Credits: 4
Period 1:
Start Date: December 7th, 2010
End Date: January 10th, 2011
Participating Faculty:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is an introduction to the basic principles of pharmacology and to the primary classes of drugs
including the prototypic agents. The main goal of the medical training (curriculum) is to develop the
diagnostic and therapeutic skills (competencies) required by a basic doctor. Safe and effective
prescribing is such a core competency. In addition learning should provide an appropriate framework
fostering the ability to assimilate information about new drug development that will occur throughout a
professional career (self-directed learning). The Pharmacology teaching is designed with this final goal
(to attain a core competency) in mind and reflects the paradigm shift from a process focused education
to an outcome oriented education.
3. Provide a broad overview of the available drugs and drug classes. The focused
(selective) approach has its limitations due to many reasons, the main being
lacks of consensus on what are “core drugs”. Furthermore USMLE –the standard
for required medical knowledge- favors superficial familiarity with a wide range
of drugs over detailed knowledge of a few. Lippincott’s Illustrated
Pharmacology Review became the de facto Student Formulary. Additionally for
legal reasons it appears less advisable to apodictically assign levels of
importance to FDA approved drugs.
1. Define key terms: Drug, drug receptor, agonist, antagonist, affinity and intrinsic activity,
selectivity, dose response, structure activity relationship, pharmacokinetics, time action
relationships, dose response relationship, efficacy, potency, tolerance, drug metabolism,
toxicity.
2. Identify drug groups by suffix
3. Develop a foundation for continuing education about drug therapy and the ability to evaluate
new drugs.
4. Develop a rational approach to drug use in therapy.
5. Describe the factors affecting absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination (ADME) of
drugs as well as drug toxicity and interactions.
6. Describe the principles of pharmacodynamics (PD) including structure activity relationships, the
chemical properties of drugs affecting specificity of action, efficacy, potency, dose response
relationships and dose, time response relationships.
7. Describe the principles of loading dose and maintenance dose.
8. Explain how drugs work and recognize the major receptor families that mediate drug actions at
the cellular and membrane level.
9. Describe drug actions on non receptor targets including enzymes and nucleic acids.
10. Describe receptor dynamics, up and down regulation and the effect on therapy.
11. Explain factors of age, gender, development, disease and genetics in drug effects.
12. Compare the factors affecting population responsiveness versus individual responsiveness to
drugs.
13. Describe the implications of multiple drug therapy (drug-drug interactions) and relationships
between drugs and nutritional substances/food (food-drug interactions)
1. Harvey, R. A., Champe, P. C., Finkel, R., Cubeddu, L., & Clarke, M. A. (2008). Lippincott's
Illustrated Reviews: Pharmacology, 4th Edition (Fourth Edition.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
ISBN-13: 978-0781771559
2. Goodman, L. S., Limbird, L. E., Milinoff, P. B., Ruddon, R. W., & Gilman, A. G. (1996). Goodman
and Gilman's: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics (9th ed.). McGraw-Hill (Tx).
ISBN-13: 978-0071422802
3. Kim, Sandra I., and Todd A. Swanson. Board Review Series Pharmacology (Flash
Cards). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2004. Print. ISBN-13: 9780781747967
Student achievement will be assessed by multiple choice USMLE style objective exams.
Attendance Policy:
Class: Attendance is not required but recommended. However, YOU will be responsible for
obtaining information presented in class from FELLOW COLEAGUES.
Remediation Policy:
Exams: Only extreme cases of hardship will be considered as sufficient reason for missing an
exam. A viva voce remedial exam (make up exam) will be offered in spring (exact dates to be
announced by Medical Education)
COURSE POLICIES:
Course grades:
The final grade in this course will be a number on a scale of 75-100. A final grade that is below 75 is an
unsatisfactory performance in this course and will be recorded as unsatisfactory “U.”
Academic Misconduct:
The Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine is a community dedicated to
generating and imparting knowledge through excellence in teaching and research, rigorous and
respectful exchange of ideas, and community service. All students should respect the right of others to
have an equitable opportunity to learn and to honestly demonstrate the quality of their learning.
Therefore, all students are expected to adhere to a standard of academic conduct, which demonstrates
respect for themselves, their fellow students, and the educational mission of the Florida International
University. All students are deemed by the University to understand that if they are found responsible
for academic misconduct, they will be subject to the Academic Misconduct procedures and sanctions, as
outlined in the Student Handbook. Students who plagiarize or cheat can be charged with academic
misconduct. Penalties for academic misconduct can include up to dismissal from the University. The
University's Code of Academic Integrity can be found at:
http://www.fiu.edu/provost/polman/sec2/sec2web2-44.htm
The weekly class schedule is subject to change, and students will be notified either in class or by e-mail.
2 Wednesday AM 8:00-9:00
8-Dec AM An introduction to drugs (III)
9:00-10:00
(Pharmacodynamics: PD)
AM An introduction to drugs acting at the
10:00-11:00
sodium channel
AM An introduction to drugs acting on the
11:00-12:00
chloride channel (GABA receptor)
LUNCH
3 Thursday AM 8:00-9:00
9-Dec AM An introduction to drugs acting at the
9:00-10:00
calcium channel
AM An introduction to drugs acting at the
10:00-11:00 potassium channel
5 Monday AM 8:00-9:00
13-Dec AM An introduction to drugs acting at the
9:00-10:00
opioid receptor
AM An introduction to drugs acting on
10:00-11:00
Serotonin Receptors and Pumps (I)
AM An introduction to drugs acting on
11:00-12:00
Serotonin Receptors and Pumps (II)
LUNCH
6 Tuesday AM 8:00-9:00
14-Dec AM 9:00-10:00 An introduction to drugs acting on
Histamine Receptors
AM 10:00-11:00 An introduction to drugs acting on
Dopamine Receptors (I)
AM
LUNCH
7 Wednesday AM 8:00-9:00
15-Dec AM 9:00-10:00 An introduction to drugs acting on
Dopamine Receptors (II)
AM 10:00-11:00 Drugs acting on cytosolic receptors:
steroid pharmacology
AM 11:00-12:00
LUNCH
9 Friday AM 8:00-9:00
17-Dec AM 9:00-10:00 Case III & IV
AM 10:00-11:00
AM 11:00-12:00
LUNCH
10 Monday AM 8:00-9:00
20-Dec AM 9:00-11:00 MID Term Exam
AM
AM
LUNCH
11 Tuesday AM 8:00-9:00
21-Dec AM 9:00-10:00 Inhibitors of Na reabsorption: Diuretics
Angiotensinogen Converting Enzyme
AM 10:00-11:00
(ACE) inhibitors
AM
LUNCH
13 Monday AM 8:00-9:00
3-Jan AM 9:00-10:00 Anti-Cholinesterase Drugs
AM 10:00-11:00 Drugs acting on Muscarinic Receptors
Drugs acting on Alpha Adrenergic
AM 11:00-12:00
Receptors
LUNCH
14 Tuesday AM 8:00-9:00
4-Jan Drugs acting on Beta Adrenergic
AM 9:00-10:00
Receptors
Drugs acting on GABA Receptors:
AM 10:00-11:00
Introduction to Volatile Anesthetics
AM
LUNCH
15 Wednesday AM 8:00-9:00
5-Jan Drugs Acting at the Nicotinic Receptor:
AM 9:00-10:00
Depolarizing Muscle Relaxants
Drugs Acting at the Nicotinic Receptor:
AM 10:00-11:00
Non Depolarizing Muscle Relaxants
AM 11:00-12:00 Other Drugs
LUNCH
16 Thursday AM 8:00-9:00
17 Friday AM 8:00-9:00
7-Jan AM 9:00-10:00 Case V & VI
AM 10:00-11:00
AM 11:00-12:00
LUNCH
18 Monday AM
10-Jan AM
AM
8:00-2:00 Final Exam
AM
PM
PM