Learning objectives
Knowledge of the basic principles of general pharmacology and of the processes that regulate the fate of the drug in the body and the interactions of the drug with target organs.
Knowledge of the main characteristics of both drugs that act on the neuromuscular system, at a central and peripheral level, and
drugs used for the treatment of osteoarticular diseases.
Ability to apply the knowledge acquired to pathological conditions and use of drugs of interest to physiotherapists also in relation to undesirable effects and toxicity.
Prerequisites
Adequate bases of biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, anatomy
Course unit content
General pharmacology: pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. Factors modifying drug response. Drug toxicity. Clinical pharmacology: neuromuscolar drugs, pain therapy, antiinflammatory drugs, antirheumatic and antigout drugs.
Full programme
General pharmacology. What is pharmacology. Drugs. Basic pharmacodynamics: sites and mechanisms of action, agonists and antagonists, the dose-effect relationship.
Basic pharmacokinetics: how drugs reach their site of action, routes of administration, drug adsorption. Drug-protein binding and drug biodistribution.
Drug biotransformation. Drug excretion. Pharmacokinetic parameters: bioavailability, apparent distribution volume, plasma drug half-life, clearance. Conditions modifying drug effects: drug interactions, the importance of patient conditions. Tolerance and resistance. Drug toxicity: collateral and unwanted events.
Clinical pharmacology:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, ASA and nonselective NSAIDs, COXIB and Paracetamol. Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids.
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, DMARDs, immunosuppressants, biological drugs, monoclonal antibodies, JAK inhibitors. Gout medications. Drugs active on bone mineral homeostasis: Vitamin D, PTH, estrogens, calcitonin, bisphosphonates. Chondroprotective agents.
- Pharmacology of neuromuscular function: Competitive and depolarizing neuromuscular blockers. Antispastic drugs: GABA-ergics, Benzodiazepines and Baclofen; tizanidine and other central muscle relaxants. Peripheral muscle relaxants: dantrolene, botulinum toxin.
Drugs for the treatment of myasthenia gravis. Anti-Parkinson's drugs.
- Pain therapy: opioid and non-opioid analgesics; local anesthetics. Drugs for neuropathic pain, Gabapentinoids.
Bibliography
Karen Whalen "Le basi della farmacologia" 3° Edizione Italiana dalla 7° edizione americana, Zanichelli Editore, 2020.
PC Panus, B Katzung, EE Jobst, SL Tinsley, SB Master, AJ Trevor.
"Farmacologia in Riabilitazione" Ed. Italiana a cura di V. Locatelli 2014. Edi Ermes
Didactic resources used during lessons (ie, power point slides) have to be considered integral part of the reference bibliography; they will be available on the 2024-Elly site, on the course page.
Teaching methods
The course will be held through lectures.
Lectures will be supported by slide presentations, which will be available to students on the Elly platform at the course pages; lessons will be open to wide discussion with the participation of the students.
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral exam, aiming to ascertain the results obtained on the basis of the proposed goals. In particular, the student will be asked to discuss one of the subjects indicated in the program. The candidate should use the proper terms to describe the drug's actions and their use them to situations of interest for her/his profession. The candidate should use the proper terms to describe the actions of drugs and their use in situations of interest for her/his profession.
Inability to answer a question (or ascertained inability to provide at least a correct definition of the class to which the drug belongs and its mechanism of action that is the subject of the question) will result in failing the exam. In such a case, the possibility of taking or considering the part of the examination related to the other subjects of the Integrated Course will be precluded, which will then have to be repeated in full
Other information
The teacher is available for further explanations in office or by distance via Teams after e-mail appointment
