MED3042

Basic and clinical pharmacology and toxicology II

Associate Professor R G King (Pharmacology)

Objectives On completion of this unit, students should (1) be able to integrate the several aspects of pharmacology introduced in earlier topic teaching as a basis for further teaching and study of rational drug therapy; (2) appreciate the principles of selective toxicity that underlie rational use of antimicrobial, antineoplastic and immuno-suppressant drugs; (3) understand the mechanisms and principles underlying adverse reactions to prescribed and 'over-the-counter' drugs, alcohol, tobacco and drugs of abuse, and exposure to chemicals, whether occupational, environmental or accidental; and (4) be able to critically evaluate some elements of pharmaceutical promotional material.

Synopsis The aim of this subject is to provide a sound understanding of the principles underlying the actions of drugs which, when integrated with teaching in other subjects, will provide an essential background to obtain necessary information for the subsequent prescription of drugs with full appreciation of their mechanisms of action (pharmacodynamics), the way in which the body handles them (pharmacokinetics), their use in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease (therapeutics) and minimisation of adverse drug actions and interactions (toxicology). The aim of teaching and learning pharmacology is to enable the student to acquire sufficient understanding and knowledge of the concepts and theory underlying drug actions to take a rational approach to the use of current and future drugs. Representative drugs of established classes are specifically dealt with to provide an essential background for further learning.

Assessment Examinations - First semester (1 hr): 20% · Second semester (2 hrs): 65% · Written (practical report): 5% · Assignment: 10%

Preliminary reading

Levine R R Pharmacology: Drug actions and reactions 4th edn, Little Brown, 1991

Prescribed texts

Katzung B G Basic and clinical pharmacology 7th edn, Appleton and Lange, 1998

Recommended texts

Gilman A G and others Goodman and Gilman's 'The pharmacological basis of therapeutics' 8th edn, Pergamon, 1990
Neal M J Medical pharmacology at a glance 3rd edn, Blackwells, 1997
Rang H P, Dale M M and Ritter J M Pharmacology 3rd edn, Churchill Livingstone, 1995

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