Pharmacology

• Definitions and scope (pharmacology, pharmacy, therapeutics, toxicology)

• Sources and nomenclature of drugs

• Essential/generic drug concepts

• Drug absorption and bioavailability

• Drug distribution and protein binding

• Biotransformation/metabolism (Phase I and Phase II reactions)

+ 2 more cardinal subtopics

• Enteral routes

• Parenteral routes

• Other routes (topical, inhalational, transdermal)

• Drug receptors and mechanisms of drug action

• Dose-response relationships

• Agonists, partial agonists, antagonists

+ 1 more cardinal subtopics

• Pharmacokinetic interactions

• Pharmacodynamic interactions

• Types of adverse drug reactions

• Drug allergy and idiosyncrasy

• Drug tolerance and dependence

• Age (paediatric and geriatric pharmacology)

• Pregnancy and lactation

• Genetic/pharmacogenetic factors

+ 1 more cardinal subtopics

• Stages of drug development

• Clinical trial phases

• Pharmacovigilance and adverse event reporting

• Principles of rational prescribing

• Essential elements of a prescription

• Sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions

• Neurotransmitters and receptor subtypes

• Direct-acting cholinergic agonists

• Indirect-acting agents (anticholinesterases)

• Clinical uses and toxicity (organophosphate poisoning)

• Mechanism of action

• Clinical uses and adverse effects

• Mechanism of action

• Clinical relevance

• Depolarizing agents

• Non-depolarizing agents

• Direct-acting adrenergic agonists (alpha and beta)

• Indirect and mixed-acting sympathomimetics

• Clinical uses

• Alpha-blockers

• Beta-blockers (selective and non-selective)

• Diuretics

• ACE inhibitors and ARBs

• Calcium channel blockers

+ 2 more cardinal subtopics

• Nitrates

• Beta-blockers

• Calcium channel blockers

• Class I (sodium channel blockers)

• Class II (beta-blockers)

• Class III (potassium channel blockers)

+ 1 more cardinal subtopics

• Cardiac glycosides (digoxin)

• Diuretics

• ACE inhibitors/ARBs and beta-blockers

+ 1 more cardinal subtopics

• Statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors)

• Fibrates

• Bile acid sequestrants

+ 1 more cardinal subtopics

• Loop diuretics

• Thiazide diuretics

• Potassium-sparing diuretics

+ 3 more cardinal subtopics

• H2-receptor antagonists

• Proton pump inhibitors

• Antacids

+ 1 more cardinal subtopics

• Classification and mechanisms

• Classification and mechanisms

• Aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, biologics

• Beta-2 agonists

• Methylxanthines

• Anticholinergics

• Corticosteroids

• Leukotriene modifiers

• Mast cell stabilisers

• Classification and mechanisms

• Treatment principles

• Iron preparations

• Folic acid

• Vitamin B12

• Mechanism and clinical use

• Heparin (unfractionated and low molecular weight)

• Warfarin

• Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs)

• Mechanism and clinical use

• Mechanism and clinical use

• Vitamin K

• Antifibrinolytics

• Growth hormone, gonadotropins, ADH analogues

• Thyroid hormone replacement

• Antithyroid drugs (thionamides, iodine, radioactive iodine)

• Insulin types and regimens

• Sulfonylureas, biguanides, other oral agents

• Newer agents (GLP-1 agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors)

• Glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids

• Clinical uses and adverse effects

• Estrogens, progestins, androgens

• Hormonal contraceptives

• Calcium and vitamin D

• Bisphosphonates and other bone agents

• Calcineurin inhibitors

• Antiproliferative/cytotoxic agents

• Corticosteroids

• Mechanism and clinical use

• H1-receptor antagonists (first- and second-generation)

• Mechanism and clinical use in autoimmune disease

• Mechanism of action

• Stages of general anaesthesia

• Local anaesthetic agents

• Benzodiazepines

• Barbiturates

• Newer non-benzodiazepine agents

• Classification by mechanism

• Choice of drug by seizure type

• Typical and atypical antipsychotics

• SSRIs, TCAs, MAOIs, others

• Lithium and mood stabilisers

• Mechanism, agonists, partial agonists, antagonists

• Mechanism of action

• Adverse effects

• Dopaminergic agents

• Other classes

• Cholinesterase inhibitors

• NMDA receptor antagonists

• Classification and uses

• Mechanisms of toxicity

• Dose-response and toxicokinetics

• General approach to the poisoned patient

• Decontamination methods

• Specific antidotes

• Heavy metals

• Organophosphates

• Other common poisons

• Dependence and withdrawal syndromes

• Beta-lactams (penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems)

• Aminoglycosides

• Macrolides

+ 4 more cardinal subtopics

• Classification and mechanisms

• Antiretrovirals

• Other antivirals

• Antimalarials

• Agents for other protozoal infections

• Classification and mechanisms

• Cell-cycle specific and non-specific agents

• Principles of combination chemotherapy

• Selective toxicity

• Mechanisms of resistance