PHARMACOLOGY – THEORY
Course Code: ER20-21T
75 Hours (3 Hours/week)
Scope: This course provides basic knowledge about different classes of drugs available for the pharmacotherapy of common diseases. The indications for use, dosage regimen, routes of administration, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and contraindications of the drugs discussed in this course are vital for successful professional practice.
Course Objectives: This course will discuss the following:
General concepts of pharmacology including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, routes of administration, etc.
Pharmacological classification and indications of drugs
Dosage regimen, mechanisms of action, contraindications of drugs
Common adverse effects of drugs
Course Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be able to
Describe the basic concepts of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
Enlist the various classes and drugs of choices for any given disease condition
Advice the dosage regimen, route of administration and contraindications for a given drug
Describe the common adverse drug reactions
CHAPTER 1 (10 hours)
General Pharmacology
Introduction and scope of Pharmacology
Various routes of drug administration - advantages and disadvantages
Drug absorption - definition, types, factors affecting drug absorption
Bioavailability and the factors affecting bioavailability
Drug distribution - definition, factors affecting drug distribution
Biotransformation of drugs - Definition, types of biotransformation reactions, factors influencing drug metabolisms
Excretion of drugs - Definition, routes of drug excretion
General mechanisms of drug action and factors modifying drug action
CHAPTER 2 (11 hours)
Drugs Acting on the Peripheral Nervous System
Steps involved in neurohumoral transmission
Definition, classification, pharmacological actions, dose, indications, and contraindications of
a) Cholinergic drugs
b) Anti-Cholinergic drugs
c) Adrenergic drugs
d) Anti-adrenergic drugs
e) Neuromuscular blocking agents
f) Drugs used in Myasthenia gravis
g) Local anaesthetic agents
h) Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
CHAPTER 3 (2 hours)
Drugs Acting on the Eye
Definition, classification, pharmacological actions, dose, indications and contraindications of
Miotics
Mydriatics
Drugs used in Glaucoma
CHAPTER 4 (8 hours)
Drugs Acting on the Central Nervous System
Definition, classification, pharmacological actions, dose, indications, and contraindications of
General anaesthetics
Hypnotics and sedatives
Anti-Convulsant drugs
Anti-anxiety drugs
Anti-depressant drugs
Anti-psychotics
Nootropic agents
Centrally acting muscle relaxants
Opioid analgesics
CHAPTER 5 (6 hours)
Drugs Acting on the Cardiovascular System
Definition, classification, pharmacological actions, dose, indications, and contraindications of
Anti-hypertensive drugs
Anti-anginal drugs
Anti-arrhythmic drugs
Drugs used in atherosclerosis and
Congestive heart failure
Drug therapy for shock
CHAPTER 6 (4 hours)
Drugs Acting on Blood and Blood Forming Organs Definition, classification, pharmacological actions, dose, indications, and contraindications of
Hematinic agents
Anti-coagulants
Anti-platelet agents
Thrombolytic drugs
CHAPTER 7 (2 hours)
Definition, classification, pharmacological actions, dose, indications, and contraindications of
Bronchodilators
Expectorants
Anti-tussive agents
Mucolytic agents
CHAPTER 8 (5 hours)
Drugs Acting on the Gastro Intestinal Tract
Definition, classification, pharmacological actions, dose, indications, and contraindications of
Anti-ulcer drugs
Anti-emetics
Laxatives and purgatives
Anti-diarrheal drugs
CHAPTER 9 ( 2 hours)
Drugs Acting on the Kidney
Definition, classification, pharmacological actions, dose, indications, and contraindications of
Diuretics
Anti-Diuretics
CHAPTER 10 (8 hours)
Hormones and Hormone Antagonists
Physiological and pathological role and clinical uses of
Thyroid hormones
Anti-thyroid drugs
Parathormone
Calcitonin
Vitamin D
Insulin
Oral hypoglycemic agents
Estrogen
Progesterone
Oxytocin
Corticosteroids
CHAPTER 11 (3 hours)
Autocoids
Physiological role of Histamine, 5 HT and Prostaglandins
Classification, clinical uses, and adverse effects of antihistamines and 5 HT antagonists
CHAPTER 12 (12 hours)
Chemotherapeutic Agents: Introduction, basic principles of chemotherapy of infections, infestations and neoplastic diseases, Classification, dose, indication and contraindications of drugs belonging to following classes:
Penicillins
Cephalosporins
Aminoglycosides
Fluoroquinolones
Macrolides
Tetracyclines
Sulphonamides
Anti-tubercular drugs
Anti-fungal drugs
Anti-viral drugs
Anti-amoebic agents
Anthelmintics
Anti-malarial agents
Anti-neoplastic agents
CHAPTER 13 (2 hours)
Biologicals
Definition, types, and indications of biological agents with examples