Looking for the drug of choice for a specific poisoning, emergency or infection? This comprehensive, exam-oriented list covers antidotes, first-line treatments and preferred drugs for over 80 conditions — from paracetamol poisoning and digitalis toxicity to malaria in pregnancy, MRSA, cholera and leprosy.
Compiled from standard medical and pharmacy references (including NIPER-oriented notes), this guide is useful for medical students, pharmacy graduates, nurses and clinicians preparing for competitive exams or quick clinical revision in India and other regions.
Quick Navigation
- Poisonings & Overdoses
- Acute Medical Conditions
- Infections & Specific Diseases
- Communicable Diseases
- Frequently Asked Questions
1. Drugs of Choice for Poisonings & Overdoses
| Condition | Drug of Choice |
|---|---|
| Paracetamol poisoning | N-Acetyl cysteine |
| Severe digitalis toxicity | Digibind |
| Atropine poisoning | Physostigmine |
| Cyanide poisoning | Amyl nitrite |
| Benzodiazepine poisoning | Flumazenil |
| Iron poisoning | Desferrioxamine |
| Warfarin / Dicoumarol overdose | Vitamin K |
| Heparin overdose | Protamine |
| Alcohol (methanol/ethylene glycol) poisoning | Fomepizole |
| Cheese reaction | Phentolamine |
2. Drugs of Choice for Acute Medical Conditions
- Acute bronchial asthma → Salbutamol
- Acute gout → NSAIDs
- Acute hyperkalemia → Calcium gluconate
- Acute migraine → Sumatriptan
- Anaphylactic shock → Adrenaline
- PSVT → 1st Adenosine, 2nd Verapamil, 3rd Digoxin
- HOCM → Propranolol
- Delirium tremens → Diazepam
- Opioid withdrawal → Methadone (2nd: Clonidine)
- Alcohol withdrawal → Chlordiazepoxide (2nd: Diazepam)
- Trigeminal neuralgia → Carbamazepine
- Post-herpetic neuralgia → Fluphenazine
- West syndrome → ACTH
- Diabetic diarrhoea → Clonidine
- Lithium-induced nephropathy → Amiloride
- Drug-induced Parkinsonism → Benzhexol
- Spastic cerebral palsy → Diazepam
- Zollinger-Ellison syndrome → Proton pump inhibitors
3. Drugs of Choice for Specific Infections & Haematological Conditions
- MRSA → Vancomycin
- VRSA → Linezolid
- Kala-azar → Liposomal Amphotericin B
- Malaria in pregnancy → Chloroquine
- Whooping cough (Pertussis) → Erythromycin
- Kawasaki disease → IV Immunoglobulin
- Hairy cell leukemia → Cladribine
- Multiple myeloma → Melphalan
- CML → Imatinib
- Wegener’s granulomatosis → Cyclophosphamide
- Type 1 & Type 2 Lepra reaction → Steroids
- Allergic contact dermatitis → Steroids
- Chancroid → Cotrimoxazole
- Dermatitis herpetiformis → Dapsone
- Herpes simplex keratitis → Trifluridine
- Herpes simplex orolabialis → Penciclovir
- Neonatal herpes simplex → Acyclovir
- Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia → Cotrimoxazole
- Cystic acne → Retinoic acid
- Actinomycosis → Penicillin
- Plague → Streptomycin
- OCD → Fluoxetine
- Epilepsy in pregnancy → Phenobarbitone
4. Drugs of Choice for Communicable Diseases
| Disease | Drug / Treatment of Choice |
|---|---|
| Tetanus | Penicillin G Na / Tetracycline |
| Diphtheria | Penicillin G K / Erythromycin |
| Pertussis | Erythromycin / Ampicillin |
| Meningitis | Mannitol + Dexamethasone + Phenytoin / Diazepam + Penicillin |
| Cholera | Tetracycline |
| Amoebic dysentery | Metronidazole |
| Shigellosis | Co-trimoxazole |
| Typhoid | Ceftriaxone (IV) / Azithromycin (oral) |
| Rabies | Lyssavac / Verorab + ERIG or HRIG |
| Malaria | Chloroquine |
| Schistosomiasis | Praziquantel |
| Filariasis | Diethylcarbamazine citrate |
| Scabies | Permethrin / Oral Ivermectin |
| Chickenpox | Acyclovir / Valacyclovir |
| Leptospirosis | Penicillin / Tetracycline / Erythromycin |
| Leprosy | Dapsone + Rifampicin |
| Anthrax | Penicillin |
| Tuberculosis | R.I.P.E.S. (Rifampicin, Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutol, Streptomycin) |
| Pneumonia | Cotrimoxazole / Procaine Penicillin |
| Helminths | Mebendazole |
| Syphilis | Penicillin |
| Gonorrhoea | Penicillin |
Frequently Asked Questions – Drugs of Choice
What is the drug of choice for paracetamol poisoning?
N-Acetyl cysteine (NAC) is the specific antidote and drug of choice for paracetamol (acetaminophen) poisoning.
What is the drug of choice for severe digitalis toxicity?
Digibind (Digoxin-specific antibody fragments) is the treatment of choice for severe digitalis / digoxin toxicity.
What is the preferred drug for malaria in pregnancy?
Chloroquine is commonly listed as the drug of choice for malaria in pregnancy in many standard notes. Always confirm current regional guidelines and resistance patterns.
What is the drug of choice for MRSA and VRSA infections?
Vancomycin is the drug of choice for MRSA. Linezolid is preferred for VRSA (Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).
What is the first-line treatment for cholera?
Tetracycline is the antibiotic of choice for cholera, along with aggressive fluid and electrolyte replacement.
What is the drug of choice for benzodiazepine poisoning?
Flumazenil is the specific antidote used for benzodiazepine poisoning.
What is the treatment of choice for iron poisoning?
Desferrioxamine (Deferoxamine) is the chelating agent of choice for iron poisoning.
What is the drug of choice for warfarin overdose?
Vitamin K is the drug of choice for warfarin (and dicoumarol) overdose.
What is the preferred treatment for leprosy?
The standard multidrug therapy for leprosy includes Dapsone and Rifampicin (with or without Clofazimine depending on the type).
What is the drug of choice for anaphylactic shock?
Adrenaline (Epinephrine) is the first-line and life-saving drug of choice for anaphylactic shock.
Important Notes for Students & Clinicians
- This list reflects commonly taught “drugs of choice” in Indian medical and pharmacy curricula (including NIPER-oriented material).
- Resistance patterns, local guidelines (ICMR, WHO, CDC) and patient-specific factors (pregnancy, renal function, allergies) always take precedence in real clinical practice.
- Always cross-check with the latest standard textbooks (Harrison, Goodman & Gilman, KD Tripathi, etc.) and current national treatment guidelines.
Disclaimer: This post is for educational and exam-preparation purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified physician.
Tags: drugs of choice, antidote for paracetamol poisoning, drug of choice for digitalis toxicity, malaria in pregnancy treatment, MRSA vancomycin, cholera tetracycline, leprosy treatment, communicable disease drugs of choice, NIPER pharmacology notes




