To provide students with a solid grounding in the basic concepts and scientific underpinnings of Pharmacology. It provides students with a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental Pharmacology and uses of the major classes of clinically important drugs currently used in medical practice.
Course Objectives
- Discuss indications, rationale, efficacy and risks for commonly prescribed medications in primary care settings.
- Describe appropriate strategies for monitoring the expected effects and potential adverse effects of medication
- To understand the fundamental scientific principles of drug action and the various mechanisms by which drugs can mediate their pharmacological effect
- To understand the fundamental principles of pharmacokinetics that underlie the absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination of drugs in the body and thereby affect drug effectiveness
- To understand the biochemical reactions that result in the metabolism of drugs within the body
- To understand the rationale behind designing different dosing regimens of particular drugs in specific patient populations
- To understand how specific patient characteristics and genetics can affect the response to a particular class of drugs
- To understand the scientific basis underlying how two different drugs can interact within the body and can have undesirable effects either on drug concentrations or drug clinical effects.
- To understand the Pharmacology and clinical use of the major class of clinically important drugs. These include drugs affecting the autonomic nervous system; anesthetics and analgesics; drugs to treat the heart and disease of the cardiovascular system; drugs affecting the pulmonary system; antibiotics; drugs used to treat psychiatric disorders; drugs of abuse and drugs used to treat addiction; drugs that affect the immune system; drugs that affect the endocrine system; dietary supplements and herbal medications; antiviral drugs and chemotherapeutic drugs used in the treatment of cancer.