High-Yield Pharma Mnemonics for NEET PG: Memory Tricks That Work

The Pharmacology Problem

A student who is in their second year of medical school has to remember a lot of information about 847 different medicines. She understands how the medicine enalapril works. When she is under pressure, she gets confused and thinks about esmolol instead. When she sees a question on her exam about CYP450 inducers, she cannot think of anything to write. This is something that happens to a lot of students.

Pharmacology is a part of the NEET PG exam with 15 to 20 questions on the topic.. Most students just try to memorize the information instead of really understanding it. The difference between getting a score like over 600 and struggling to pass the exam does not come from studying more but from studying pharmacology in a smarter way.

That is where using mnemonics to help remember information can make a difference. Pharmacology and mnemonics can go together to help the student remember information about medicines like enalapril and esmolol, and about things like CYP450 inducers.

QUICK ANSWER

Mnemonics for pharmacy are like shortcuts that help you remember things about medicines. These pharmacy mnemonics are really good at helping you recall the names of medicines, how they work, how much to take, and what bad things can happen when you take them. They do this by connecting things you learn to things you already know. The best way to make these mnemonics work is to use pictures, play with words, and think about how they're used to treat people. You should focus on the medicines that you will be tested on the most, like antibiotics, heart medicines, and medicines that affect the brain and nervous system, which are called antimicrobials, cardiovascular agents, and CNS pharmacology.

NEET PG RELEVANCE

Pharmacology mnemonics appear indirectly in 12-18 questions per NEET PG paper. Focus areas: CYP450 interactions, drug-induced toxicities, mechanism-based drug pairing, and dose-dependent effects. Recent papers emphasize newer drugs (DOACs, biologics) and adverse effect recognition over basic mechanisms.

Why Mnemonics Work for Pharmacology

Your brain does not store information like a computer. It makes connections between things. When you read that "Rifampicin induces CYP450," it is a fact in itself.

When you think of "Rifampicin RIPS through drugs," and you picture rifampicin tearing apart other medications, then you have made it easier to remember. You have made connections with Rifampicin. That helps you to recall it later. Rifampicin is not a fact; it is something that you can see in your mind, and that is what helps you to remember rifampicin.

Pharmacology is about patterns. You see these patterns in the names of drug classes; they often end with the letters, like -olol, -pril, or -sartan. The way these drugs work is also similar, and they can cause side effects. That is why we use mnemonics to help us remember them. A good mnemonic can really help you remember a lot of drugs at the same time, like five or seven drugs all at once.

CYP450 Enzyme Mnemonics: The Foundation

The CYP450 interactions show up in about 3 to 5 questions on every exam. So it is an idea to learn about the master inducers and inhibitors of CYP450 first. This will really help you understand the CYP450 interactions. You should focus on the master inducers and inhibitors of CYP450.

CYP450 Inducers

Mnemonic: "CRAP GPS"

Carbamazepine

Rifampicin

Alcohol (chronic)

Phenytoin

Griseofulvin

Phenobarbital

St. John's Wort

So you need to know about medicines that can affect how other medicines work. For example, some drugs can make the body break down drugs faster.

CYP450 Inhibitors

Mnemonic: "SICK FACES"

Sodium valproate

Isoniazid

Cimetidine

Ketoconazole

Fluconazole

Acute alcohol

Ciprofloxacin

Erythromycin

Sulfonamides

Clinical application: Patient on warfarin develops a fungal infection. Ketoconazole prescribed → INR shoots up → bleeding. That's how inhibitors show up in MCQs.

Also Read: Diuretic Drugs: Classification and Uses

Antimicrobial Mnemonics: The Highest-Yield Section

Antimicrobials are really important in the PG pharmacology section. I think these tips can help you answer 60 percent of the questions that are, about antibiotics. Antimicrobials and antibiotics are a part of this so it is good to know about them.

Aminoglycoside Toxicity

Mnemonic: "A-MEAN-O-Glycoside"

Aminoglycosides are MEANT to:

Ears (ototoxicity — vestibular and cochlear)

Kidneys (nephrotoxicity) 

Exam pearl: Streptomycin → vestibular; Neomycin → auditory. When asked which aminoglycoside spares the kidneys relatively? Answer: Streptomycin.

Fluoroquinolone Side Effects

Mnemonic: "FQ CART"

We need to be careful with cartilage damage because it can be a problem. It is especially important to avoid cartilage damage in children. Cartilage damage in children can cause a lot of issues. We should do our best to prevent cartilage damage in children.

• Achilles tendon rupture
• Retinal detachment (newer data)
• Torsades de pointes (QT prolongation)

This is important to know: the question is which antibiotic should not be given to a 6-year-old child. The answer is Ciprofloxacin. This is because Ciprofloxacin is bad for the cartilage in the body. Doctors have tested this time, and they all agree that Ciprofloxacin is not safe for kids. Ciprofloxacin can hurt the cartilage. That is why it is not given to children who are 6 years old.

Antitubercular Drug Toxicities

Mnemonic: R I P E S

Rifampicin:

• Red—Red-orange discoloration of urine, sweat, tears
• Hepatitis
  

Isoniazid (INH):

• Injures nerves
  
• Peripheral neuropathy
  
•  Prevent with Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
  

Pyrazinamide:

• Precipitates gout
  
• Hyperuricemia → Joint pain
  

Streptomycin:

• Sensory organs
• Ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity

Ethambutol:

• Eyes
  
• Optic neuritis
  
• Red-green color blindness

 Streptomycin:

• Sensory organs
• Ototoxicity
• Nephrotoxicity
  

Exam favorite: "Patient on ATT develops joint pain with raised uric acid." Answer: Pyrazinamide

Also Read: Rapid Revision Reignite Pharmacology: Question-Answer Format

CNS Pharmacology Tricks

Some medicines can cause a problem called symptoms. These symptoms happen when certain drugs affect the brain.

Drugs causing extrapyramidal symptoms:

Mnemonic: "MATCH"

Metoclopramide

Antipsychotics (typical > atypical)

TCA (rarely)

Cinnarizine

Haloperidol

Clinical scenario: "Young patient on antiemetic develops acute dystonia." Answer: Metoclopramide.

Serotonin Syndrome vs Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)

Memory Trick

• Serotonin = Speed—fast onset, hyperactive, hyperreflexia
• NMS = Stiff—Slow onset, rigidity, bradykinesia

Also Read: Pharmacology Important Questions for NEET PG/FMGE

Antiepileptic Drug Selection – Absence Seizures

 Mnemonic: EVA

• E – Ethosuximide (First-line)
• V – Valproate
• A – Absence seizures

 Avoid in Absence Seizures

• Carbamazepine
• Phenytoin

These worsen absence seizures

Exam Trap

First-line drug for absence seizures
Ethosuximide

 Valproate is first-line ONLY when absence and generalized tonic-clonic seizures coexist

One-Line Revision Pearls

• EPS after antiemetic → Metoclopramide
• Fast onset + clonus → Serotonin syndrome
• Lead-pipe rigidity → NMS
• Absence seizures → Ethosuximide
• Carbamazepine worsens absence 

Cardiovascular Drug Mnemonics

Beta-Blockers with ISA (Intrinsic Sympathomimetic Activity)

 mnemonic: PAPP and ISA are related.

• Pindolol
• Acebutolol
• Penbutolol
• Practolol

ISA drugs are a choice because they cause less bradycardia. So the question is, which beta-blocker is the option for a patient who already has a slow heart rate or baseline bradycardia?

There are medications that can cause a condition that is similar to lupus. These drugs can bring on symptoms that are a lot like those of lupus. Drugs causing lupus syndrome are a real concern for people who take these medications.

Some of the drugs that can cause lupus syndrome include:

• Hydralazine
• Procainamide
• Isoniazid
•  Phenytoin

Drugs causing lupus-syndrome 

Mnemonic: "HIPPES"

• Hydralazine
• Isoniazid
• Procainamide
• Phenytoin
• Etanercept
• Sulfasalazine

Zero-Order Kinetics Drugs

Mnemonic: "APA"

Aspirin (high dose)

Phenytoin

Alcohol

Why it matters: Zero-order means a fixed amount is eliminated regardless of concentration. Small dose increases → disproportionate toxicity. Phenytoin toxicity questions stem from this.

Also Read: Last 5-Year PYQs in Pharmacology for INI-CET

Dose-Based High-Yield Facts

Examiners love specific numbers. Memorize these:

High-Yield Points for NEET PG

• Warfarin toxicity reversal: Vitamin K for stable patients; FFP or PCC for active bleeding
• Heparin antidote: Protamine sulfate (1 mg neutralizes 100 units of heparin)
• Metformin is contraindicated with contrast dye → causes lactic acidosis
• Amiodarone causes BOTH hypo- and hyperthyroidism (iodine content)
• Methotrexate toxicity is prevented by leucovorin (folinic acid), NOT folic acid, for rescue
• Succinylcholine is contraindicated in burns, crush injuries, and hyperkalemia
• Dapsone causes methemoglobinemia and hemolysis in G6PD deficiency
• Statins must be taken at night (cholesterol synthesis peaks nocturnally)
• Proton pump inhibitors increase the risk of C. difficile infection and hip fractures with long-term use
• "ABCD" of thrombolytics: Alteplase, rPA (Reteplase), TNK-tPA (Tenecteplase) — all are fibrin-specific

Examiner's favorite: "Drug contraindicated before radiocontrast?" — Metformin (stop 48 hours before).

Also Read: 20 High Yield Pharmacology Flashcards NEET PG

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best mnemonic for CYP450 inducers?

"CRAP GPS" covers the seven major CYP450 inducers: Carbamazepine, Rifampicin, Alcohol (chronic), Phenytoin, Griseofulvin, Phenobarbital, and St. John's Wort. Rifampicin is the most potent inducer and appears most frequently in drug interaction questions.

Which pharmacology topics have the highest weightage in NEET PG?

Antimicrobials contribute 25-30% of pharmacology questions. Cardiovascular drugs, CNS pharmacology, and chemotherapy agents follow. Focus on mechanisms, toxicities, and drug interactions rather than exhaustive drug lists. See our complete NEET PG pharmacology guide for a subject-wise breakdown.

How do I remember drug-induced toxicities for NEET PG?

Link the drug's first letter or sound to its toxicity. Ethambutol → Eyes; Isoniazid → Injuries to nerves. Create visual stories: imagine rifampicin painting everything red-orange. Absurd imagery strengthens encoding more than logical connections.

Is rote memorization enough for pharmacology in NEET PG?

Rote memorization fails under exam pressure. Pattern-based learning — recognizing drug class behaviors, common mechanisms, and suffix-based identification — outperforms isolated fact memorization. Combine mnemonics with clinical scenarios for durable memory.

What are zero-order kinetics drugs for NEET PG?

The "PAPA" mnemonic covers them: Phenytoin, Aspirin (high dose), Alcohol. These drugs have saturable metabolism — elimination rate stays constant regardless of plasma concentration. This explains why phenytoin toxicity occurs with small dose increases.

Which antiepileptics worsen absence seizures?

Carbamazepine and phenytoin worsen absence seizures — never use them. First-line for absence is ethosuximide. Valproate works for absence but is preferred when absence coexists with generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

CLINICAL PEARL

"Pharmacology isn't about memorizing 800 drugs — it's about understanding 80 patterns that explain the rest." Build your framework around drug classes, shared mechanisms, and predictable toxicities. The mnemonic is just the hook; clinical understanding is the anchor. Master the patterns, and individual drugs fall into place automatically.