OVERVIEW

The Course of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy is given in the first semester of the fourth year of the Master's Degree in Pharmacy and is part of the main subjects of the course of study. The course is worth 11 CFU.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide students with fundamental and in-depth knowledge on the different classes of drugs with regard to their cellular and molecular mechanism(s) of action, and  to other aspects relating to their administration, metabolism, therapeutic actions, side effects and toxicity.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy aims to provide an in-depth knowledge of the pharmacological effects of the different categories of drugs used in therapy and their application in human pathologies. This objective will be achieved through updated teaching regarding the mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics and pharmacological effects of the various classes of drugs, as well as aspects related to their use in clinical practice, their adverse effects and contraindications to their use. The lessons will deal with the various classes of drugs used in clinical practice, organized according to their therapeutic use based on the pathologies, organs or systems that are the target of their effects. Topics of incresaing importance,  such as biotechnological drugs, pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics and their impact on the use of drugs in therapy, will also be illustrated. A further objective will be to develop basic skills, such as functional literacy, together with basic personal and social skills that are important in the pharmacist profession.

At the end of the course, as learning outcomes, the student of the Master's Degree in Pharmacy will have to: demonstrate knowledge of the different classes of medicines for the different pathologies illustrated during the course, remember the names of the active ingredients, demonstrate knowledge of their molecular and cellular mechanisms of action, describe the main pharmacokinetic characteristics, analyze the most important side effects and contraindications, discuss the different pharmacotherapeutic aspects.

PREREQUISITES

The courses of Elements of Mathematics, Physics, General and Inorganic Chemistry, Anatomy, Animal Biology, General Physiology, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry and Applied Biochemistry, General Pharmacology and Toxicology, General Pathology are preparatory to the course of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy.

TEACHING METHODS

The course of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy includes lectures that involve students with questions and scientific reasoning on the pharmacotherapeutic aspects of medicines. During the lessons, the topics reported in the syllabus will be illustrated in a complete and detailed manner. The teacher may also use the peer education and peer evaluation mode to enable students to actively learn and acquire the ability to communicate effectively orally with appropriate terms; this activity may be carried out individually, in pairs or in groups, and may include a presentation to the class of the selected topic, with subsequent analysis by the teacher and the rest of the class.

The teaching material used during the lectures will be accessible on the AulaWeb portal.

In the event that particular problems arise that do not allow teaching in person (e.g. hydrogeological emergency), the lessons will be delivered via videoconference using the Microsoft Teams online platform. The teacher will promptly inform students of any changes via the AulaWeb website.

Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), disabilities or other educational needs regularly presented to the University, are invited to contact the teacher and the School/Department disability contact person (Prof. Luca Raiteri, Luca.Raiteri@unige.it) at the beginning of the course to agree on any teaching methods that, in compliance with the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning methods.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Drugs for the treatment of peripheral nervous system diseases

- Peripheral nervous system (autonomic and motor: anatomical and functional organization)
- Acetylcholine (peripheral and central synapse)
- Pharmacology of the parasympathetic nervous system
- Adrenaline and Noradrenaline (peripheral and central synapse)
- Pharmacology of the sympathetic nervous system

Drugs for the treatment of diseases of the central nervous system
- Central nervous system (anatomical and functional organization)
- Excitatory and inhibitory transmission (GABA, glutamic acid, glycine, serotonin, dopamine, noradreanlina, peptides, opioids, cannabinoids)
- Drugs for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia
- Drugs for the treatment of epilepsies
- Drugs to treat affective disorders (major depression and bipolar disorder)
- Drugs to treat psychosis (schizophrenia, manias)
- Drugs for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Huntington's Core, Multiple Sclerosis)​​

Drugs for the treatment of glaucoma

Anesthetic drugs​
- General anesthetics
- Local anesthetics

Drugs for the treatment of pain and inflammation
- Opioid analgesic drugs
- Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Drugs for the treatment of neuropathic pain
- Drugs for the treatment of migraine and headache

Drugs for the treatment of respiratory system diseases
- Drugs for the treatment of bronchial asthma
- Drugs for the treatment of cough

Drugs for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases
- Drugs for the treatment of peptic ulcer
- Drugs for the treatment of emesis
- Drugs for the treatment of constipation
- Drugs for the treatment of diarrhea

Drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular and renal system diseases
- Drugs for the treatment of hypertension
- Drugs for the treatment of ischemic heart disease
- Drugs for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias
- Drugs for the treatment of heart failure
- Antiplatelet / fibrinolytic, anticoagulant, thrombolytic drugs
- Drugs for the treatment of bleeding
- Diuretic drugs

Drugs for the therapy of metabolic dysfunctions
- Drugs for the treatment of diabetes
- Drugs for the treatment of dyslipidemia
- Drugs for the treatment of obesity

Pharmacogenetics/pharmacogenomics​ for precision medicine

Biotechnological drugs 

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Recommended textbooks

Laurence L. Brunton, Randa Hilal-Dandan, Bjorn C. Knollmann.
Goodmann & Gilman. The pharmacological basis of therapy
Editor: McGraw-Hill Education

Bertram G. Katzung, Todd W. Vanderah
Basic & Clinical Pharmacology
McGraw Hill

Derek G. Waller, Andrew G. Renwick, Keith Hillier
Medical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Editor: Elsevier

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Classes for this course will start on September 22, 2025 and the timetable can be found at: Portale EasyAcademy.

Class schedule

PHARMACOLOGY AND PHARMACOTERAPY

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The course of  Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy involves an oral exam of a duration of approximately 30 min. 

To take the exam, students must have passed the exam of the following disciplines: Mathematics, Physics, General and Inorganic Chemistry, Anatomy, Vegetal and Animal Biology, General Physiology, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry and Applied Biochemistry, General Pharmacology and Toxicology.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The assessment of learning outcomes will be carried by the Examining Board during the oral exam by evaluating the student's competence on the different topics of the course program, the use of appropriate scientific terminology and capabilities of scientific reasoning. In case the learning objectives are not achieved, the student will be invited to further verify his/her knowledge and possibly request further clarifications/explanations by contacting the teacher.

Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), disabilities or other educational needs regularly presented to the University, may request adaptations during the exam which must be made strictly at least 10 working days before the scheduled exam date by carefully following the instructions in the link to the page https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/comunicazioni.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For any other information not reported in these sections, please contact the teacher directly (ernesto.fedele@unige.it).