At completion of the course, students must be able to: - describe the basic principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics - describe the basic knowledge on drugs, including therapeutic and toxic effects induced by medicines on organs and apparatuses - use the specific technical language
Course Prerequisites
Understanding human anatomy and physiology will allow the student gaining the elements at the basis of the function of organs and apparatus and hence of the drug actions.
Teaching Methods
Oral classes with slides – Interactive lectures.
Assessment Methods
The final examination will be oral. The student will be asked to discuss some topics from the program. During the interview, questions will verify the degree of in-depth knowledge of the proposed topics and the use of the specific technical language; the significant ability and capacity of connection between different knowledges covered in class will be part of the evaluation.
Texts
M. Amico-Roxas, A.P. Caputi, M. Del Tacca: COMPENDIO DI FARMACOLOGIA GENERALE E SPECIALE, Edra Editore, 2nd edition, 2021.
Contents
General pharmacology. 1. Concept of drug and medicinal product. 2. General pharmacokinetic: movement of drugs across cell membranes; routes of administration and absorption; bioavailability; distribution of drugs in the body; volume of distribution, binding to plasma proteins; drug metabolism; excretion; time-course of drug plasmatic contents (after single or repeated administration). 3. General pharmacodynamics: targets and mechanisms of drug action; dose-response curve; agonists, antagonists; factors affecting drug response (effects of age, pathological states, drug interactions, tolerance, placebo effects). 4. General toxicity: side-effects, overdose, idiosyncratic and allergic reactions; teratogenesis and foetal toxicity; carcinogenesis; drug dependency. 5. Notes on clinical developement of drug. 6. Therapeutic index and risk-benefit balance of medicinal products; pharmacovigilance.
Pharmacology
1. Autonomic pharmacology: Drugs of the adrenergic and cholinergic systems. 2. Neuropsychopharmacology: Antipsychotics; antidepressants; anxiolytics; hypnotics; major analgesics; antiepileptic drugs; antiparkinson drugs; antimigraine drugs; muscle relaxants and other drugs used in the treatment of spasticity; general and local anaesthetics; drugs used for the treatment of dementia and of neurodegenerative disorders. 3. Pharmacology of inflammation and Immunopharmacology: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; corticosteroids; antipyretics; antihistamines; immunomodulators and immunosuppressants. 4. Cardiovascular pharmacology: Antianginals; antihypertensives; cardioactive glycosides and other positive inotropic drugs; antiarrhythmics; anticoagulants; thrombolytics; antiplatelet drugs; diuretics, antidyslipemics. 5. Gastro-intestinal pharmacology: Antiulcer drugs, prokinetics, laxatives, antidiarrhoeics, antiemetics. 6. Respiratory pharmacology: antiasthmatics 7. Endocrine pharmacology: pituitary hormones; thyroid hormones and antithyroid drugs; androgens, estrogens, progestogens and combination products; other contraceptive agents. 8. Antidiabetics 9. Agents affecting calcium homeostasis; drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis. 10. Vitamins. 11. General principles of antimicrobial chemotherapy; basics of antibacterial and antifungal agents. Basics of antiviral therapy. 12. Basics of anticancer drugs. 13. Basics of toxicology.
Course Language
Italian
More information
Times reserved for student visits: by appointment via e-mail (valentina.franco@unipv.it).
