James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2024

PC1320 - Introductory Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapy

Subject Description

This subject introduces the pharmacological principles related to the therapeutic use of medicines. The subject explores the concept of dose-response relationships and an understanding of the sites, mechanisms and specificity of drug action, including interactions between drugs and receptors and ion channels as determinants of drug action in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Pharmacogenomics and inter-patient variation to drug response is introduced, as well as pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic principles of medicines use in therapy.

Learning Outcomes

• Relate the pharmacology of medicines to their role in disease state management or prevention, including consideration of individual patient parameters such as age, weight, organ impairment or failure
• Explain the influence of genetics in pharmacy practice and the individual variation in the response to pharmacological therapy
• Apply pharmacodynamic principles and describe the activity of medicines through interactions with target molecules including receptors, transporters and enzymes
• Apply pharmacokinetic principles in describing drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion

Subject Assessment

• Written > Examination (centrally administered) - (40%) - Individual
• Written > Test/Quiz 1 - (30%) - Individual
• Performance/Practice/Product > Model/artefact - (20%) - Individual
• Performance/Practice/Product > Portfolio - (10%) - Individual

Note that minor variations might occur due to the continuous subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.

Availabilities