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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. It will be assumed that you have some background in physiology, biochemistry and chemistry.

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.

4. Understand how the time-course of drug action may depend on the processes of drug absorption, distribution and excretion.

Indicative lecture list (based on 2023/24 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, excretion and metabolism (5 lectures).
• Drug Antagonism.
• The Peripheral Nervous System.
• Adrenergic Pharmacology (2 lectures).
• Cholinergic Pharmacology (2 lectures).
• Smooth Muscle Pharmacology.
• Local Anaesthetics: Antidysrhythmic Drugs.
• Atherosclerosis and Lipid Lowering Drugs.
• Diuretics.
• Antianginal Drugs: Cardiac Glycosides.
• Antihypertensive Drugs.
• Inflammatory Mediators.
• Antagonist of Histamine and Treatment of Peptic Ulcers.
• Eicosanoids.
• Anti-Inflammatory Drugs.
• Drugs used to treat Asthma.
• 2 Tutorials