534-039 Pharmacology

Timetable:

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Subject Description:

This subject covers the following: principles of pharmacology and mechanisms of action of drugs in common use in dentistry and medicine; route of administration, absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs; principles of selective toxicity; drug interactions and toxicology; drug dependence; and drug schedules (Poisons Act).

On completion of this subject, students should:

Comprehend: the principles of the absorption, distribution and elimination of drugs in the body; the basic mechanisms of drug action; the pharmacology of the autonomic nervous system; the pharmacology of drugs used to treat diseases of the cardiovascular and central nervous systems and the pharmacology of local anaesthetics; the pharmacology of drugs used for the treatment of inflammation; the use and mechanisms of action of antibiotics, anti-viral and anti-tumour drugs; the nature of drug interactions; the nature and use of drugs of abuse.

Have developed: measurement and recording skills relevant to the assessment of drug action, including the use of computers for data acquisition and modelling of drug use; skills in using objective sources of drug information.

Appreciate: the responsibilities of dentists under the Dentistry and Poisons Act; the relevance of an understanding of drug action and reaction to dental science; the importance of understanding the principles of drug action to therapeutics; the elements of the design of clinical trials (single and double blind factors and use of statistics).

Assessment:

Prescribed Texts:

• Rang H P, Dale M M and Ritter J M 1995, Pharmacology, 3rd ed. Churchill Livingstone.