Course Description
Basic pharmacological principles and specific therapeutic actions of major drug classes commonly used in clinically significant disease states.
Athena Title
Introduction to Pharmacology
Prerequisite
[(BCMB 3100 or BCMB 3100E or BCMB 3100H) and (PMCY 3000 or PMCY 3000E)] or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
The goal of this course is to develop an understanding of the molecular and organ system basis for the therapeutic use of the major classes of drugs in the treatment of disease. This course covers basic pharmacological principles and specific therapeutic actions of major drug classes commonly used in clinically significant disease states. The first two sections of the course cover general principles in molecular and systemic Pharmacology, and will provide a framework for sections 3-7, which will cover specific drugs and therapeutic applications. In each of the drug sections (3-7), we will review the physiology of the organ system affected in the disease state, discuss the mechanism of action of the drug(s), and identify significant adverse effects and toxicological aspects.
Topical Outline
1) Basic Principles a) Pharmacodynamics i) Receptor classes ii) Dose-response curves b) Pharmacokinetics i) ADME c) Toxicology i) Adverse effects ii) Drug safety and screening iii) Therapeutic effects of chemotherapeutics 2) Autonomic Pharmacology a) Neurotransmitter function and regulation b) Cholinergic transmission overview i) Major transmitters, receptors, and physiologic effects ii) Therapeutic use of cholinergic activators and inhibitors c) Adrenergic transmission overview i) Major transmitters, receptors, and physiologic effects ii) Therapeutic use of adrenergic activators and inhibitors 3) Therapeutics that target the Cardiovascular System: a) Anti-hypertensives b) Angina therapeutics c) Heart Failure therapeutics d) Anti-Arrhythmia e) Diuretics 4) Therapeutics that target the Central Nervous System: a) Sedatives b) Anti-seizure drugs c) General anesthetics d) Local anesthetics e) Muscle relaxants f) Anti-Parkinsonism drugs g) Anti-Psychotics h) Anti-depressants i) Analgesics 5) Therapeutics that target the Circulatory and Inflammatory systems: a) Anti-histamines b) Anemia c) Anti-inflammatories d) Anti-coagulants 6) Therapeutics that target the Endocrine Systems: a) Hypothalamic and pituitary hormones b) Thyroid hormones c) Corticosteroids d) Pancreatic hormones e) Gonadal hormones 7) Chemotherapeutics a) Anti-bacterials b) Anti-virals c) Anti-fungals, anthelmintic, antiprotozoal, etc. d) Cancer chemotherapy
Syllabus