PHA3011

Pharmacology and toxicology

Dr Margot Story and Dr Wayne Hodgson

12 points - Four 1-hour lectures and one six-hour lab per week - First semester - Clayton - Prerequisites: PHY2011 and PHY2022 or PHY2051 and PHY2062

Objectives On the completion of this subject students will be able to understand the basic principles of drug action; study qualitative and quantitative aspects of drug interactions with living systems; review the sites and mechanisms of actions of drugs affecting neurotransmission; investigate humoral mechanisms; develop a framework for the study of the actions and therapeutic applications of major groups of drugs which are used in medicine.

Synopsis Pharmacology can be broadly described as the study of chemicals on living tissues. PHA3011 introduces the basic principles of drug action including study of qualitative and quantitative aspects of interactions with living systems. The sites and mechanisms of actions of drugs affecting neurotransmission and humoral mechanisms are dealt with in some detail. This component of the subject provides a framework for the study, in the remainder of this subject, of the actions and therapeutic applications of major groups of drugs which are used in medicine. It also provides a basis for the second subject in pharmacology. Students may choose one or other of the textbooks listed below.

Assessment Essay (2000 words): 10% - Semester test: 15% - Examination (3 hours): 55% - Laboratory work and assignments: 20% - Satisfactory performance in all components is required for successful completion of this subject.

Prescribed texts

Hardman J and others Goodman and Gilman's 'The pharmacological basis of therapeutics' 9th edn, McGraw-Hill, 1996
or
Rang H P, Dale M M and Ritter J M Pharmacology 3rd edn, Churchill Livingstone, 1995

Back to the 1999 Science Handbook