Pharmacology and Pharmaco-therapy

Academic Year 2022/2023 - Teacher: Carmela PARENTI

Expected Learning Outcomes

Objective of the course to provide the pharmacological basis useful for understanding the therapeutic use of single classes of drugs on the basis of their mechanism of action and the principles of pharmacokinetics

At the end of the course,  to pass the exam, the student must demonstrate that he has acquired the knowledge related to:

  • general pharmacokinetic concepts;
  • general concepts of pharmacodynamics;
  • mechanism of action,  pharmacokinetic profile, therapeutic indications and side effects of the drugs indicated in the program

Course Structure

Face-to-face lectures

If the teaching is given in a mixed or remote mode, the necessary variations with respect to what was previously stated may be introduced, in order to respect the program envisaged and reported in the syllabus

Information for students with disabilities and / or SLD: To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with the laws in force, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and / or dispensatory measures, based on the teaching objectives and specifications needs. It is also possible to contact the CInAP contact person (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and / or SLD) of the DEPARTMENT OF DRUG AND HEALTH SCIENCES, Prof. Teresa Musumeci.

Required Prerequisites

Basic education and knowledge of basic scientific subjects: biology, human anatomy, physiology, biochemistry.

Attendance of Lessons

"Obligatory frequency according to the rules of the didactic regulations of CdS in Pharmacy as reported in the link: http://www.dsf.unict.it/it/corsi/lm-13/regolamento didattico


Detailed Course Content

General Pharmacology

Pharmacokinetics: The Dynamics of Drug Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Elimination.

Pharmacokinetic parameters. Bioavailability, Volume of distribution, Clearance, half-life.

Pharmacodynamics: Classification of receptors and signal transduction mechanisms. Pharmacology of ion channels.

Drug-receptor interaction. Dose-response curves: Agonists, partial agonists, inverse agonists and antagonists. Potency and efficacy of drugs.

Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics. Tolerance. Side effects, idiosyncratic and allergic effects. teratogenicity

Drug Interactions 

Systematic pharmacology

Catecholaminergic neurotransmission. Sympathomimetic and sympatholytic drugs

Cholinergic neurotransmission. Parasympathomimetic drugs. Parasympatholytic drugs.

Pharmacology of neuromuscular transmission

GABAergic neurotransmission. Drugs active on GABAergic transmission.

Glutamatergic neurotransmission

Pharmacology of cardiovascular function

 -Pharmacotherapy of Hypertension

 -Pharmacotherapy of Congestive Heart Failure

 -Angina treatment drugs

 -Anti-Arrhythmic Drugs

Drugs affecting renal system

 -diuretics

Respiratory system drugs

 - Antitussive drugs

 - Bronchodilator drugs

Pharmacotherapy of Gastric Acidity, Peptic Ulcers, and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Laxatives and antidiarrheal drugs

Pharmacology of inflammatory and allergic processes

-Autacoids and mediators of inflammation

- Antihistamin drugs

- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Blood Coagulation and Anticoagulant, Fibrinolytic, and Antiplatelet Drugs

Endocrine Pancreas and Pharmacotherapy of Diabetes Mellitus

Drug Therapy for Hypercholesterolemia and Dyslipidemia

Drugs Therapy for  bone metabolism

Endocrine system pharmacology

 - Thyroid hormones and antithyroid drugs

- Estrogens, androgens, progestogens

Drugs for erectile dysfunction

Central Nervous System Pharmacology

-Drug therapy of Anxiety Disorders

-Hypnotics and Sedatives

-Pain Management 

-Drug Therapy of Depression 

-Pharmacotherapy of Psychosis 

-Treatment of Parkinson Disease

-Pharmacotherapy of the Epilepsies

-General Anesthetics. Local Anesthetics

Textbook Information

Textbook information

F. Rossi, V. Cuomo, C. Riccardi-Farmacologia, Edizioni Minerva Medica

L.Annunziato, G. Di Rienzo-Trattato di farmacologia, Idelson-Gnocchi

Katzung BG- Farmacologia Generale e Clinica, Piccin

Testo di approfondimento:

Goodman and Gilman. Le basi farmacologiche della terapia. Ultima edizione. Zanichelli

Course Planning

 SubjectsText References
1Principi generali di Farmacocinetica: vie di somministrazione, assorbimento, distribuzione, metabolismo ed escrezione dei farmaci2
2Parametri farmacocinetici. Biodisponibilità, volume di distribuzione, clearance, emivita di un farmaco2
3Principi generali di Farmacodinamica. Classificazione dei recettori e meccanismi di trasduzione del segnale. Farmacologia dei canali ionici1,2
4Interazione farmaco-recettore. Curve dose-risposta: Farmaci agonisti, agonisti parziali, agonisti inversi e antagonisti. Potenza ed efficacia dei farmaci1,2
5Variazione della risposta ai farmaci. Farmacogenetica e Farmacogenomica. Modificazioni recettoriali nella tolleranza. Effetti collaterali, da iperdosaggio, idiosincrasici, allergici. Teratogenesi1,2
6Interazioni tra farmaci di tipo farmacodinamico e farmacocinetico1,2
7• Neurotrasmissione catecolaminergica. Farmaci simpaticomimetici e simpaticolitici1,3
8Neurotrasmissione colinergica. Farmaci parasimpaticomimetici. Farmaci parasimpaticolitici1,3
9• Farmacologia della trasmissione neuromuscolare1,2
10Neurotrasmissione GABAergica. Farmaci attivi sulla trasmissione GABAergica1,2
11Neurotrasmissione glutammatergica1,2
12• Farmacologia del sistema cardiovascolare -Farmaci antianginosi. -Farmaci antiaritmici. -Farmaci antipertensivi. -Farmaci per il trattamento dell’insufficienza cardiaca1,3
13• Farmaci del sistema renale - Diuretici1
14• Farmacologia dell’apparato respiratorio - Farmaci antitussivi - Farmaci broncodilatatori1
15• Farmacologia del sistema gastroenterico - farmaci inibitori della secrezione acida, protettivi della mucosa gastrica ed antiulcera -antidiarroici lassativi e purganti1,3
16• Farmacologia dei processi infiammatori ed allergici -Autacoidi e mediatori dell’infiammazione -Farmaci antistaminici -Farmaci antinfiammatori non steroidei1,2,3
17Farmaci attivi sull’emopoiesi e sulla coagulazione1
18• Farmaci attivi sul metabolismo -Farmaci antidiabetici. -Farmaci antidislipidemici. Farmaci attivi sul metabolismo osseo1,2
19• Farmacologia del sistema endocrino - Ormoni tiroidei e farmaci antitiroidei - Estrogeni,androgeni, progestinici1,3
20Farmaci per la disfunzione erettile1,2,3
21• Farmacologia del Sistema nervoso centrale - Ansiolitici -Ipnoinducenti - Terapia del dolore - Antidepressivi - Antipsicotici - Farmaci del Parkinson - Farmaci antiepilettici -Anestetici generali. Anestetici locali1,2

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

Oral exam