Clinical Pharmacology

This course Unit is a continuation of Basic Pharmacology and focuses of various medicines affecting the various body systems in normal and diseased states. It also prepares students with skills for proper administration of drugs acting on special organs of the eye, ear, and nose. It also covers the use minerals, vitamins and other food supplements and effects of poisons on cells, tissues, organs and the systems. The course further prepares students to make informed decision(s) in managing complex situations of concomitant disorders in patient(s).  Prerequisites: Basic Pharmacology. Co-requisites; Pathophysiology

COURSE OBJECTIVES

B

By the end of this course, the student will be able to:

●      Describe the influence of drugs on the different body systems

●      Identify specific drugs for the specific systems and their clinical uses.

●      List the adverse effects, side effects and contra-indications of the drugs.

●      Explain essential micronutrients commonly used in the treatment of some diseases.

●      Identify causes of poisoning and manage it in health facilities and at homes.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES 

By the end of this course, the student will be able to:

●      Apply the knowledge of the different drugs to manage the systemic disorders.

●      Use the knowledge of antidotes to manage poisoning and adverse drug reactions in patients

Make informed decision in using systemic drugs to manage multiple simultaneous disorders in patient(s)

DETAILED COURSE CONTENT

Unit I:   Autacoids: Analgesics, antipyretics and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Unit II: Drugs acting on the cardiovascular system: Cardiac stimulants and depressants, Antianginal agents, Antihypertensives, antiarrhythmic agents, vasodilators, Antilipidemics, Stimulants of blood cells, Coagulants &Anticoagulants, Glycosides and Heamatinics.

Unit III: Urinary systems: Diuretics, drugs used to alter pH of urine, Uricosuric acid agents (drugs which alter excretion of organic molecules) and other drugs used in some urinary tract disorders

Unit IV: Drugs acting on the digestive system: Anti-ulcer drugs, antidiarrheal, antispasmodics, laxatives and purgatives agents, emetics and anti-emetics.

Unit V: Drugs used to treat respiratory disorders: Antihistamine and nasal decongestants; expectorants and antitussives; bronchodilators and other drugs.

Unit VI: Drugs affecting the endocrine system: Pituitary hormones and their hypothalamic releasing factors; thyroid and antithyroid drugs; estrogens and progestins; androgens; insulin, oral hypoglycemic agents and hyperglycemics

Unit VII:   Drugs acting on reproductive systems: sex hormones with their receptor agonist and Agonists, Contraception and contraceptives, oxytocic, tocolytics, fertility agents, sexual stimulants.

Unit VIII: Drug use in Special Cases (pregnancy, pediatrics, and geriatrics): Drugs known to produce foetal abnormalities; drugs suspected to produce foetal abnormalities; drugs which probably do not harm the foetus. Drugs used in new born infants and during breastfeeding (lactation).

Unit IX:   Drugs used on skin, and its appendages: Dermatological, ENT, Ophthalmologic    agents.

Unit X:   Food supplements and Nutraceuticals: vitamins, Fibre and minerals;

Unit XI: Toxicology and Its Management: Poisoning; causes, prevention and management

 

Delivery Mode

  • Modified lectures
  • Demonstrations
  • Practical
  • Simulation
  • Role play
  • Group discussion
  • Supervised practice

Practical Activities

●      Animal models of effects of the different systemic drugs (in-vitro and in-vivo experiments).

 

Practical objectives

Upon completion of the course the student will be able to:

●      Classify the systemic drugs.

 Assessment

Progressive assessment 40% (Course work 10%, Course test 10%, practical 20%)

Summative Assessment 60%

 Required Text

Katzung, BG, Masters, SB & Trevor, AJ, (2019) Basic and Clinical Pharmacology: McGraw-Hill

 Recommended readings

Rang, HP, Dale, MM, Ritter, Flower, R (2014) Rang & Dale's Pharmacology: Churchill

Uganda Ministry of Health (2016). Uganda Clinical Guidelines: MOH, Uganda

Clayton, B.D. & Stock, Y.N. (2001). Basic pharmacology for nurses. Philadelphia: Lippincott.

Gatford, J.D & Anderson, R. E. 1999. Nursing calculations Edinburgh: Churchill

Gutierrez, K. (1999). Pharmacotherapeutics: clinical decision making in nursing:  Saunders.

Goodman and Gilman (2018) The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics: McGraw-Hill