Course Description
The public health role of pharmacology in the health of the aging population; focuses on general mechanisms of action, specific and nonspecific drug effects, side effects, and placebo effects. Drug safety, polypharmacy, and conditions that require public health intervention in aging humans.
Athena Title
Pharmacology Health and Aging
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in GRNT 7600
Non-Traditional Format
This course will be taught 95% or more online.
Prerequisite
(CHEM 1210 or CHEM 1210E) and (BIOL 1103 or BIOL 1103E or BIOL 1103H or BIOL 1107 or BIOL 1107E or BIOL 1107H) or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. Describe the problem of polypharmacy and explain its role in public health 2. Classify different types of commonly taken drugs in age- related disease processes 3. Compare and contrast principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics 4. Examine side effects from specific and nonspecific drug effects and explore their public health implications 5. Distinguish drug action from drug effects and relate therapeutic and side effects back to drug action 6. Construct a pharmacopeia for the four most commonly readmitted disease states in older age 7. Design a public health plan for safe and effective pharmaceutical management in older adulthood
Topical Outline
I. Defining a drug a. Defining drugs from a public health perspective b. Purpose of consumption c. Differentiation from foods and other substances taken to change physiology d. Drug effects, drug actions II. Pharmacokinetics a. Route of administration b. Ionization and solubility c. Absorption, distribution, and elimination III. Pharmacodynamics a. DR complex b. Toxicology: ED50, LD50, TD50 c. Dose-response curves IV. Commonly consumed drug classes, by disease state V. Public health issues of polypharmacy a. Side effects b. Burden on healthcare c. Non-adherence d. Health literacy and pharmacological management VI. Future directions a. Lifestyle substitutes b. Public health intervention c. Planning
Syllabus