This module covers the mechanisms of action and uses of the major groups of drugs and important aspects of pharmacokinetics and drug toxicity. Students must...

This module will provide you with a knowledge of the actions and uses of a range of important drugs with an emphasis on the mechanisms of action. Teaching is through lectures and compulsory tutorials.The module is aimed at Life Sciences students (Neuroscience, Biomedical Science, Human Sciences and related) and Natural Sciences students, whose main field of study is not pharmacology.

After taking this module you will be able to:

1.Describe the actions of many of the important groups of drugs used in medicine.

2. Cite experimental evidence to support ideas about the detailed mechanism of action of drugs at the molecular, cellular or tissue level.

3. Understand how drugs (and toxins) may be of use in elucidating physiological processes.

Indicative lecture list (based on 2021/22 syllabus)

Introduction: Drug Targets, Selective Toxicity, Therapeutic Index
	Receptor Structure
	Transduction Mechanisms
	Dose-Response Curves. Affinity and Efficacy
	Basic Principles of Pharmacokinetics: Drug absorption, distribution and excretion (3 lectures)
	Drug Antagonism
	The Peripheral Nervous System
	Adrenergic Pharmacology I(2 lectures)
	Cholinergic Pharmacology (2 lectures)1
	Smooth Muscle Pharmacology
	Local Anaesthetics: Antidysrhythmic Drugs
	Cardiovascular Pharmacology
	Inflammation Pharmacology
	Pharmacokinetics
	Introduction to neuropharmacology.
	Aminoacid neurotransmitters. Benzodiazepines.
	Parkinson’s disease and other motor disorders.
	Psychotic disorders - schizophrenia.
	Drugs used in affective disorders.
	Anxiolytics.
	Anti-epileptics.
	General anaesthetics. Mechanism of action of ethanol.
	Analgesics.
	2 Tutorials
	5 Workshops

IN VITRO EXPERIMENTS|ISOLATED TISSUES|EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN|DATA ANALYSIS|DATA PRESENTATION

This is a largely practical module, which aims to develop experimental skills. In addition to a wide range of in vitro experiments and studies of drug action...