Pharmacology is one of the most important subjects for the NEET PG exam preparation. Knowing the high-yield drugs is essential to performing well, as they are frequently tested in theoretical and clinical questions. High-yield drugs are those that are commonly prescribed, widely studied, and often included in clinical scenarios. Mastering these will help you navigate questions with ease and boost your confidence.

Here is a list of 30 essential and high-yield drugs you need to prioritize for NEET PG 2025.

1. Aspirin

• Class: NSAID (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug)
• Uses: Pain relief, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular protection (antiplatelet).
• Key Points: Risk of GI bleeding, Reye’s syndrome in children, contraindicated in peptic ulcer disease.

2. Amlodipine

• Class: Calcium Channel Blocker (Dihydropyridine)
• Uses: Hypertension, angina.
• Key Points: Peripheral oedema, flushing, headache, contraindicated in severe aortic stenosis.

3. Metformin

• Class: Biguanide
• Uses: First-line treatment for Type 2 Diabetes.
• Key Points: Lactic acidosis, especially in renal impairment, has no risk of hypoglycemia.

4. Lisinopril

• Class: ACE Inhibitor
• Uses: Hypertension, heart failure, post-MI.
• Key Points: Cough, hyperkalemia, angioedema, contraindicated in pregnancy.

5. Propranolol

• Class: Beta-Blocker
• Uses: Hypertension, arrhythmias, hyperthyroidism, migraine prevention.
• Key Points: Bronchospasm (contraindicated in asthma), bradycardia, fatigue.

6. Warfarin

• Class: Anticoagulant (Vitamin K Antagonist)
• Uses: Stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation, DVT, PE.
• Key Points: INR monitoring, bleeding risk, teratogenic.

7. Amoxicillin

• Class: Penicillin Antibiotic
• Uses: Upper and lower respiratory tract infections, otitis media.
• Key Points: Allergic reactions, rash, GI upset.

8. Salbutamol (Albuterol)

• Class: Beta-2 Agonist (Bronchodilator)
• Uses: Asthma, COPD.
• Key Points: Tremors, tachycardia, hypokalemia.

9. Diazepam

• Class: Benzodiazepine
• Uses: Anxiety, seizures, muscle spasms.
• Key Points: Sedation, dependence, withdrawal symptoms.

10. Simvastatin

• Class: Statin (HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor)
• Uses: Hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease prevention.
• Key Points: Myopathy, liver enzyme elevation, contraindicated in pregnancy.

11. Furosemide

• Class: Loop Diuretic
• Uses: Oedema, heart failure, hypertension.
• Key Points: Hypokalemia, ototoxicity, dehydration.

12. Hydroxychloroquine

• Class: Antimalarial, Immunosuppressant
• Uses: Malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus.
• Key Points: Retinal toxicity, prolonged QT interval, eye exams required.

13. Clonazepam

• Class: Benzodiazepine
• Uses: Seizures, panic disorders.
• Key Points: Sedation, respiratory depression, dependence.

14. Ciprofloxacin

• Class: Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic
• Uses: UTI, respiratory infections, gastroenteritis.
• Key Points: Tendon rupture, photosensitivity, QT prolongation.

15. Omeprazole

• Class: Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI)
• Uses: GERD, peptic ulcers, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
• Key Points: Risk of C. difficile infection, hypocalcemia, and vitamin B12 deficiency.

16. Tamsulosin

• Class: Alpha-1 Blocker
• Uses: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
• Key Points: Orthostatic hypotension, dizziness.

17. Naloxone

• Class: Opioid Antagonist
• Uses: Opioid overdose reversal.
• Key Points: Precipitates withdrawal symptoms, short half-life.

18. Gentamicin

• Class: Aminoglycoside Antibiotic
• Uses: Serious infections like sepsis, UTI.
• Key Points: Ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity, narrow therapeutic window.

19. Ranitidine (or Famotidine)

• Class: H2 Receptor Antagonist
• Uses: Peptic ulcer disease, GERD.
• Key Points: Less potent than PPIS, safe in pregnancy.

20. Azithromycin

• Class: Macrolide Antibiotic
• Uses: Respiratory infections, sexually transmitted diseases.
• Key Points: Prolonged QT interval, GI upset, liver enzyme elevation.

21. Digoxin

• Class: Cardiac Glycoside
• Uses: Heart failure, atrial fibrillation.
• Key Points: Narrow therapeutic index, toxicity (N/V, arrhythmias, yellow vision).

22. Levothyroxine

• Class: Thyroid Hormone
• Uses: Hypothyroidism.
• Key Points: Monitor thyroid function tests; overdosage leads to hyperthyroid symptoms.

23. Methotrexate

• Class: Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD)
• Uses: Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, certain cancers.
• Key Points: Bone marrow suppression, liver toxicity, teratogenic.

24. Prednisolone

• Class: Corticosteroid
• Uses: Inflammatory conditions, allergies, and autoimmune diseases.
• Key Points: Hyperglycemia, osteoporosis, weight gain, GI ulcers with long-term use.

25. Theophylline

• Class: Methylxanthine
• Uses: Asthma, COPD.
• Key Points: Narrow therapeutic index, tachycardia, CNS stimulation (seizures at high doses).

26. Paracetamol (Acetaminophen)

• Class: Analgesic, Antipyretic
• Uses: Mild to moderate pain, fever.
• Key Points: Hepatotoxicity in overdose, no anti-inflammatory effect.

27. Fentanyl

• Class: Opioid Analgesic
• Uses: Severe pain, anesthesia.
• Key Points: Respiratory depression, addiction potential, highly potent.

28. Cetirizine

• Class: Antihistamine (Second-Generation)
• Uses: Allergies, rhinitis, urticaria.
• Key Points: Non-sedating, low risk of drowsiness.

29. Baclofen

• Class: Muscle Relaxant
• Uses: Spasticity in conditions like MS, spinal cord injuries.
• Key Points: Sedation, withdrawal symptoms, hypotension.

30. Lidocaine

• Class: Local Anesthetic, Antiarrhythmic
• Uses: Local anesthesia, ventricular arrhythmias.
• Key Points: First-pass metabolism, CNS toxicity (seizures).

These 30 high-yield drugs cover a wide range of pharmacological classes and clinical uses that you will encounter frequently in NEET PG 2025. Memorizing their indications, mechanisms, side effects, and important clinical points is essential to acing pharmacology.

Remember, pharmacology is all about understanding patterns, so focus on drug classes, mechanisms of action, side effects, and interactions. The more you link each drug to clinical scenarios, the easier it will be to retain the information.

Frequently Asked Questions: 

1. What is the pattern of the NEET PG exam 2025?

The total number of questions will be 200. Each question will carry 4 marks, and a negative marking of 1 mark is there in it. The duration of the NEET PG entrance test will be 3 hours and 30 minutes.

2. Which subject has the highest weightage in NEET PG?

In the NEET PG exam, General Medicine (including Dermatology, Venereology, and Psychiatry) and General Surgery (including Orthopedics, Anesthesia, and Radiodiagnosis) have the highest weightage, with each contributing 45% of the total questions. 

3. What is the latest update for NEET 2025?

The NEET UG 2025 exam is scheduled for May 4, 2025, with the exam pattern reverting to the pre-COVID format, featuring 180 compulsory questions to be attempted in 180 minutes.