An in-depth presentation of the history and introductory principles of pharmacology. Designed to acquaint students with pharmacology as a scientific discipline and provide the basis for more advanced courses. A course designed for students to read and discuss recent and classic papers in pharmacological sciences. Students become acquainted with the pharmacology literature and classic advances in the field. An introduction to the basic concepts of drug actions and therapeutic principles governing drug therapy.
Emphasis is placed on general mechanisms, therapeutic uses and toxicity of prototypic drugs.
Topics will include a discussion of the metabolizing enzymes, enzyme induction and inhibition, toxic metabolites, prodrugs, metabolic disorders and analytical methods for studying drug metabolism. An introduction to the chemical principles of pharmacology. The chemical classification, acid-base chemistry and stereochemical properties of drugs and the reactivity of drugs with biological systems will be discussed. A discussion and study of recent advances in the various fields of pharmacological investigation. An advanced study of the interactions between drugs and the nervous systems.