This document provides information about the Clinical Pharmacology course offered at the University of Zambia School of Medicine. The course aims to further develop understanding of pharmacological aspects of drugs with an emphasis on their therapeutic applications. It will cover topics like clinical pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, adverse drug reactions, rational drug use, and therapeutics for various disease conditions. Students will be assessed through tests, assignments, clinical log books, seminars, and a final exam. Lectures, tutorials, seminars and clinical placements will be used to teach the course.

1. UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Department of Pharmacy
2014/2015 Academic Year
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY (PMY 5240)
Course Handbook
COURSE INFORMATION
Course Title Clinical Pharmacology
Course Code PMY 5240
Prerequisites Physiology, Anatomy, Biochemistry, Pathology & Pathophysiology,
General Pharmacology, Toxicology, Biopharmaceutics
Course Coordinator Ms Audrey Hamachila
Total Contact Hours 150 Hours
Credit Units 5
Course Description Clinical Pharmacology is the scientific discipline that involves the
study of drugs in man, all aspects of the relationship between drugs
and humans. It is concerned with the discovery and development of
new drugs, the use of drugs in treatment and diagnosis of diseases,
the beneficial and harmful effects of drugs in individuals and society,
and misuse of drugs. It encompasses all aspects of the safe,
effective and rational use of medicines at individual, group, and
population levels.
COURSE AIM: To develop further the understanding of pharmacological aspects of drugs with
more emphasis on their therapeutic applications in order to optimize safety and effectiveness.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
At the completion of this study course, the student should be able to:
1. Characterize the effects of drugs used to ameliorate the disease states of the body
2. Apply knowledge of pharmacological principles to devise drug dosing regimens.
3. Evaluate the outcomes of interactions between drugs and body tissues.
4. Explain the factors that influence disposition of drugs in patients
5. Describe the factors that modify effects of drugs and their influence drug on efficacy.
6. Explain the adverse effects associated with use of drugs in patients

2. PRESCRIBED TEXTBOOKS
Book Title Basic and Clinical Pharmacology
Author(s) Katzung B.G.
Publisher Mc Graw Hill, Medical Publishing Division. New York.
Year 2011
Edition 12th
Edition.
ISBN 9780071764018
Book Title Goodman & Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics
Author(s) Brunton, L.L, Lazo, J.S, and Parker, K.L.
Publisher McGraw-Hill Medical Publishing Division.
Year 2010.
Edition 12thEdition.
ISBN 0071422803
Book Title Basic Clinical Pharmacokinetics
Author(s) M.E. Winter
Publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Year 2009
Edition 5th Edition
ISBN
Book Title Koda-Kimble and Young's Applied Therapeutics: The Clinical Use
of Drugs
Author(s) Alldredge BK, Corelli RL, Ernst ME, Gughelmo BJ, et al.
Publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Year 2012
Edition 10th
Edition
ISBN 9781609137137
RECOMMENDED TEXTBOOKS & READINGS
1. Graeme-Smith D.G., Aronson J. K. 2002. Oxford Textbook of Clinical
Pharmacology and drug treatment, 3rd edition, 2002. Oxford
University Press. ISBN 978-0192632340
2. McKay G.A., Reid J.L., Walters M.R. 2013. Lecture notes: Clinical
Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 9th Edition. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN
9781118344811
3. Greene, Rusell .J, Harris, Norman.D. (2008). Pathology and
Therapeutics for Pharmacists: A Basis for Clinical Pharmacy
Practice, 3rd
Edition. Chapman and Hall. 978-0853696902.

3. Assessments
Assessment Type Due Date Percentage Score
Tests TBA 20%
Assignments TBC 10%
Clinical Log Books TBA 5%
Seminars TBC 5%
Final Examinations TBA 60%
TEACHING & LEARNING METHODS
1. Course delivery methods will include: Lectures, Tutorials, Seminars, and Clinical
placements & Demonstrations.
2. Students are expected to read the assigned topics from prescribed textbooks and
recommended readings before each class session
3. Active learning and interactive participation in class.
4. Tutorials & Seminars will be interactive and participatory to encourage discussions and
active learning.
5. Students are expected to attend ALL lectures. Students with less than 85% attendance
will not be allowed to write end of year examinations*
6. The student is responsible for all material covered in this course.
7. Communicate any concerns or issues concerning the course either during class sessions
or during tutorial sessions.
COURSE OUTLINE
UNIT
TOPICS
CONTACT
HOURS
READINGS
Clinical
Pharmacokinetics
 Principles and modes of drug
administration
 Calculation of pharmacokinetic
parameters of clinical relevance:
steady-state plasma
concentration, clearance,
volume of distribution,
elimination half-life, Max-Min
therapeutic concentration;
 Bioavailability and
bioequivalence
 Influence of disease states on
pharmacokinetics
 Pharmacokinetic variation and
factors modifying drug dosage
requirements
 Therapeutic drug monitoring
and dose optimization
 Population pharmacokinetics
24
Clinical
Pharmacodynamics
 How drugs act, efficacy and
potency
 Therapeutic index
 Pharmacodynamic variation and
factors modifying drug response
 Factors which influence drug
efficacy
12

4.  Pharmacogenetics
 Criteria for effectiveness of drug
treatment
 Reasons for a non-effective drug
therapy
Adverse drug reactions
and drug interactions
 Types of adverse drug reactions
 Principles of diagnosis and
management of adverse drug
reactions
 Qualitative and quantitative
methods to assess the risk of
ADRs
 Drug interactions
 Pharmacovigilance
4
Rational drug use  Factors that influence choice of
drug therapy
 Factors affecting rational drug
use
 Principles of rational drug use
6
Therapeutics in
selected disease
conditions
 Regulation of water and
electrolyte balance with drugs
 Cardiovascular disorders
 Central nervous system
disorders
 Drug management of pain
 Respiratory disorders
 Gastro-intestinal disorders
 Allergic, auto-immune and
inflammatory disorders
 Arthropathies
 Principles of antimicrobial
therapy
 Infectious diseases
50
Additional Information
Final Examination
Format
Two papers: Paper I and Paper II: Exam format TBC to students
at least 14 days before the date of Examination
Supplementary &
Deferred Exams
TBA by senate: Format will be similar to main examination
Scoring Criteria Pass: A+ (90 – 100%); A (80 – 89%); B+ (70 – 79%); B (60 –
69%); C+ (55 – 59%); C (50 – 54%);
Fail: D+ (45 – 49%); D (40 – 44%); E (0 – 39%)
Cheating /
Malpractice
Refer to University of Zambia policy on examination conduct and
malpractice
Attendance 100% attendance in all course activities is expected.