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BMS340 Pharmacology

Pharmacology is the study of how drugs affect the body. The topics covered will introduce you to the key concepts governing how drugs work before moving onto exploring how drugs are used to treat the main diseases you will encounter in the practice of pharmacy. The focus of these latter topics will be on identifying the mechanism of action of each class of drug and why it is useful to treat the signs and symptoms of a specific disease.

To succeed in this subject, you will need to draw on your foundations in both physiology and pathophysiology. Foundational knowledge from these earlier subjects is important because the primary therapeutic goal of treatment is to either return a patient to their normal physiological state or mask the symptoms associated with their condition. You will also find that the knowledge and skills developed in this subject will prepare you for pharmacotherapeutics (drug selection) and professional practice, where communicating drug information is a key skill.

Availability

• Session 1 (30): On Campus, Orange Campus
• Session 2 (60): On Campus, Orange Campus

Subject Information

Grading System

HD/FL

Duration

Two sessions

School

School of Biomedical Sciences

Prerequisites

BMS130

Incompatible Subjects

• BMS225
• BMS325

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:

• be able to outline the regulation of and role biomolecules play in pathophysiological and physiological processes
• be able to differentiate model drugs with respect to their drug class and indications
• be able to explain drug action at the molecular and cellular level
• be able to explain how drugs can either cure a pathophysiological condition or reduce the signs and/or symptoms associated with that condition
• be able to explain why adverse drug reactions occur for specific drugs but be able to identify those reactions where the mechanism is not known
• be able to identify significant drug interactions, describe their consequences and, where known, explain why they occur

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:

• mechanisms & principles of drug action, including adverse drug reactions and drug interactions
• signalling biomolecules targeted by common drugs and those involved in pathophysiological processes
• drugs used in the treatment of disorders of the:
  • cardiovascular
  • respiratory
  • endocrine
  • gastrointestinal
  • immune system
• drugs used in the treatment of:
  • affective disorders
  • neurological disorders
  • dyslipiademias
  • glaucoma
  • infections
  • cancer
  • pain & inflammatory conditions
• drugs used to control:
  • reproduction
  • consciousness
  • muscle control