Learning objectives
The course of PHARMACOLOGY AND PHARMACOTHERAPY aims to enable the student
to know and to understand the mode of action of drugs and the benefits and limits of their therapeutic use,
to develop the ability to use the knowledge and understanding acquired so that at the end of the course he will be able to identify and properly resolve the complex issues related to the use of drugs in clinical practice (polypharmacy, drug-food interactions, use of bioequivalents, use of OTC and SOP, pharmacovigilance system)
to demonstrate making judgments in integrating the acquired knowledge and information from several sources (health agencies, institutional entities, or drug suppliers and patients) in order to make judgments and proposals to protect public health
to develop learning skills in consulting independently updating sources that drive in the proper management of drugs
ability to communicate their knowledge and convey clear information on the proper use of medicines to patients and interact with medical staff.
Prerequisites
To take the examination, FISIOLOGIA GENERALE and BIOCHIMICA/BIOCHIMICA APPLICATA examinations need to be passed
Course unit content
The first series of lectures deals with topics of general PHARMACOLOGY such as pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics (mechanism of action of drugs and their fate in the body with reference to their quantitative parameters), the sources of variability in individual response to drugs, drugs for self-treatment, handling and the side effects of drugs and elements of clinical pharmacology.
The second set of lessons relates to the description of the PHARMACOTHERAPY applied in disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system (Antidepressants ,hypno-sedatives, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants , antiParkinson, analgesics, antimigraine), cardiovascular (antihypertensive, antiarrhythmic, antianginal drugs, agents against heart failure), gastrointestinal (antisecretory drugs, antiemetics, laxatives , anti-diarrheal) agenitourinary (diuretics, tocolytics, incntinency treatment) respiratory (antiasthmatic drugs), muscular (myorelaxant and paralyzing drugs), in hemostasis disorders (antiplatelets, anticoagulants, fibrinolytics), anti-dyslipidemic, anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs (NSAIDs and Steroids), and chemotherapy and hormone replacement therapy (antidiabetic agents)
Full programme
GENERAL PHARMACOLOGY
Pharmacodynamics: pharmacological targets, qualitative and quantitative, analysis of drug action
Pharmacokinetics: Drug Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Elimination
Drug safety: adverse side effects and iatrogenic toxicity
Drug therapy: variability and drug interactions
Drug development and elements of clinical pharmacology
SYSTEMATIC PHARMACOLOGY
Drugs affecting the autonomic nervous systems and neuromuscular junction
Drugs affecting central nervous system
Drugs affecting gastrointestinal function
Drugs affecting renal and cardiovascular function
Pharmacotherapy of asthma
Pharmacological control of hemostasis
Drug therapy of inflammation and immunomodulators
Agents affecting hormonal homeostasis
Chemotherapy of microbial and neoplastic diseases
Bibliography
ANNUNZIATO, DI RENZO. Trattato di farmacologia. Casa Editrice Idelson Gnocchi, Napoli
KATZUNG BG. Farmacologia Generale e Clinica. Piccin, Padova
RANG HP et al. Farmacologia. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Milano
GOODMAN & GILMAN. The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. McGraw-Hill
Teaching methods
Teaching is conducted through lectures, during which the general principles of pharmacology are shown, commented and applied in specific therapeutic examples.
The pharmacological aspects are addressed after a brief classification of their physio-pathological context, referring to institutional guidelines, AIFA notes and scientific publications. The presentation of multiple sources of information (www.agenziafarmaco.gov.it, www.sifweb.org, www.prontuariofarmaceutico.it) stimulates student’s ability to integrate knowledge and develop learning skills in an autonomous way
Assessment methods and criteria
The assessment of the achievement of the objectives of the course will include an oral examination that tests also DEVELOPED COMMUNICATION SKILLS. Through questions about the contents of the general part of the course it will be determined whether the student has achieved the goal of KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING of the basic principles of pharmacology. Through questions regarding strategies for therapeutic intervention in specific pathological contexts it will be determined whether the student has achieved the aim of APPLYING THE ACQUIRED KNOWLEDGE and to resolve new and complex issues through arguments that demonstrate the acquisition of LEARNING SKILLS and formulation of AUTONOMOUS JUDGMENTS
Other information
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