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Unit Code: PHM712

Unit Name: Pharmacology 2

Description: Pharmacology is the study of how drugs interact with living systems and alter the physiological and biochemical systems of the body (pharmacodynamics), what happens to the drugs as they pass through the organism (with respect to drug absorption, distribution, biotransformation, and elimination (pharmacokinetics), and the rationale for the clinical use of drugs to make diagnosis, prevent or treat disease, or for some other benefit to the recipient. The harmful effects of drugs and other chemicals to living organisms are also studied. Pharmacists are expected to be “the preeminent health care professionals responsible for the use of medicines in the prevention and treatment of disease” (Burke et al. Pharmacotherapy 2008;28(6):806–815). As such, a thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles of pharmacology is essential for the effective discharge of this responsibility. In this course, the various classes of drugs and how they exert their effects on the different organs and systems of the body: their nature, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and the rationale for their use in treatment will be described. The course builds upon prior knowledge of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and the basic sciences, and prepares the ground for the study of more advanced courses in the pharmacy programme.

Learning Target Outcomes: On successful completion of this course, the students will be able to: 1. Classify drugs affecting the endocrine system and discuss their pharmacological principles. 2. Discuss the pharmacological principles of drugs used in the treatment of central nervous system conditions and Anaesthesia. 3. Describe the cell cycle, characteristics of cancer cells and discuss the pharmacological principles of antineoplastic agents. 4. Explain the pharmacological principles of drugs that suppress immune responses. 5. Classify drugs affecting the special senses and describe their pharmacological principles. 6. Discuss the pharmacological principles of drugs used to control toxicity, drugs abused socially and drugs used in sports and describe rationales for the use herbal and nutritional supplements. 7. Discuss the pharmacological principles of drugs used in special population.

Prerequisite: PTH610, PHM610, PHM612, PHM611 & PHM613

Prerequisite Sentence: N/A

Credit Point: 30

Offered In: Semester 1,2