NEET PG Pharmacology Syllabus

Pharmacology syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Pharmacology in NEET PG, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   General Pharmacology

   5 topics

   • Introduction to pharmacology
     • Definitions
     • Scope
     • Branches of pharmacology
   • Pharmacokinetics
     • Absorption
     • Distribution
     • Metabolism
     • Excretion of drugs
   • Pharmacodynamics
     • Mechanisms of drug action
     • Drug-receptor interactions
     • Dose-response relationships
     • Drug potency
   • Pharmacogenetics and personalized medicine
     • Genetic variation in drug response
     • Pharmacogenomic testing
     • Implications for drug therapy
   • Drug development and regulation
     • Preclinical studies
     • Clinical trials
     • Drug approval process
     • Drug scheduling
2. 2

   Autonomic Nervous System Pharmacology

   4 topics

   • Introduction to autonomic pharmacology
     • Neurotransmitters and receptors in the autonomic nervous system
   • Cholinergic drugs
     • Agonists
     • Antagonists
     • Cholinesterase inhibitors
   • Adrenergic drugs
     • Agonists
     • Antagonists
     • Adrenergic neuron blockers
   • Ganglionic and neuromuscular blocking drugs
     • Mechanism of action
     • Uses
     • Adverse effects
3. 3

   Central Nervous System Pharmacology

   7 topics

   • Introduction to CNS Pharmacology
     • Blood-brain barrier
     • Neurotransmitters in the CNS
     • Receptors in the CNS
   • Sedative-hypnotic Drugs
     • Benzodiazepines
     • Barbiturates
     • Non-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics
   • Antiepileptic Drugs
     • Mechanisms of action
     • Classification
     • Therapeutic uses
   • Antipsychotic Drugs
     • Typical antipsychotics
     • Atypical antipsychotics
     • Dopamine receptor antagonists
     • Serotonin-dopamine antagonists
   • Antidepressant Drugs
     • SSRIs
     • TCAs
     • MAOIs
     • Atypical antidepressants
     • Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
   • Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Drugs
     • NSAIDs
     • Opioids
     • Adjuvant analgesics
   • Anxiolytic Drugs
     • Benzodiazepines
     • Buspirone
     • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
4. 4

   Introduction to cardiovascular pharmacology

   3 topics

   • Hemodynamics
   • Cardiac electrophysiology
   • Regulation of blood pressure
5. 5

   Endocrine Pharmacology

   5 topics

   • Introduction to Endocrine Pharmacology
     • Hormone replacement therapy
     • Hormone antagonists
     • Hormone synthesis inhibitors
   • Thyroid and Antithyroid Drugs
     • Thyroid hormones
     • Antithyroid drugs
     • Iodine preparations
   • Glucocorticoids and Mineralocorticoids
     • Mechanism of action
     • Therapeutic uses
     • Adverse effects
   • Insulin and Oral Hypoglycemic Agents
     • Mechanism of action
     • Classification
     • Therapeutic uses
   • Gonadal Hormones and Contraceptives
     • Estrogens
     • Progestins
     • Androgen receptor antagonists
     • Contraceptive methods
6. 6

   Introduction to chemotherapy

   3 topics

   • Principles of antimicrobial therapy
   • Mechanisms of antimicrobial action
   • Drug resistance
7. 7

   Chemotherapy of Neoplastic Diseases

   3 topics

   • Introduction to cancer chemotherapy
     • Principles of cancer therapy
     • Cell cycle-specific vs. cell cycle-nonspecific drugs
   • Anticancer drugs
     • Alkylating agents
     • Antimetabolites
     • Antitumor antibiotics
     • Mitotic inhibitors
     • Targeted therapies
   • Hormonal therapy
     • Hormone receptor antagonists
     • Aromatase inhibitors
     • Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs
8. 8

   Principles of toxicology

   3 topics

   • Mechanisms of toxicity
   • Factors affecting toxicity
   • Toxicokinetics

Pharmacology flashcards for NEET PG

25 of 59 cards from the Pharmacology deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. Define bioavailability (F) and state the value for an intravenous drug.

   Bioavailability is the fraction of an administered dose that reaches the systemic circulation unchanged. For IV drugs, F = 1 (100%) by definition.

2. What is first-pass metabolism, and which routes of administration avoid it?

   First-pass metabolism is presystemic drug elimination by the gut wall/liver before reaching systemic circulation. Sublingual, rectal (partly), transdermal, inhalational, and parenteral routes bypass it.

3. Give the formula for the apparent volume of distribution (Vd).

   Vd = Total amount of drug in body / Plasma drug concentration. A high Vd indicates extensive tissue distribution.

4. Which is the most important organ for drug metabolism, and what are Phase I vs Phase II reactions?

   The liver. Phase I = oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis (often via cytochrome P450), making drugs more polar/reactive. Phase II = conjugation (glucuronidation, sulfation, acetylation, etc.) producing water-soluble, usually inactive metabolites.

5. Define zero-order vs first-order kinetics of elimination.

   Zero-order: a constant amount of drug is eliminated per unit time (rate independent of concentration), e.g., ethanol, phenytoin (high dose), aspirin. First-order: a constant fraction is eliminated per unit time (rate proportional to concentration); most drugs follow this.

6. Write the formula for elimination half-life (t1/2) in terms of Vd and clearance.

   t1/2 = (0.693 × Vd) / Clearance (CL).

7. How many half-lives are needed to reach steady-state concentration on regular dosing?

   Approximately 4-5 half-lives (about 94-97% of steady state by 4-5 t1/2).

8. Define clearance (CL) and give its relation to dosing rate at steady state.

   Clearance is the volume of plasma cleared of drug per unit time. At steady state: Maintenance dose rate = CL × Css (target steady-state concentration), adjusted for bioavailability.

9. What is the formula for loading dose?

   Loading dose = (Vd × target plasma concentration) / F. It rapidly achieves therapeutic concentration without waiting for steady state.

10. Name the major CYP enzyme inducers and inhibitors with one classic example each.

    Inducers: rifampicin, phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, chronic alcohol, smoking. Inhibitors: ketoconazole, erythromycin/clarithromycin, cimetidine, grapefruit juice, ritonavir, valproate.

11. Differentiate an agonist, partial agonist, and inverse agonist.

    Full agonist: binds receptor and produces maximal response (full intrinsic activity). Partial agonist: binds but produces submaximal response (intrinsic activity 0-1). Inverse agonist: binds and produces an effect opposite to the agonist (negative intrinsic activity).

12. Differentiate competitive vs non-competitive antagonism in terms of effect on the agonist dose-response curve.

    Competitive (reversible): shifts curve to the right, Emax unchanged (surmountable). Non-competitive/irreversible: lowers Emax, not overcome by more agonist (insurmountable).

13. Define potency and efficacy of a drug.

    Potency: the amount of drug needed to produce a given effect (reflected by EC50/ED50; left-shifted curve = more potent). Efficacy: the maximal effect a drug can produce (Emax), regardless of dose.

14. Define ED50 and the therapeutic index (TI).

    ED50 = dose producing the desired effect in 50% of the population. Therapeutic Index = TD50/ED50 (or LD50/ED50). A higher TI means a safer drug.

15. What is the certain safety factor (margin of safety) and how is it calculated?

    Certain Safety Factor = TD1/ED99 (or LD1/ED99). It is a more clinically meaningful safety measure than TI because it uses the extremes of the curves.

16. List the major receptor superfamilies by signal-transduction mechanism.

    1) Ligand-gated ion channels (e.g., nicotinic, GABA-A); 2) G-protein-coupled receptors (e.g., adrenergic, muscarinic); 3) Enzyme-linked/tyrosine kinase receptors (e.g., insulin); 4) Intracellular/nuclear receptors (e.g., steroids, thyroid hormone).

17. Classify adverse drug reactions into Type A and Type B.

    Type A (Augmented): dose-dependent, predictable, pharmacologically related, common (e.g., bleeding with warfarin). Type B (Bizarre): dose-independent, unpredictable, often immunological/idiosyncratic, rare but serious (e.g., anaphylaxis).

18. What is pharmacovigilance and the WHO causality assessment categories?

    Pharmacovigilance is the science of detecting, assessing, and preventing adverse drug effects. WHO causality categories: Certain, Probable, Possible, Unlikely, Conditional/Unclassified, Unassessable.

19. Name the muscarinic receptor subtypes and their main G-protein/second messenger coupling.

    M1, M3, M5 couple to Gq (increase IP3/DAG, raise Ca2+); M2, M4 couple to Gi (decrease cAMP). M2 predominates in the heart (slows it); M3 mediates smooth muscle contraction and glandular secretion.

20. Describe the cardiovascular effects of pure alpha-1, beta-1, and beta-2 receptor stimulation.

    Alpha-1: vasoconstriction, raised BP, mydriasis. Beta-1: increased heart rate, contractility, AV conduction, and renin release. Beta-2: vasodilation, bronchodilation, uterine relaxation, glycogenolysis.

21. What is the treatment of organophosphate (anticholinesterase) poisoning?

    Atropine (blocks muscarinic effects) plus pralidoxime (2-PAM, an oxime that reactivates cholinesterase if given early, before aging); supportive care with airway management.

22. Compare adrenaline, noradrenaline, and isoprenaline by receptor selectivity.

    Adrenaline: alpha + beta1 + beta2. Noradrenaline: alpha + beta1 (minimal beta2). Isoprenaline: beta1 + beta2 only (no alpha).

23. What is the mechanism of benzodiazepines and how does it differ from barbiturates at the GABA-A receptor?

    Benzodiazepines increase the frequency of chloride channel opening (require GABA). Barbiturates increase the duration of chloride channel opening and at high doses open channels directly (GABA-independent), explaining their lower safety margin.

24. What is the antidote for benzodiazepine overdose?

    Flumazenil, a competitive GABA-A benzodiazepine-site antagonist (used cautiously due to risk of seizures, especially in chronic users or mixed overdose).

25. Name the drug of choice for status epilepticus (initial and definitive).

    Initial (acute termination): IV lorazepam or diazepam (a benzodiazepine). Definitive/maintenance: IV fosphenytoin/phenytoin or IV valproate/levetiracetam.

See more Pharmacology flashcards →

Planning Pharmacology for NEET PG

Pharmacology (NEET PG) FAQ