Pharmacology

Objectives

Acute or chronic illness leads to the use of drugs to restore health. Proteins, carbohydrates and fat present in foods can alter drug absorption and metabolism and therefore affect drugs efficacy. Also, drugs can affect body nutrition. Therefore, nutrients-drugs interactions are very common and have a huge clinical relevance since they can alter the risk/benefit of drugs and body’s nutritional state. Its imperative for a Nutritional professional to know the different drugs, their mechanisms of action, its pharmacokinetics as well as to know how a nutritional plan can affect drugs action and vice-versa, in order to optimize drug efficacy.
The knowledge acquired in this curricular unit will allow the students to:
• understand the drugs mechanisms of action and their therapeutic usage
• understand and identify the major food/nutrient-drug interactions
• acquire the pharmacological competences and background for a correct handling of Nutritional Sciences

General characterization

Code

41026

Credits

4

Responsible teacher

Prof.ª Doutora Sílvia Margarida Vilares Santos Conde

Hours

Weekly - Available soon

Total - Available soon

Teaching language

Portuguese

Prerequisites

 

Bibliography

• Guimarães, S., Moura, D., Soares da Silva, P. (2014). Terapêutica Medicamentosa e suas bases Farmacológicas. Porto: Porto Editora
• Golan, D.E., Tashjian, A.H, Armstrong, E., Galanter J.M., Armstrong A.W., Arnaout R.A., Rose H.S.(2011) Principles of Pharmacology: The Pathophysiologic Basis of Drug Therapy (3rd edition).Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
• Mahan L.K., Escott-Stump S. (2013) Krause: Alimentos, Nutrição e Dietoterapia (13ª edição). São Paulo: Elsevier.
• Artigos científicos, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, http://pcs.isiknowledge.com
• Classificação de receptores, http://iuphardb.org

Teaching method

Pharmacology is a one-semester course that has a workload of 4 ECTS with 3 contact hours /week: 2h of lectures and 1h of formative evaluation classes. Theoretical classes can be face-to-face sessions or synchronous online sessions. Formative evaluation classes should be face-to-face sessions, however, they can exceptionally be transformed into synchronous online sessions.
Teaching language is Portuguese but the slides content and bibliography are in English The teaching support material will be available online platform Moodle.

Evaluation method

Evaluation
Final evaluation includes the distributed evaluation obtained in small groups teaching (30%); a written multiple-choice test (70%) in Portuguese (compulsory) and an oral (optional) exam. A minimal grade of 9.5/20 in both exams is needed to get approval, except for foreign students where no minimal scores in the written test are required.
The evaluation of the practical component will be carry out by the individual and/or group practical activities and in which will be valued the effective participation in the discussion of texts, production and presentation of papers and peer review. For the assessment will also take into account the procedures and attitudes of students, such as attendance, punctuality in delivery of the proposed activities, interaction with classmates and the ethical and professional posture.

Subject matter

CP1. Fundamental Principles of Pharmacology
a. General concepts: drug, toxic, nutrient
b. Pharmacodynamics: Molecular mechanisms of drug action
c. Dosage Forms
d. Pharmacokinetics: Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
CP2. Pharmacology of the Central Nervous System
a. Neurodegenerative diseases
b. Depression and anxiety
c. Epilepsy
d. Schizophrenia
e. Pain.
f. Migraine
CP3. Pharmacology of the Autonomous Nervous System: adrenergic and cholinergic transmission
CP4. Digestive system pharmacology
a. Anti-secretory drugs
b. Drugs affecting gastrointestinal motility
c. Anti-emetic drugs
CP5. Endocrine pharmacology:
a. Obesity
b. Diabetes
c. Bone metabolism
d. Thyroid
e. Drugs used for contraception and hormonal replacement therapy
CP6. Pharmacology of corticosteroids and anabolic steroids CP7. Cardiovascular Pharmacology
a. Coagulation and Hemostasis
b. Arterial Hypertension and heart failure
c. Atherosclerosis and dyslipidemias
CP8. Respiratory system pharmacology
a. Anti-inflammatory drugs
b. Broncodilatators
CP9. Antibiotics, antiviral and antifungics. CP10. Anti-neoplasics
CP11. Drug abuse
a. Alcohol
b. Nicotine
c. Sports doping
CP12. Drug-Nutrient Interactions
a. Major pharmacokinetic interactions
b. Dietary supplements
c. Drug-plant interactions

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: