9 ECTS credits
270 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 1023144BNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.
In the first part of the course, we discuss the different groups of endogenous mediators and their biological targets, on which the mechanism of action of a very large part of clinically used drugs is based. We study the cholinergic system, biogenic amines, major amino acids, purines, NO, some lipid mediators and principles of peptidergic neurotransmission.
The second and largest part of the course discusses the different groups of drugs that act on the different organs, drugs that act on the nervous system, drugs used in pain, inflammation, allergy and modulators of the immune system, antimicrobials, and drugs used in oncology. Here, the "Commented Drug Directory " is used so that the student immediately learns to use this source of information. This course emphasises the mechanisms of action of the drugs, the main indications, contraindications and side effects, the precautions most important for clinical practice, and relevant interactions with other drugs. Clinical case histories are used where appropriate to support the translation of theoretical concepts into practical application.
The third part covers "general" aspects of pharmacotherapy. This includes the following: rational pharmacotherapy, practical approach to a pharmacotherapy problem, basic notions of how drugs are developed and registered, understanding how drugs are evaluated, knowledge of how drugs should be prescribed and how this is regulated, pharmacotherapy in special patient groups, pharmacotherapy and genetic polymorphism, adherence, detection and classification of adverse effects, and post-marketing drug surveillance.
All material is uploaded via the e-learning platform.
Gecommentarieerd Geneesmiddelen Repertorium; Folia Farmacotherapeutica
Website of the Belgisch Centrum voor Farmacotherapeutische Informatie: http://www.bcfi.be
Complementary study material:
Pharmacology, Rang, Dale, Ritter, Moore, Churchill Livingstone, 2003
Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific basis and practical applications, Stephen M Stahl, Cambridge University Press, 2008
Students should acquire an understanding of the operational mechanisms, the favourable and adverse pharmacological effects and the other clinically relevant effects (pharmacokinetics, interactions) of the main classes of medicines.
Students will learn how to obtain information about medicines, how to critically assess this information and which criteria can be used for selecting medicines and composing a personal formulary.
Student will also acquire an understanding of the basic concepts of rational pharmacotherapy and learn how to use the right medicine in the right way.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 100% of the final mark.
Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Written exam with mainly open questions and some multiple choice questions. As multiple-choice questions may require several answers to be ticked as correct, no guess correction is introduced.
The final mark is the weighted average of the partial marks obtained in the written exam for the components taught by Prof Smolders (45%), Prof Brouwers (45%) and Prof Lacor (10%). If a partial mark is less than or equal to 7/20, the final mark cannot exceed the lowest partial mark. A transfer of partial marks to second term cannot be obtained. A transfer of partial points to the next academic year cannot be obtained either.
Biomedical science students who wish to take the subject "clinical pharmacology and pharmacotherapy" as an elective and who wish to obtain partial exemption based on the acquired credit for the subject "topics in pharmacology", should contact the lecturers of the subject " clinical pharmacology and pharmacotherapy " in writing before 1 March in order to officialise this partial exemption.
A fail in this subject is never allowed.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences: default (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences: Verkort traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Biomedical Sciences: Management and Business (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Biomedical Sciences: Clinical Biomedical Sciences (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Biomedical Research: Standaard traject