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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.The module is aimed at Life Sciences students (Neuroscience, Biomedical Science, Human Sciences and related) and Natural Sciences students, whose main field of study is not pharmacology.

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.

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 and excretion (3 lectures)
• Drug Antagonism
• The Peripheral Nervous System
• Adrenergic Pharmacology I(2 lectures)
• Cholinergic Pharmacology (2 lectures)1
• Smooth Muscle Pharmacology
• Local Anaesthetics: Antidysrhythmic Drugs
• Cardiovascular Pharmacology
• Inflammation Pharmacology
• Pharmacokinetics
• Introduction to neuropharmacology.
• Aminoacid neurotransmitters. Benzodiazepines.
• Parkinson’s disease and other motor disorders.
• Psychotic disorders - schizophrenia.
• Drugs used in affective disorders.
• Anxiolytics.
• Anti-epileptics.
• General anaesthetics. Mechanism of action of ethanol.
• Analgesics.
• 2 Tutorials
• 5 Workshops