534-039 Pharmacology (Dental Course)

Credit Points

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Subject Description

This subject covers the: 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, drugs used to treat diseases of the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, local anaesthetics, and 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; 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

A 1-hour written, multiple-choice question examination at the end of Semester 1 (20%); a 3-hour written, multiple choice and short answer question examination at the end of Semester 2 (80%). Oral examinations may be required.

Prescribed Texts

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