Learning objectives
Upon completion of the course the student is expected to be able to demonstrate knowledge:
- of the general principles governing the action of a drug
- of sociomedical aspects related to drugs, supplements, nutraceuticals, other products
- of at least one class of drugs of common clinical use.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, and general pathology.
Course unit content
The course provides knowledge of drugs and their effects when used in the clinical setting.
Full programme
GENERAL PHARMACOLOGY. The pharmacology as a medical science: concept of active compounds and pharmaceutics, origin of drugs, chemistry and nomenclature of medicaments; generic drugs. Actions and effects of drugs: therapeutic and toxic activity of molecules.
Principles of pharmacodynamics: mechanism of drug actions and drug interaction with the constituents of the organism. Sites of action and receptors. Drugs acting at receptors of the autonomic nervous system. Agonist and antagonist drugs, drugs affecting ion channels, membrane transporters and enzymes. Tolerance and dependence. Elements of pharmacogenetics and of idiosyncratic responses.
Principles of pharmacokinetics. Routes of drug administration, absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion, bioavailability. Concept of volume of distribution and clearance. Factors that affect drug responses: race, age, gender, diseases of the patient, drug interactions with food and with specific components of the diet. Clinically relevant drug-drug interactions.
SPECIAL PHARMACOLOGY
Analysis of at least one class of drugs of common clinical use.
Bibliography
Information on the textbooks will be provided in class.
Teaching methods
Lectures will be held on-site in compliance with safety standards. Supporting material will be available on the specific, student-reserved platform (Elly) and will include slide presentations, audio-video aids or video-recording of the lectures.
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral exam
Other information
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