Scope: The main purpose of the subject is to understand what Drugs do to the living organisms and how their effects can be applied to therapeutics. The subject covers the information about the drugs like, mechanism of action, physiological and biochemical effects (pharmacodynamics) as well as absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (pharmacokinetics) along with the adverse effects, clinical uses, interactions, doses, contraindications and routes of administration of different classes of drugs.

Objectives: Upon completion of this course the student should be able to

1. Understand the pharmacological actions of different categories of drugs

2. Explain the mechanism of drug action at organ system/sub cellular/ macromolecular levels.

3. Apply the basic pharmacological knowledge in the prevention and treatment of various diseases.

4. Observe the effect of drugs on animals by simulated experiments

5. Appreciate correlation of pharmacology with other bio medical sciences 

Course Content:

1. General Pharmacology

a. Introduction to Pharmacology- Definition, historical landmarks and scope of

pharmacology, nature and source of drugs, essential drugs concept and routes of

drug administration, Agonists, antagonists( competitive and non competitive), spare

receptors, addiction, tolerance, dependence, tachyphylaxis, idiosyncrasy, allergy.

b. Pharmacokinetics- Membrane transport, absorption, distribution, metabolism and

excretion of drugs .Enzyme induction, enzyme inhibition, kinetics of elimination

General Pharmacology

a. Pharmacodynamics- Principles and mechanisms of drug action. Receptor theories and classification of receptors, regulation of receptors. drug receptors interactions

signal transduction mechanisms, G-protein–coupled receptors, ion channel receptor, transmembrane enzyme linked receptors, transmembrane JAK-STAT binding

receptor and receptors that regulate transcription factors, dose response relationship, therapeutic index, combined effects of drugs and factors modifying drug action.

b. Adverse drug reactions.

c. Drug interactions (pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic)

d. Drug discovery and clinical evaluation of new drugs -Drug discovery phase, preclinical evaluation phase, clinical trial phase, phases of clinical trials and pharmacovigilance.

2. Pharmacology of drugs acting on peripheral nervous system

a. Organization and function of ANS.

b.Neurohumoral transmission,co-transmission and classification of neurotransmitters.

c. Parasympathomimetics, Parasympatholytics, Sympathomimetics, sympatholytics.

d. Neuromuscular blocking agents and skeletal muscle relaxants (peripheral).

e. Local anesthetic agents.

f. Drugs used in myasthenia gravis and glaucoma

3. Pharmacology of drugs acting on central nervous system

a. Neurohumoral transmission in the C.N.S.special emphasis on importance of various

neurotransmitters like with GABA, Glutamate, Glycine, serotonin, dopamine.

b. General anesthetics and pre-anesthetics.

c. Sedatives, hypnotics and centrally acting muscle relaxants.

d. Anti-epileptics

e. Alcohols and disulfiram

3. Pharmacology of drugs acting on central nervous system

a. Psychopharmacological agents: Antipsychotics, antidepressants, anti-anxiety agents, anti-manics and hallucinogens.

b. Drugs used in Parkinsons disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

c. CNS stimulants and nootropics.

d. Opioid analgesics and antagonists

e. Drug addiction, drug abuse, tolerance and dependence