The Pharmacology course within the Health Engineering Degree provides students with the necessary foundations for this professional profile in the following interrelated fields of knowledge: Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Technology, and Pharmacotherapy.
Titular Professors
Chemistry, Biochemistry, Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Physiopathology
The objectives of the course are:
1- To acquire basic knowledge in Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Technology, and Pharmacotherapy to apply it in the field of Engineering.
2- To understand the processes of drug development and commercialization, as well as basic notions of administration methods, drug preparation, safety, the most common therapeutic groups, and the most relevant pharmacological treatments.
1.- Pharmacology Basics
1.1.- Pharmacodynamics (Principles of drug action and Drug–receptor interactions)
1.2.- Pharmacokinetics (Drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion)
1.3.- Pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics
1.4.- Toxicology basics
2.- Pharmaceutical Technologies
2.1.- Pharmaceutical formulation and Dosage Forms
2.2.- Enteral formulations
2.3.- Topical formulations
2.4.- Parenteral formulations
2.5.- Other formulations
2.6.- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
2.7.- Medicines packaging and conditioning
3.- Drug Development, Pharmacotherapeutic Process and eHealth
3.1.- Drug Research, Development and Marketing.
3.2.- Integrated Healthcare process and Pharmacotherapeutic Process. Diagnosis, Indication, Prescription, Dispensing, Administration.
3.3.- Drug-related problems, Adverse Drug Reactions and Deprescription.
3.4.- Conciliation, Adherence, Medication Review, Medication Use Review and Medication Therapy Management.
3.5.- Interprofessional Communication and eHealth Systems.
3.6.- Drug misuse and dependence
ATC - Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System and International Non-propietary Names (INN) for Pharmaceutical Substances
A - Alimentary tract and metabolism
A.1.- Drugs acting on the gastrointestinal tract
A.2.- Antidiabetic agents
B - Blood and blood forming organs
B.1.-Drugs used to affect blood coagulation
B.2.- Agents used in anaemias
C - Cardiovascular system
C.1.- Drugs used in hypertension
C.2.- Lipid-lowering drugs
C.3.- Drugs used in angina
C.4.- Antiarrhythmic drugs
C.5.- Drugs used in heart failure
D - Dermatologicals
G - Genito-urinary system and sex hormones: Sex hormones and drugs
H - Systemic hormonal preparations, excluding sex hormones and insulins
H.1.- Thyroid and antithyroid drugs
H.2.- Corticosteroids
J - Antiinfectives for systemic use
J.1.- Antibacterial drugs
J.2.- Antifungal drugs
J.3.- Antiviral drugs
L - Antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents
L.1.- Drugs used in cancer
L.2.- Immunosuppressants and antirheumatoid drugs
M - Musculo-skeletal system: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioid analgesics
N - Nervous system
N.1.- Local anaesthetics
N.2.- Drugs acting on the autonomic nervous system and anticholinergic burden
N.3.- General anaesthetics
N.4.- Anxiolytics and hypnotics
N.5.- Antiepileptic drugs
N.6.- Drugs used in Parkinson’s disease
N.7.- Drugs used in Alzheimer’s disease
N.8.- Antipsychotic drugs (aka neuroleptics)
N.9.- Antidepressants
P - Antiparasitic products, insecticides and repellents
R - Respiratory system: COPD, asthma, hay fever and anaphylaxis
S - Sensory organs: Ocular pharmacology
The Pharmacology course will combine theoretical sessions with practical application sessions and continuous assessment, consisting of various activities: guided resolution of exercises and cases, seminars on real applications of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Engineering, directed assignments, and cooperative learning. Activities will be proposed for students to complete and submit to the teacher, and others will be conducted and/or presented in class, with the aim of promoting active participation.
Students will be assessed through a continuous and global evaluation of competencies in Pharmacology, including group-based practical activities focused on solving pharmacotherapeutic problems, ongoing theoretical assessments, and exams, taking into account proactivity, collaborative work, and the consolidation of knowledge, with minimum requirements across components to pass the course and resit opportunities in the extraordinary examination period.
Assessment will consider participation in practical group activities, acquisition of theoretical knowledge, and the ability to apply it in real situations, including pharmacotherapeutic processes, identification of therapeutic groups, drug safety, and individual variability
- Rang & Dale's Pharmacology. 10th Edition. Elsevier; 2023.
- Neal M J. Medical Pharmacology at a Glance. 9th Edition. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell; 2020.
- Katzung's Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 16th Edition. New York: Lange
- McGraw Hill; 2019. - Lorenzo Fernández P, et al. dirs. Velázquez. Manual de farmacología. Básica y clínica. 1a ed. Madrid: Ed. Médica Panamericana; 2012.
Further additional material can be provided along the course. Check basic bibliography.