychotics: Phenothiazines (Chlorpromazine).
  • Anticonvulsants: Hydantoins (Phenytoin), Carbamazepine.
  • General Anesthetics: Halothane, Thiopental sodium.
• Drugs Acting on Cardiovascular System (CVS):
  • Anti-hypertensive: ACE Inhibitors (Captopril), Calcium Channel Blockers (Nifedipine, Amlodipine).
  • Diuretics: SAR of Thiazides and Loop diuretics (Furosemide).
• Anti-Infective Agents (Antibiotics):
  • Beta-Lactam Antibiotics: Penicillins (SAR), Cephalosporins.
  • Aminoglycosides: Streptomycin, Gentamicin.
  • Tetracyclines: SAR and degradation.
  • Sulphonamides: SAR of Sulfamethoxazole, Trimethoprim (Co-trimoxazole mechanism).
  • Anti-Tubercular: Isoniazid (Synthesis), Ethambutol, PAS.
  • Anti-Malarial: Chloroquine (Synthesis), Primaquine.
• Miscellaneous:
  • Anti-Histamines: H1 Blockers (Diphenhydramine, Chlorpheniramine, Cetirizine).
  • Anti-Neoplastic (Cancer): Alkylating agents (Cyclophosphamide), Antimetabolites (Methotrexate).
  • Local Anesthetics: Procaine, Lignocaine (Benzocaine Synthesis).