Pharmacology flashcards for NEET PG
78 cards. Read the question, answer in your head, then check. For spaced repetition, study the deck in the app.
What this deck is for
These 78 cards pick out single facts in Pharmacology that the exam keeps returning to: Toxicology, Emergency drugs, Antidotes, Cardiovascular drugs, Antiepileptics, Haematological drugs and more. Learn drugs as classes, then the exception in each class that an examiner would pick. Cards are a starting set, not full coverage of the subject; the study guide lists the full map.
Where students slip in Pharmacology: Confusing similar drug names or classes. Read the Pharmacology study guide.
1 · Toxicology
Antidote for paracetamol overdose?
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N-acetylcysteine: replenishes glutathione; best given early.
Memory hook: NAPQI is the villain.
2 · Emergency drugs
First-line drug and route for anaphylaxis?
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Intramuscular adrenaline, anterolateral thigh.
Memory hook: Steroids and antihistamines come second.
3 · Antidotes
Antidotes of heparin and warfarin?
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Heparin: protamine. Warfarin: vitamin K (plus factor concentrates if urgent).
Memory hook: Protamine is positively charged and grabs heparin.
4 · Cardiovascular drugs
Signature adverse effects of ACE inhibitors?
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Dry cough (bradykinin), hyperkalaemia, angioedema; avoid in pregnancy.
Memory hook: Switch to an ARB for cough.
5 · Antiepileptics
Drug of choice for absence seizures, and drugs to avoid?
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Ethosuximide (valproate if tonic-clonic coexist); avoid carbamazepine and phenytoin.
Memory hook: They can worsen absence seizures.
6 · Haematological drugs
What is the target of clopidogrel, and how is it activated?
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It irreversibly blocks the platelet P2Y12 ADP receptor; it is a prodrug activated in the liver, partly by CYP2C19.
Memory hook: Poor CYP2C19 metabolisers respond less.
7 · Cardiovascular drugs
Which antiarrhythmic causes pulmonary fibrosis and thyroid dysfunction?
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Amiodarone.
Memory hook: Also corneal deposits and blue-grey skin.
8 · Antiepileptics
What is first-line for status epilepticus?
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An intravenous benzodiazepine, such as lorazepam.
Memory hook: Then phenytoin, valproate or levetiracetam.
9 · Antimicrobials
What are the main toxicities of aminoglycosides?
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Ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity, dose-related; monitor levels.
Memory hook: Once-daily dosing reduces toxicity.
10 · Antidiabetic drugs
How does metformin work, and what is its main danger?
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It lowers hepatic gluconeogenesis and improves insulin sensitivity; lactic acidosis is the risk, mainly in renal impairment.
Memory hook: Does not cause hypoglycaemia alone.
11 · General pharmacology and pharmacokinetics
What does bioavailability measure?
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The fraction of an administered dose that reaches the systemic circulation unchanged; it is 100% for an intravenous dose.
Memory hook: IV is the reference.
12 · General pharmacology and pharmacokinetics
What is first-pass metabolism?
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Extensive hepatic metabolism of an oral drug before it reaches the systemic circulation, lowering bioavailability.
Memory hook: Why sublingual nitroglycerin works.
13 · General pharmacology and pharmacokinetics
What does volume of distribution relate?
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The amount of drug in the body to its plasma concentration (Vd = dose / concentration).
Memory hook: A large Vd means tissue binding.
14 · General pharmacology and pharmacokinetics
Which parameter determines the loading dose?
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Volume of distribution.
Memory hook: Loading dose = Vd x target concentration.
15 · General pharmacology and pharmacokinetics
Which parameter determines the maintenance dose?
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Clearance.
Memory hook: Maintenance rate = CL x target concentration.
16 · General pharmacology and pharmacokinetics
How many half-lives are needed to reach steady state with regular dosing?
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About 4 to 5 half-lives.
Memory hook: Independent of the dose size.
17 · General pharmacology and pharmacokinetics
In first-order kinetics, what is constant?
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The fraction of drug eliminated per unit time; the half-life is constant.
Memory hook: Most drugs follow it.
18 · General pharmacology and pharmacokinetics
What does the therapeutic index indicate?
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Margin of safety: toxic dose in 50% divided by effective dose in 50% (TD50/ED50 or LD50/ED50).
Memory hook: Narrow index needs monitoring.
19 · General pharmacology and pharmacokinetics
What is a partial agonist?
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A drug with affinity but lower intrinsic activity than a full agonist, so it gives a submaximal response even at full receptor occupancy.
Memory hook: Buprenorphine is an example.
20 · General pharmacology and pharmacokinetics
How does urinary alkalinisation help in aspirin poisoning?
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Aspirin is a weak acid; alkaline urine ionises it, trapping it in the tubule and increasing its excretion.
Memory hook: Sodium bicarbonate.
21 · Autonomic nervous system
Which drug reverses central anticholinergic poisoning?
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Physostigmine, a tertiary cholinesterase inhibitor that crosses the blood-brain barrier.
Memory hook: Reverses central and peripheral effects.
22 · Autonomic nervous system
Which cholinesterase inhibitor is used to treat myasthenia gravis symptomatically?
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Pyridostigmine.
Memory hook: Longer acting than neostigmine.
23 · Autonomic nervous system
What is the antidote for organophosphate poisoning besides atropine?
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Pralidoxime, which reactivates cholinesterase if given early before ageing of the enzyme.
Memory hook: Atropine for muscarinic, pralidoxime for nicotinic.
24 · Autonomic nervous system
Which alpha-1 blocker is selective for the prostate and used in BPH?
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Tamsulosin (alpha-1A).
Memory hook: Less postural hypotension.
25 · Autonomic nervous system
What is the drug of choice for hypertensive crisis in pheochromocytoma before beta blockade?
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Phentolamine, a nonselective alpha blocker.
Memory hook: Oral phenoxybenzamine is used for preparation; alpha first, then beta.
26 · Autonomic nervous system
Which beta blocker also blocks alpha-1 receptors and is used in heart failure?
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Carvedilol (also bisoprolol and metoprolol succinate improve survival).
Memory hook: Vasodilating beta blocker.
27 · Autonomic nervous system
Which vasopressor is first line in septic shock?
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Noradrenaline.
Memory hook: Add vasopressin if needed.
28 · Autonomic nervous system
Which drug is a neuromuscular blocker reversed by neostigmine?
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Non-depolarising blockers such as atracurium or rocuronium.
Memory hook: Give with an antimuscarinic to blunt bradycardia.
29 · Autonomic nervous system
Which complication is associated with succinylcholine in susceptible patients?
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Malignant hyperthermia, along with hyperkalaemia in burns and denervation.
Memory hook: Treat with dantrolene.
30 · Autonomic nervous system
What is the dopamine effect at low, medium and high doses?
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Low: renal vasodilation (D1); medium: beta-1 cardiac stimulation; high: alpha-1 vasoconstriction.
Memory hook: Dose decides the receptor.
31 · Cardiovascular drugs
Which antihypertensive is preferred in pregnancy as a first-line oral agent?
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Labetalol, nifedipine or methyldopa.
Memory hook: Avoid ACE inhibitors and ARBs.
32 · Cardiovascular drugs
Which diuretic is the most potent and acts on the thick ascending limb?
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Loop diuretics such as furosemide, via inhibition of the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter.
Memory hook: Cause hypokalaemia and ototoxicity.
33 · Cardiovascular drugs
Which diuretic reduces urinary calcium excretion and can cause hypercalcaemia?
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Thiazides.
Memory hook: Loops, in contrast, increase calcium loss.
34 · Cardiovascular drugs
Which diuretic is a competitive aldosterone antagonist that can cause gynaecomastia?
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Spironolactone.
Memory hook: Eplerenone is more selective.
35 · Cardiovascular drugs
What is the mechanism of action of nitrates?
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Release nitric oxide, raising cGMP and causing venodilation that lowers preload.
Memory hook: Tolerance needs a nitrate-free interval.
36 · Cardiovascular drugs
Which calcium channel blocker is most cardiac selective and can cause constipation?
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Verapamil.
Memory hook: Dihydropyridines act mainly on vessels.
37 · Cardiovascular drugs
What are common features of digoxin toxicity?
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Nausea, visual disturbances such as yellow-green vision, and arrhythmias; hypokalaemia worsens it.
Memory hook: Treat with digoxin-specific antibody fragments.
38 · Cardiovascular drugs
Which statin-related adverse effect should prompt checking creatine kinase?
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Myopathy or rhabdomyolysis.
Memory hook: Risk rises with fibrates and some interacting drugs.
39 · Cardiovascular drugs
Which drug of choice terminates paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia?
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Adenosine, given as a rapid intravenous bolus.
Memory hook: Very short half-life.
40 · CNS drugs and antiepileptics
Which antiepileptic causes gingival hyperplasia and hirsutism?
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Phenytoin.
Memory hook: Also shows zero-order kinetics at higher doses.
41 · CNS drugs and antiepileptics
Which antiepileptic is associated with neural tube defects?
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Valproate (also carbamazepine to a lesser extent).
Memory hook: Give folic acid and prefer safer agents.
42 · CNS drugs and antiepileptics
Which antiepileptic is drug of choice for trigeminal neuralgia?
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Carbamazepine.
Memory hook: Watch sodium and Stevens-Johnson risk.
43 · CNS drugs and antiepileptics
Which antiepileptic can cause severe rash and requires slow titration?
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Lamotrigine.
Memory hook: Valproate raises its levels.
44 · CNS drugs and antiepileptics
What is the mechanism of action of benzodiazepines?
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They increase the frequency of GABA-A chloride channel opening.
Memory hook: Barbiturates increase the duration.
45 · CNS drugs and antiepileptics
What is the antidote for benzodiazepine overdose?
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Flumazenil, a competitive antagonist at the benzodiazepine site.
Memory hook: Can precipitate seizures in dependent patients.
46 · CNS drugs and antiepileptics
Which antipsychotic is the most effective in treatment-resistant schizophrenia?
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Clozapine; it needs regular monitoring for agranulocytosis.
Memory hook: Also causes sialorrhoea and weight gain.
47 · CNS drugs and antiepileptics
What is the first-line drug class for major depression?
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Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
Memory hook: Fluoxetine, sertraline, escitalopram.
48 · CNS drugs and antiepileptics
Which drug is used for opioid overdose and acts as a pure opioid antagonist?
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Naloxone.
Memory hook: Short-acting, so repeat doses may be needed.
49 · Antimicrobials
What is the mechanism of action of beta-lactam antibiotics?
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They inhibit transpeptidase (penicillin-binding proteins), blocking bacterial cell wall cross-linking.
Memory hook: Time-dependent killing.
50 · Antimicrobials
Which antibiotic causes red man syndrome when infused rapidly?
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Vancomycin, due to histamine release.
Memory hook: Slow the infusion.
51 · Antimicrobials
Which antibiotic is contraindicated in children and pregnancy because it stains teeth and affects bone?
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Tetracyclines such as doxycycline.
Memory hook: Chelate with calcium.
52 · Antimicrobials
Which antibiotic causes grey baby syndrome?
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Chloramphenicol, from poor glucuronidation in neonates.
Memory hook: Also dose-related marrow suppression.
53 · Antimicrobials
Which antitubercular drug causes optic neuritis?
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Ethambutol.
Memory hook: Check visual acuity and colour vision.
54 · Antimicrobials
Which antitubercular drug causes peripheral neuropathy and is given with pyridoxine?
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Isoniazid.
Memory hook: Slow acetylators are at higher risk.
55 · Antimicrobials
Which antifungal binds ergosterol and causes nephrotoxicity?
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Amphotericin B.
Memory hook: Liposomal forms reduce toxicity.
56 · Antimicrobials
Which antimalarial is the drug of choice for severe falciparum malaria?
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Intravenous artesunate.
Memory hook: Follow with an oral artemisinin combination.
57 · Antimicrobials
Which antiviral is the first-line treatment for herpes simplex encephalitis?
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Intravenous acyclovir.
Memory hook: Activated by viral thymidine kinase.
58 · Endocrine drugs
Which antidiabetic drugs cause hypoglycaemia most commonly?
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Sulfonylureas and insulin.
Memory hook: Sulfonylureas close K-ATP channels.
59 · Endocrine drugs
Which drug class lowers glucose by increasing urinary glucose excretion?
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SGLT2 inhibitors such as empagliflozin; they also give cardiac and renal benefit.
Memory hook: Genital infections and ketoacidosis are risks.
60 · Endocrine drugs
Which antidiabetic drug class can cause fluid retention and fractures?
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Thiazolidinediones such as pioglitazone.
Memory hook: PPAR-gamma agonists.
61 · Endocrine drugs
Which antithyroid drug is preferred in the first trimester of pregnancy?
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Propylthiouracil.
Memory hook: Methimazole is teratogenic in early pregnancy.
62 · Endocrine drugs
Which antithyroid drug adverse effect needs urgent evaluation of a sore throat?
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Agranulocytosis.
Memory hook: Stop the drug and check counts.
63 · Endocrine drugs
Which drug is the first-line treatment for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women?
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A bisphosphonate such as alendronate.
Memory hook: Take upright with water to avoid oesophagitis.
64 · Endocrine drugs
What is the principal adverse effect profile of long-term glucocorticoids?
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Osteoporosis, hyperglycaemia, central obesity, hypertension, cataract and adrenal suppression.
Memory hook: Taper after long use.
65 · Chemotherapy
Which anticancer drug causes dose-related cardiotoxicity?
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Doxorubicin (anthracyclines).
Memory hook: Dexrazoxane is protective.
66 · Chemotherapy
Which anticancer drug causes haemorrhagic cystitis and is prevented with mesna?
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Cyclophosphamide (and ifosfamide), through the metabolite acrolein.
Memory hook: Hydrate well.
67 · Chemotherapy
Which anticancer drug causes peripheral neuropathy by acting on microtubules?
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Vincristine.
Memory hook: It inhibits microtubule polymerisation.
68 · Chemotherapy
What is the rescue agent for methotrexate toxicity?
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Leucovorin (folinic acid).
Memory hook: Methotrexate inhibits dihydrofolate reductase.
69 · Chemotherapy
Which anticancer drug causes nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity, with severe emesis?
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Cisplatin.
Memory hook: Hydration and amifostine are protective.
70 · Chemotherapy
Which drug targets BCR-ABL in chronic myeloid leukaemia?
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Imatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor.
Memory hook: Also used for GIST.
71 · Toxicology and antidotes
What is the antidote for methanol and ethylene glycol poisoning?
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Fomepizole (or ethanol), which blocks alcohol dehydrogenase.
Memory hook: Dialysis for severe cases.
72 · Toxicology and antidotes
What is the antidote for cyanide poisoning?
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Hydroxocobalamin (or sodium nitrite with sodium thiosulfate).
Memory hook: Binds cyanide as cyanocobalamin.
73 · Toxicology and antidotes
What is the antidote for iron poisoning?
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Deferoxamine, a chelating agent.
Memory hook: Urine may turn vin rose.
74 · Toxicology and antidotes
What is the antidote for beta blocker overdose?
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Glucagon.
Memory hook: It raises cAMP, bypassing the beta receptor.
75 · Toxicology and antidotes
What is the antidote for tricyclic antidepressant cardiotoxicity?
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Sodium bicarbonate.
Memory hook: Treats wide QRS and arrhythmias.
76 · Drugs in pregnancy
Which anticoagulant is safe in pregnancy and preferred over warfarin?
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Low molecular weight heparin.
Memory hook: Heparins do not cross the placenta.
77 · Drugs in pregnancy
Which fetal anomaly is linked to maternal lithium use?
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Ebstein anomaly of the tricuspid valve.
Memory hook: Right heart malformation.
78 · Drugs in pregnancy
Which drug class causes fetal renal dysgenesis and oligohydramnios in the second and third trimester?
Show the answer
ACE inhibitors and ARBs.
Memory hook: Stop once pregnancy is found.
Common questions
How many Pharmacology flashcards are there?
78 cards across 15 topics. The deck grows as we add material.
Which topics are in the Pharmacology deck?
Toxicology, Emergency drugs, Antidotes, Cardiovascular drugs, Antiepileptics, Haematological drugs, Antimicrobials, Antidiabetic drugs, General pharmacology and pharmacokinetics, Autonomic nervous system, CNS drugs and antiepileptics, Endocrine drugs, and more.
Is the Pharmacology deck free?
Pharmacology opens with a paid term. The free plan includes the Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry decks.
How do spaced-repetition cards work?
You rate each card Again, Hard, Good or Easy. Cards you find hard return soon and cards you know return later, so your time goes where you forget.
What is the memory hook on a card?
78 of these cards carry a one-line hook: a short cue that helps the answer stick. It is optional and appears after you reveal the answer.
How many Pharmacology cards should I do a day?
Ten to twenty minutes a day is plenty. A few due cards every day beat a long session once a week.
Can I flip through the cards on this page?
You can read each question and reveal its answer here. For scheduling, ratings and progress, study the deck in the app.
Are the Pharmacology cards reviewed by faculty?
Not yet. They are original and still awaiting independent review, so confirm anything important in a standard textbook.