Pharmacology is the study of drugs and their origin, including its nature, properties and effects on living organisms. It studies and evaluates the drug’s potential therapeutic value and throws light in the discovery, composition, identification, biological/physiological effects and use of drugs.

The broad goal of the teaching of undergraduate students in Pharmacology is to inculcate a rational and scientific basic of therapeutics.

Objectives

• Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of essential and commonly used drugs.
• Indication, contraindication, interactions and adverse reactions of commonly used drugs.
• Pharmacokinetic basis, clinical presentation diagnosis and management of common poisonings.
• List the drugs of addiction and recommend the management.
• Environmental and occupational pollutants and state the management methods.
• Integrate the concept of rational drug therapy in clinical pharmacology.
• Principles underlying the concept of “essential drugs”
• Ethics and modalities in the development and introduction of new drugs.

The above objectives will be covered using theory lectures, small group discussions, simulated clinical case discussions, therapeutic auditing, problem based learning, manikins for demonstration of various routes of drug administration, and e – learning. An overlap between theory and practical classes will serve to reinforce and complement each other.