Pharmacology

The Science of Drug Action

Course Overview

Pharmacology is the study of how drugs interact with biological systems to produce therapeutic effects. This comprehensive course covers drug discovery and development, pharmacokinetics (what the body does to drugs), pharmacodynamics (what drugs do to the body), and the mechanisms of action across all major drug classes.

From molecular receptor interactions to clinical applications, you'll gain a deep understanding of how medications work at every level โ€” from the atomic scale of drug-receptor binding to the systemic effects that define therapeutic outcomes.

Connection to Molecular Biology

Pharmacology and molecular biology are deeply intertwined. Drug targets are molecular structures โ€” proteins, enzymes, ion channels, and nucleic acids. Understanding molecular biology is essential for understanding how drugs work.

โ†’ Molecular Biology Course

DNA, RNA, proteins, and cellular processes that form the basis of drug targets

โ†’ Enzyme Kinetics

Michaelis-Menten kinetics essential for understanding enzyme inhibitors

โ†’ Ion Channels

Voltage-gated and ligand-gated channels targeted by many CNS drugs

โ†’ Protein Folding

Protein structure determines drug binding sites and specificity

Fundamental Concepts

Pharmacokinetics (PK)

"What the body does to the drug"

  • โ€ข Absorption โ€” Drug entry into bloodstream
  • โ€ข Distribution โ€” Spread to tissues
  • โ€ข Metabolism โ€” Biotransformation (liver)
  • โ€ข Excretion โ€” Elimination (kidneys)

Pharmacodynamics (PD)

"What the drug does to the body"

  • โ€ข Drug-receptor interactions
  • โ€ข Dose-response relationships
  • โ€ข Agonists vs antagonists
  • โ€ข Signal transduction cascades

Key Pharmacological Equations

Law of Mass Action (Drug-Receptor Binding)

$$[D] + [R] \underset{k_{-1}}{\overset{k_1}{\rightleftharpoons}} [DR]$$

Drug (D) binds to receptor (R) to form drug-receptor complex (DR)

Dissociation Constant (K_D)

$$K_D = \frac{k_{-1}}{k_1} = \frac{[D][R]}{[DR]}$$

Lower K_D = higher affinity; drug concentration at 50% receptor occupancy

Hill Equation (Dose-Response)

$$E = \frac{E_{max} \cdot [D]^n}{EC_{50}^n + [D]^n}$$

Effect (E) as function of drug concentration; n = Hill coefficient (cooperativity)

First-Order Elimination

$$C(t) = C_0 \cdot e^{-k_e t} \quad \text{where} \quad t_{1/2} = \frac{0.693}{k_e}$$

Plasma concentration over time; half-life determines dosing intervals

Course Contents

Part 1: Foundations

Drug discovery, development, clinical trials, regulatory approval

Part 2: Pharmacokinetics

ADME, compartment models, drug interactions

Part 3: Pharmacodynamics

Drug-receptor interactions, dose-response, signal transduction

Part 4: Molecular Pharmacology

GPCRs, ion channels, enzyme-linked receptors, second messengers

Part 5: Autonomic Pharmacology

Cholinergic, adrenergic, and neuromuscular drugs

Part 6: CNS Pharmacology

Anxiolytics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, opioids, anesthetics

Part 7: Cardiovascular

Antihypertensives, antiarrhythmics, anticoagulants, statins

Part 8: Chemotherapy

Antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, cancer chemotherapy

Part 9: Endocrine

Thyroid, corticosteroids, diabetes medications, sex hormones

Part 10: Special Topics

Pharmacogenomics, toxicology, pediatric/geriatric, biologics

Major Drug Target Classes

Target TypeExamplesDrug Examples
GPCRsฮฒ-adrenergic, muscarinic, opioidPropranolol, atropine, morphine
Ion ChannelsNa+, K+, Ca2+, GABA_ALidocaine, diazepam, verapamil
EnzymesCOX, ACE, kinases, proteasesAspirin, lisinopril, imatinib
Nuclear ReceptorsSteroid, thyroid, PPARPrednisone, levothyroxine
TransportersSERT, DAT, NET, P-gpFluoxetine, cocaine, digoxin

Prerequisites

Recommended Background

  • โ€ข Basic biochemistry (amino acids, proteins)
  • โ€ข Cell biology (membranes, organelles)
  • โ€ข Human physiology (organ systems)
  • โ€ข Basic organic chemistry

Helpful Courses

โ† Molecular BiologyPart 1: Foundations โ†’