67022 - Pharmacology

Learning outcomes

The aim of this course is to provide knowledge about drug mechanisms that control the kinetics of a drugs o xenobiotics in the body, the administration and distribution and excretion and their chemical-physical interactions that leads to the therapeutic effects.

Course contents

Pharmacology: definitions; Drug concept,

Pharmacodinamics: Mechanisms of drug action; Receptor classification; Factors-depending drug action; dose/effect ratio; Pharmacologycal and Therapeutics properties

Pharmacokinetcs: Movement of drugs across cell membranes, blood-brain barrier and placenta filter; routes of administration and absorption; binding to plasma proteins; bioavailability; Half life of drugs; Drug dependent effects; drug independent effects;; dose-response and time-response curves; agonists, partial agonists, antagonists; side-effects; overdose; idiosyncratic and allergic reactions; distribution of drugs in the body, volume of distribution, , drug metabolism; excretion; Drugs interactions; Factors inducing variability in drug action (species, age, sex, gender,ect). Concept of drug addiction: tollerance, physical and psychical dependence, drugs of abuse. Drug development: Chemical and pharmacological studies; preclinical studies; Clinical Trials (phase I,II,III and epidemiological studies –IV)
Principal drug classes acting on: CNS, cardiovascular system, Respiratory system, Gastrointestinal, Endocrine; Chemotherapy

Readings/Bibliography

Farmacologia Generale e Clinica per le Lauree Triennali – Furlanut – Edizioni Piccin

Assessment methods

Oral assessment

Teaching tools

PC

Video projector
Lessons on CD available for students

Office hours

See the website of Gabriele Campana

See the website of Giovanni Bandi