Principles of the therapeutic action of drugs acting at the central nervous system as well as chemotherapics, with particular attention to the following aspects:
a) main molecular mechanisms responsible for their action;
b) evaluation of efficacy and safety in the therapeutic field and the ability to prevent certain diseases or to alleviate their symptoms;
c) adverse and collateral effects that may limit its use;
d) pharmacological interactions
Annunziato L, Di Rienzo GF. Trattato di Farmacologia – III Edizione. Idelson-Gnocchi, 2020.
Katzung BG (Ed), Prezioni P, Mancuso C (cur). Farmacologia generale e clinica. XI edizione italiana. 2021
Brunton LL, Hilal-Dandan R, Knollmann BC (Ed). Goodman & Gilman: Le basi farmacologiche della terapia. Decima edizione, 2019.
Learning Objectives
The Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy II course aims to provide knowledge regarding the pharmacological basis of therapy and the pharmacological profiles of the most commonly used drugs acting at central nervous system and chemioterapics and.
At the end of the course, the student will be able to describe the therapeutic uses, the mechanism of action, the adverse reactions and contraindications and possible pharmacological interactions of the principal drugs used in therapy.
Prerequisites
General Pharmacology - Pharmacoterapy I
Teaching Methods
The course is organized in frontal lessons, during which the topics on the program will be illustrated, commented and applied in specific therapeutic examples. During the lessons, students are actively invited to take part in the discussion of the topics addressed.
Further information
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Type of Assessment
At least 6 official exams are scheduled, 3 in the winter session (January-February), 3 in the summer session (June-September); there are also 2 exam sessions in the periods of didactic silence during the two semesters. In case of failure, students can apply in the next useful exam session.
The final exam consists solely in an oral exam consisting of 3 questions aimed at ascertaining that the student has achieved the educational objectives and acquired sufficient knowledge on chemotherapy and on the pharmacology and pharmacotherapy of drugs acting in the central nervous system. The final evaluation takes into account also the property of language, clarity in the presentation and the ability to connect the different topics.
The grade, expressed out of thirty, assigned based in the evaluation grid available on the website of the CdS (Didactics - Criteria for assigning votes for exams).
The dates of the exam sessions are available on the web page set up for online registration.
Course program
NEUROPHARMACOLOGY
- Central nervous system: anatomical and functional organization and neurotransmission systems.
- Drugs for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia
- Drugs for the treatment of epilepsies
- Drugs to treat mood disorders (major depression and bipolar disorder)
- Drugs for the treatment of psychosis (anti-psychotics, anti-maniacs)
- Drugs for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson, Alzheimer, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
- Drugs to treat pain (acuto e cronico)
- General anaesthetics
- Drugs to treat cephalalgia
-Endocannabinoid system and therapeutic use of Cannabis products
CHEMOTHERAPY
- General principles of antibiotic therapy.
Antibacterial agents: penicillins, cephalosporins and other β-lactam antibiotics; aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, macrolides, lincosamides, amphenicles, quinolones, sulfonamides, trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole, rifamycins.
- Antifungal agents.
- Antiviral agents: drugs used for the treatment of influenza, herpes virus infections, hepatitis virus, HIV.
- Antiprotozoans and anthelmintics
- General principles and drugs used in antitumoral chemotherapy: antimetabolites, alkylating and cytotoxic agents, topoisomerase inhibitors, , microtubule inhibitors, platinum coordination complexes,