Introduction to Pharmacology

Catalog description

This course introduces the nature of drugs and their mechanisms of action by examining basic concepts on how drugs interact with the human body (pharmacokinetics) and on how the human body alters the effects of drugs (pharmacodynamics). Emphasis is placed on drugs affecting the nervous system, which includes but are not limited to: CNS depressants, CNS stimulants, hallucinogens, narcotic analgesics, sedatives and autonomics drugs. Along with a few laboratory exercises, this course is designed to have a broad appeal to many science and nonscience majors. The course allows for a review of key topics in general biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology that supports the study of pharmacology.