2.44801 INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY

This course is conducted by the Discipline of Pharmacy.
The emphasis of this course is on the principles of pharmacology and toxicology and some of the drugs and chemicals present in today's society. Introduction to the scope pharmacology and toxicology, definitions, nomenclature, drug names and classification. The pharmacokinetics in relation to routes of administration and their influence on drug action, mechanisms of drug absorption, distribution and elimination in the body, relevance of drug concentrations in blood plasma and other body fluids and therapeutic drug monitoring. The development and drug evaluation. Mechanisms of drug action; Drug action on enzymes, membrane ion-channels and transport mechanisms. Principles of neuro-chemical transmissions and drug action at sites of autonomic neuroeffector and somatic neuromuscular transmission. The toxins as environmental contaminants in industry, agriculture and the workplace. The mechanisms of chemical carcinogenicity, teratogenicity and mutagenicity; an overview on venoms. The social use of drugs in the society; commonly abused drugs and strategies for dealing with the problems presented. Also the use and abuse of drugs used in sport, travel, pain and sex.

Aim: To introduce students to the study of the interaction of drugs and other xenobiotics with living matter, with emphasis on the principles of drug action and on the reactions of living processes to drugs and toxic substances commonly found in society.

Contact hours: 6 hours per week (2 lectures, 1 tutorial, 3 practical).

Assessment: To be advised

Reference Textbook:

1. Katzmg, B.G., Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, 4th Ed., 1989, Lange

2. Timbrell, J.A., Introduction to Toxicology, 1989, Taylor & Francis