PHSC 4101 - Principles of Drug Action

4 Credit(s)

Principles of drug action is a course that introduces students to the general principles that govern pharmacotherapy. This course provides students with the foundational knowledge and skills essential for understanding, applying and evaluating the chemical and pharmacological concepts that ultimately relate to the physicochemical properties of drugs and their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic behaviors. Considerable emphasis is placed upon learning the chemical structures and pharmacological properties, sites and mechanisms of action, metabolism, drug-drug and drug-food interactions, and toxicology of important drug classes as a means for lifelong understanding of present and future pharmacological agents. Special attention is given to the extrapolation of basic concepts to understand existing and potential new mechanisms that might have impact on new drug therapy. The course expands upon the principles learned in organic chemistry, biochemistry and physiology, and prepares students for integrated pharmacotherapy modules.

Prerequisite(s): Biochemistry, Physiology
Restriction(s): Professional Year 1 status.