DIA 2006

Introduction to Pharmacology

A/P. Dr. Kiew Lik Voon

Dept. of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine
Pharmacology
• Science on the effects of drugs on living system

• “Pharmakon” = drug

• “logia” = rational discussion

• Drug:
a chemical substance used in the
treatment, cure,
prevention, diagnosis
of disease or used to otherwise enhance physical or mental well-being
History of Pharmacology
Time Event

4200 BC discovery of poppy seed capsules at the

burial site of neolithic settlements in
Spain

1st century The discipline of “Materia Medica”:

• the body of collected knowledge

about the therapeutic properties of
any substance used for healing

• = present day “pharmacology”

16th century • use of chemicals (Zinc) and minerals in
medicine

18th century • Use of plants (Foxgloves or Digitalis

purpurea, contains digoxin) to treat
dropsy in England

19th century • Medical use of plant derived chemicals

(Morphine from opium poppy)

• First institute of Pharmacology

established in Estonia

20th century • Official bodies e.g. FDA, EMA established

to regulate the use of drugs in human
Sources of drugs
Natural
• Plants : morphine, digoxin, atropine etc.
• Animals : insulin
• Minerals : lithium citrate, magnesium sulphate
• Microorganisms: penicillin, streptomycin

Synthetic
• produced by synthetic chemistry by modification of chemical structure of an
existing drug
• e.g. Heroin from morphine

Biopharmaceuticals
• Therapeutic agents produced via biotechnology
• e.g.: antibodies, enzymes, hormones, vaccine, growth factors & cytokines.
 Stages of Drug Development

RANG AND DALE’S Pharmacology, 6th edition

Drug patency

• R&D : averagely 12 years, cost >1 billion USD

• Patent : granted for up to 20 years in most countries

• Generic drugs

• Once the patent expires, generic drug companies are free to make
and sell that drug under different names.

• Generic drugs are ‘bioequivalent’ to the proprietary drug

• The price is much more cheaper

Drug nomenclature

Explanation Example

Chemical (IUPAC) • Denotes the chemical structure of the drug N-(4-

name hydroxyphenyl)
• not to be written in prescription acetamide

Non-proprietary • General name for the drug Paracetamol

name (generic name)
• used in prescription

Proprietary name • Name given by the drug manufacturer Panadol

(brand name) Uphamol
• Can be used in prescription
Classification of Drugs
• Therapeutic or clinical use
• Analgesics
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antihypertensive, etc.

• • Mode or site of action

• Beta blocker
• Proton pump inhibitor, etc.

• • Chemical structure or groups

• Amine/ amide
• Salicylates, steroids, etc.
DIA 2006 Course contents
Semester 1

General Pharmacology
(pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics)

Drugs acting on Autonomic Nervous System

(drug s acting on sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous
systems)

Drug acting on Musculoskeletal system

(Opioids analgesics, NSAIDs, etc.)

Infection/antimicrobials
(Antimycobacterials/antifungal/cell wall inhibitors, antivirals, etc.)
Semester 2

• Principles of Anaesthesia (General and local)

• Central Nervous System (CNS)

• Endocrine System

• Respiratory System

• Haemopoietic System

• Cardiovascular System (CVS)

• Renal System

• Cancer chemotherapy, etc.

General Pharmacology Antimicrobial / Chemotherapy
DIA 2006 Course
Pharmacokinetics I
Pharmacokinetics II
Principles of Antimicrobial
Chemotherapy
contents
Pharmacokinetics III Cell Wall Inhibitors
Pharmacokinetics IV Protein Synthesis Inhibitors
Pharmacodynamics I Nucleic Acid Inhibitors
Pharmacodynamics II Antimycobacterial / Antifungal Agents
Factors Affecting Drug Responses Antiviral Agents
Principles of Cancer Chemotherapy

ANS Drugs Anti-coagulation / Coagulation

Cholinoceptor Agonists and Drugs Affecting Blood Coagulation I
Anticholinesterases Agents Drugs Affecting Blood Coagulation II
Antimuscarinic Drugs Coagulation?
Neuromuscular Blocking Agents
Sympathomimetic Agents
Adrenoceptor Antagonists
Psychomed Others

Analgesics / Anti-inflammatory Sedative and Hypnotic Agents Antipsychotics

Antidepressants Antiepileptics
Opioid Analgesics I Drugs of Abuse Hypoglycaemic Agents
Opioid Analgesics II Drug Legislation Antithyroid Agents
Antipyretic Analgesics Drugs used in Peptic Ulcer
Non-Steroidal Antiinflammatory Agents Drugs Affecting the Respiratory System
Corticosteroids and Analogues I
Drugs Affecting the Respiratory System
II
Anaesthetics Antianginal Drugs
Drugs in Heart Failure
Preanaesthetic Medication
Diuretics
Principles of Anaesthesia
Antihypertensive Agents
General Anaesthetic Agents I
Drug Interactions
General Anaesthetic Agents II
Local Anaesthetic Agents
• Teaching mode

• Lectures
• Practical sessions (7 sessions)
• Tutorials (10 tutorials)

• Teaching materials

• Lecture notes/outlines and Practical manual

• E-learning

• To download lecture notes/announcement/course content, etc.

• Log on to: http://spectrum.um.edu.my/
• Click Farmakologi (DIA2006)
Attendance
• Compulsory to achieve at least 80% to all lectures, practicals and
tutorials

• Failure to comply will cause student can be barred from examinations

• Please obtain written approval from dental deans office if you want to
be excused from the above activities.
Assessment

Please obtain written approval from dental deans office if you want to be excused from
any of the exams.
References

• Rang and Dale’s Pharmacology (Rang, Dale, Ritter & Flower, 8th edition)

• Basic & Clinical Pharmacology (Katzung, 13th edition)

• Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews: Pharmacology (Harvey, 6th edition).

Contact:

A/P Dr. Kiew Lik Voon Tel: 03 - 7967 5720

Coordinator lvkiew@ummc.edu.my

Dr. Ajantha Sinniah Tel: 03 – 7967 2067

Co-coordinator ajantha.sinniah@um.edu.my

Ms. Noor Shafila Shafie Tel: 03 - 7967 4706

Assistant coordinator shafilashafie@um.edu.my