Pharmacology II

Instance: 2023/2024 - 1S

Cycles of Study/Courses

Teaching language

Objectives

The course unit (CU) of Pharmacology II is integrated within in a sequence of CUs, namely with Pharmacology I and a Pathophysiology and Pharmacotherapy I and II. Taken together, these CUs are intended to help the student to:

1. Understand the mode of action of drugs in humans;
2. Understand the factors that influence the permanence of drugs in the body and the methods that can be used to calculate and adjust doses and the dosage regimen that ensure the maintenance of appropriate concentrations to achieve the desired therapeutic effects;
3. Understand the occurrence of adverse reactions and explain those arising from predictable pharmacodynamic responses;
4. Understand interindividual variability in drug response as a function of genetic and non-genetic factors;
5. Know the most widely explored pharmacological targets for therapeutic purposes, the most representative drugs in each group and the contexts in which they are clinically used;
6. Understand the general aspects of the pathologies that are the main indications for each group of drugs.

In this context, the CU of Pharmacology II hasa global aim to capacitate the students with the necessary scientific knwledge, professional attitudes and technicl skills in order to develop, as independent professionals, activities that are part of the Pharmaceutical Act, namely the interpretation and evaliation of medical prescriptions; information on human medicines and communication among health preofessional and patientes/caregivers to promote the rational use of medicines; follow up the use of human medicines and medical devices.

As specific objectives, the CU of Pharmacology II aims to enable the student with consistent and critical pharmacological and pharmacotherapeutic knowledge, attitudes and technical skills in the areas of cardiovascular and endocrine pharmacology. Thus, in each chapter, key points will be selected in order to:

1. Explain the different pathophysiological mechanisms of the diseases and the therapeutic aims of the various pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions;
2. Instruct the reference drugs of each therapeutic class;
3. Instruct the historical development of reference drugs and the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic limitations that have conditioned and / or will condition the appearance of new drugs from each group;
4. To elucidate the basic pharmacodynamic activity resulting from acting on each target;
5. Instruct the main pharmacological effects resulting from this activity;
6. Instruct the present therapeutic indications and future perspectives of new drugs, or new indications.

Within the scope of transversal competences, this UC aims to contribute to the development of:

• Cognitive skills: analytical, critical, reflective and creative thinking;
• Methodological competences: careful selection of relevant information, time management and planning capacity;
• Social skills: interpersonal communication (oral and written) and collaborative work.

Learning outcomes and competences

Defined as learning results of the CU of Pharmacology II are:

• Integrate and apply the pharmacological/pharmacotherapeutic knowledge to real-word problem solving situations;
• define an opinion based on scientific information, in a broad spectrum of situations, including those with limited and/ore preconditioned information;
• efficiently communicate with different audiences the knowledge, reasoning and conclusions;
• be conscient about the ethic and social impact of their attitudes and decisions;
• be autonomous in learning for life.

As learning results and competences, it is expected that, by completing this UC, the students will be able to:

1. Describe the main pathophysiological mechanisms of the addressed diseases;
2. List the various pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions as well as the corresponding therapeutic objectives;
3. Know the reference drugs of each therapeutic class;
4. Know the historical context of the discovery of reference drugs and the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic limitations that have conditioned and / or will condition the appearance of new drugs from each group;
5. Describe the mechanisms of action of drugs and identify the main resulting pharmacological effects, regardless of whether the outcome is of therapeutic interest or causes a side effect;
6. Identify the present therapeutic indications;
7. Discuss new therapeutic indications for existing drugs;
8. Discuss the emergence of new drugs with therapeutic interest in the pathologies addressed;
9. Analyse and interpret medical prescriptions;
10. Search and critically select relevant information;
11. Transmit scientific information in written and oral form, in language appropriate to the context;
12. Engage in intergroup and intragroup work dynamics.

Working method

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Students should have knowledge of human physiology, as well as the general mechanisms of action of drugs and their general cycle in the body.

Program

Pathophysiology, integrative pharmacology and pharmacotherapy of major cardiovascular and endocrine pathologies; mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetic characteristics and side-effects of the major drug groups used in the following pathologies:

1. Physiological and pathophysiological endocrine disorders:
   1. Infertility
   2. Contraceptives
   3. Pregnancy and childbirth
   4. Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism
   5. Osteoporosis
   6. Diabetes mellitus
2. Cardiovascular diseases:
   1. Arterial hypertension
   2. Angina pectoris
   3. Heart failure
   4. Acute myocardial infarction
   5. Stroke
   6. Dyslipidemia
   7. Venous insufficiency and venous thrombosis

Mandatory literature

Teaching methods and learning activities

Software

Evaluation Type

Assessment Components

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Eligibility for exams

Attendance: The presence of students in the laboratory classes is mandatory, being considered without attendance the students who are present is less than 75% of the total planned laboratory classes. Theoretical classes are not of mandatory assistance.

Frequency: According to the current evaluation rules of FFUP, obtaining frequency in laboratory classes in the academic years of 2020/2021, 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 is valid for the current academic year.

Calculation formula of final grade

Examinations or Special Assignments

In special cases an oral exam may be considered.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Classification improvement

The improvement of the theoretical classification can be performed, only once, until the time of appeal of the school year following that in which approval was obtained. The improvement of the distributed evaluation can only occur by a new frequency of the UC.

The final classification of the UC is the highest, among the one that had been obtained initially and the one that resulted from the improvement of the classification made.

Observations