Credits
This is a 4-credit course.
Description
This introductory course covers key concepts related to the cellular actions, therapeutic uses, side effects and toxic actions of major drug classes used in humans and non-human species. Students will learn key concepts that are important to understanding drug actions, including principles of pharmacokinetics (e.g., absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs) as well as the physiological and cellular basis for a host of diverse drug actions. Major drug classes covered in this course include (among others), agents that act upon the nervous system (both central and peripheral), skeletal muscle, the heart, the cardiovascular system and kidneys, as well as agents used to combat microbial diseases. The overall goal of this course is to provide students with an in-depth understanding of how various drugs exert beneficial and untoward actions and to develop an appreciation for the risks associated with drug abuse.
Prerequisites
Please review our recommended course order.
Topics
| Module | Topic |
|---|---|
| Module 1 | Introduction and Basic Concepts |
| Module 2 | Principles of Drug Action |
| Module 3 | Drug Metabolism and Elimination |
| Module 4 | Introduction to Autonomic Pharmacology |
| Module 5 | Introduction to Central Nervous System Drugs |
| Module 6 | Drugs of Abuse |
| Module 7 | Renal and Cardiovascular Drugs |
| Module 8 | Drugs That Affect Autacoids and Inflammation |
| Module 9 | Antimicrobial Agents |
| Module 10 | Drug Interactions |
Recommended Materials
Goodman & Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 12e
Laurence L. Brunton, Bruce A. Chabner, Bjorn C. Knollmann
Editors of the online edition:
Editor-in-Chief: Laurence L. Brunton
Associate Editors: Donald K. Blumenthal, Nelda Murri, and Randa Hilal-Dandan
Consulting Editor: Bjorn C. Knollmann
The recommended text for this course is an electronic textbook (E-Text) that is freely available to all UF students, including students enrolled in this course. The E-Text (see reference below) is accessible through the University of Florida Health Science Center library; please be sure you are logging in using the VPN and then you can search for the text: https://ufl-flvc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?vid=01FALSC_UFL:UFL&lang=en
Library Access
Distance Education and UF Online Students enjoy the same library privileges as on-campus students. To utilize the University of Florida Library System, click here!