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Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

Pharmacology

Pharmacology
3
13427
2
Second semester
OB
Main language of instruction: Spanish

Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English

Teaching staff


Mr. José-Miguel Llombart: jllombart@uic.es

Introduction

Currently, physiotherapy has become a key piece for the treatment of various diseases for which the patient could be taking some type of medication. At the same time this patient might be following some pharmacological treatment for other diseases. Therefore, the patient’s health problems should not be understood in isolation, but in an integral way.

 

The combination of physiotherapy with pharmacology will sometimes go in the same direction, presenting synergistic effects in the patient. However, they can also go in opposite directions. In both cases, it is very important that the physiotherapist has knowledge about the indications, interactions and adverse effects of the drugs. With all this knowledge, the patient will feel more secure and the physiotherapist will become an indispensable intercom between family members and other health professionals, thus providing a comprehensive, high quality and effective treatment.

Pre-course requirements

No prerequisites are necessary, but it is advisable to have studied subjects in anatomy, physiology and pathology.

Objectives

  • To publicize the main groups of drugs, as well as their main characteristics in order to help in the integral treatment of patients.
  • Offer the necessary tools to obtain truthful information and apply it correctly in therapy.
  • That the student acquires reading comprehension of scientific texts
  • That the student becomes familiar with the structure of the Summary of Product Characteristics  and/or the Patient Leaflet
  • To familiarize the student with the pharmacological field so that he/she can communicate rigorously with other health professionals
  • To get the student to acquire their own autonomy to self-form.

 

Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme

  • 01 - The ability to analysis and synthesis.
  • 02 - The ability to organise and synthesize
  • 10 - Develop autonomous learning skills.
  • 11 - The ability to adapt to new situations.
  • 14 - Demonstrate initiative and an entrepreneurial spirit.
  • 18 - Demonstrate a patient-centered approach by showing respect for the central role of the individual and his/her needs in decision-making.
  • 20 - Knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, emphasising the dynamic interrelationship between structure and function, in particular of the musculoskeletal, the nervous and the cardiorespiratory systems.
  • 50.4 - Ability to design and apply different electrotherapy modalities, thermotherapy and cryotherapy, phototherapy, ultrasound therapy, vibrotherapy, magnet therapy, ergotherapy and pressotherapy.
  • 54 - Ability to interact effectively in a multidisciplinary team.
  • 62 - Capacity to read and understand physiotherapy literature written in the English language.

Learning outcomes of the subject

Once passed the subject, the student will have acquired knowledge in pharmacology that will allow him/her to understand the effects that the medicinal products can cause in the patients, and they will be able to participate actively in the integral and effective treatment of them, both alone and as part of a multidisciplinary team in the healthcare sector.

The student will be able to communicate correctly on topics related to pharmacology, both with patients and their families and with other health professionals.

The student will know the pharmacological bases of drug administration techniques such as iontophoresis or phonophoresis.

In short, the future physiotherapist will be a person trained to know and understand the main groups of drugs and will know how to integrate all of this information through the observation and analysis of his/her patient. The professional will also have enough tools and criteria to continue self-training by reading articles and attending conferences or complementary courses.

Syllabus

CHAPTER 1: BASIC CONCEPTS IN PHARMACOLOGY  

1.1. Introduction

  • Terminology
  • Physiotherapist’s relationship with pharmacology
  • Pharmaceutical forms and routes of administration

1.2. Pharmacokinetics

  • LADME system

Physiotherapy and pharmacokinetic profiles

1.3. Pharmacodynamics

  • Mechanism of action of drugs
  • Drug-receptor interaction

1.4. Interactions

1.5. Adverse reactions

1.6 Clinical assays


CHAPTER 2: NERVOUS SYSTEM PHARMACOLOGY

2.1 Autonomic nervous system pharmacology

  • Adrenergic agonists and antagonists
  • Cholinergic agonists and antagonists
  • Alzheimer disease

2.2 Central nervous system pharmacology

  • Gabaergic system
  • Anticonvulsants drugs
  • Dopaminergic system
  • Parkinson disease
  • Psychopharmacology: Benzodiazepines, antidepressants and antipsychotics

2.3 Neurophatic pain treatment

CHAPTER 3: SKELETAL MUSCLE SYSTEM PHARMACOLOGY

 3.1 Introduction to the UMNS (upper motor neuron syndrome)

3.2 Muscle relaxants

3.3 Neuromuscular blockers

 

CHAPTER 4: PHARMACOLOGY OF PAIN AND INFLAMMATION

 4.1 Analgesics

  • No opioid analgesics: Paracetamol and NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
  • Opioid analgesics

4.2 Local anaesthetics

4.3 Corticosteroids

 

CHAPTER 5 : OSTEOARTICULAR PHARMACOLOGY

  5.1 Drugs for the treatment of:

  •  Osteoporosis
  •  Rheumatoid arthritis
  •  Arthrosis

5.2 Adjuvants to pharmacological treatment

 

CHAPTER 6: CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM PHARMACOLOGY

 6.1Antihypertensives

6.2 Antianginous

6.3 Cardiotonics

6.4 Antiarrhythmics

6.5 Hypolipemiant

 

CHAPTER 7: BLOOD PHARMACOLOGY

 7.1 Antiplatelets

7.2 Anticoagulants

 

CHAPTER 8: PHARMACOLOGY OF THE RESPIRARORY SYSTEM

 8.1  β2 Agonists

8.2 Anticholinergics

8.3 Inhaled corticosteroids

8.4 Chromones


CHAPTER 9: ANTI-INFECTIVE DRUGS

 

CHAPTER 10: THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

 10.1 Diabetes Mellitus

  •  Insulin
  •  Oral antidiabetics

 

CHAPTER 11: SPORTS AND DOPING PHARMACOLOGY



Teaching and learning activities

In person



The subject will be presented in the form  of master classes with digital Support. The theory Will be complemented with the resolution of clinical cases. Articles and news that may be of interest will also be discussed.

Evaluation systems and criteria

In person




1st Call:

The subject is passed with a final grade of 5 out of 10, and will be the sum of a presentation in class, a continuous assessment and two exams (partial and final).

- Presentation: 15% of the final grade.

During the course, a presentation related to pharmacology will have to be made, following the instructions given in class. It can be done in groups of a maximum of 6-7 people. The activity is essential to be able to pass the subject.

- Continuous assessment: 15% of the final grade. During the course, the student will obtain positives through their direct participation and through tests and exercises both individually and in groups. The grade for this part will be calculated based on the maximum number of positives obtained in class.

- Partial exam (01/04/2025): 20% of the final grade.

- Final exam (02/06/2025): 50% of the final grade.

The exams will be multiple choice tests plus some questions to be answered in writing. A minimum grade of 4.5 will be required in the final exam to be able to calculate the average grade.

2nd Call:

The subject must be passed with a final grade of 5 out of 10, and it will be the average of the grades of the class presentation, the continuous assessment and a final exam of the second call.

- Final exam (07/08/2025): 70% of the final grade. A minimum grade of 4.5 will be required to be able to calculate the average grade.

- Class presentation: 15% of the final grade.

- Continuous assessment: 15 % of the final grade

Other calls:

For students who are repeating the subject, the final exam will represent 100% of the final grade. If the student wants to take the partial exam, it will be worth 20% of the final grade and the final exam the remaining 80%. In this case, a minimum of 4.5 will be required in the final exam to be able to calculate the average grade.

Students who are repeating the course may also take part in the presentation.

Important considerations

During the course, tests will be carried out with which positive points can be earned that will be taken into account in the final grade.

Copying another group's class activity will result in a zero in that section; doing so in the final exam may result in failing the course.

The use of AI applications such as chatGTP will not be permitted to carry out tests and exercises. Their use will result in the invalidation of the tests and, if repeated, in the failure of the course.

In the second call, the highest possible grade will be "excellent".




 

Bibliography and resources

  • Duran M; Mestres C; Nogues RM. Fundamentos de Farmacología para Fisioterapeutas. Madrid: Editorial Médica Panamericana, 2017.

 

  • Lorenzo P; Moreno A; Leza JC; et al. Manual de Farmacología Básica y Clínica. Veláquez. 18ª edición. Madrid: Médica Paramericana, D.L. 2012.

 

  • Flórez J. Farmacología humana. 5ª edición. Barcelona: Elsevier España, S.L,2008.

 

  • Goodman and Gilman's"The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics". 12th edition. McGraw-Hill Professional,2011.

 

 

 

Evaluation period

E: exam date | R: revision date | 1: first session | 2: second session:
  • E1 02/06/2025 A14 12:00h
  • E1 02/06/2025 A16 12:00h
  • E2 08/07/2025 A02 10:00h