General Pharmacology

At the end of OPT 324 (General Pharmacology) course, students should be able to: 1. define pharmacology in its basic and simple form; 2. explain the meaning of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; 3. explain all the processes involved in the pharmacokinetics of drugs and identify the factors that can influence each of the processes; 4. explain all the processes involved in the pharmaco-dynamic of drugs and identify the factors that can influence each of the processes; 5. describe the basic mechanisms of drugs actions; 6. explain the concepts involved in drug-receptor interactions; 7. identify and explain the different types of dose-response relationships; 8. describe the autonomic nervous system and identify drugs that have effect(s) on this system; 9. identify the different classes of anti-inflammatory drugs with specific examples; 10. understand the concept of on the counter (OTC) and prescription drugs; and 11. Identify the different classes of chemotherapy agents with specific examples.

General principles of pharmacology. Definition of basic concepts in pharmacology: pharmacy, pharmacognosy, pharmacotherapeutics, toxicology and many others. Drug administration: methods and absorption of drugs; distribution; biotransformation and excretion of drugs. Drug receptor interaction; dose - response relationship. Fate of systemically administered drugs. Autonomic nervous system pharmacology: principles and classification of autonomic drugs; Anti- inflammatory drugs; Chemotheraphy agents. Action of drugs, factors influencing it. Compatibility and incompatibility, tolerance, tachyphylaxis, potentiation, synergism, additive, antagonism and many others.