Course

‘Pharmacotherapeutics I – Theory’ is a course offered in the second year of Pharm. D. program at School of Pharmacy, Health Sciences campus, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham.

Course Duration: 3 Hrs./Week

Scope:

This course is designed to impart knowledge and skills necessary for contribution to quality use of medicines. Chapters dealt cover briefly pathophysiology and mostly therapeutics of various diseases. This will enable the student to understand the pathophysiology of common diseases and their management.

Objectives of the Subject

At completion of this subject it is expected that students will be able to understand –

1. The pathophysiology of selected disease states and the rationale for drug therapy;
2. The therapeutic approach to management of these diseases;
3. The controversies in drug therapy;
4. The importance of preparation of individualised therapeutic plans based on diagnosis;
5. Needs to identify the patient-specific parameters relevant in initiating drug therapy, and monitor- ing therapy (including alternatives, time-course of clinical and laboratory indices of therapeutic response and adverse effects);
6. Describe the pathophysiology of selected disease states and explain the rationale for drug thera- py;
7. Summarise the therapeutic approach to management of these diseases including reference to the latest available evidence;
8. Discuss the controversies in drug therapy;
9. Discuss the preparation of individualised therapeutic plans based on diagnosis; and
10. Identify the patient-specific parameters relevant in initiating drug therapy, and monitoring thera- py (including alternatives, time-course of clinical and laboratory indices of therapeutic response and adverse effects).

Text books (Theory)

1. Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics – Roger and Walker, Churchill Livingstone publication.
2. Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic approach – Joseph T. Dipiro et al. Appleton & Lange.

Reference Books (Theory)

1. Pathologic basis of disease – Robins SL, W.B.Saunders publication.
2. Pathology and therapeutics for Pharmacists: A Basis for Clinical Pharmacy Practice – Green and Harris, Chapman and Hall publication.
3. Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics – Eric T. Herfindal, Williams and Wilkins Publication.
4. Applied Therapeutics:The clinical Use of Drugs. Lloyd Young and Koda-Kimble MA
5. Avery’s Drug Treatment, 4th Edn, 1997, Adis International Limited.
6. Relevant review articles from recent medical and pharmaceutical literature.

Etiopathogenesis and pharmacotherapy of diseases associated with following systems/ diseases

Title of the topic

1. Cardiovascular system: Hypertension, Congestive cardiac failure, Angina Pectoris, Myocardial infarction, , Hyperlipidaemias, Electrophysiology of heart and Arrhythmias
2. Respiratory system: Introduction to Pulmonary function test, Asthma, Chronic obstructive airways dis- ease, Drug induced pulmonary diseases Endocrine system : Diabetes, Thyroid diseases, Oral contracep- tives, Hormone replacement therapy, Osteoporosis
3. General prescribing guidelines for
   1. Paediatric patients
   2. Geriatric patients
   3. Pregnancy and breast feeding
4. Ophthalmology: Glaucoma, Conjunctivitis- viral & bacterial
5. Introduction to rational drug use

Definition, Role of pharmacist Essential drug concept Rational drug formulations