Therapeutic options: Pharmacology and Herbal Medicine

Scholar Year: 2020/2021

Courses

Head Teacher Responsability Madalena Cristina da Rocha Martins Head Sara da Silva Pereira Colaborador

Weekly workload Hours/week T TP P PL TC S E EL OT TPL O OT/PL Type of classes 4 2 Lectures Type Teacher Classes Hours Theoretical Totals 1 4,00 Madalena Martins   0,06 Sara Silva   3,93 Theoretical-practical Totals 1 2,00 Sara Silva   2,00

Teaching language

Portuguese

Intended learning outcomes (Knowledges, skills and competencies to be developed by the students)

It is intended that at the end of this course the student is able to:
• Demonstrated knowledge on the terminology and basic concepts of Pharmacology
• Recognize the different MMC, know their ratings and their actions in view of their property, apply this
knowledge to clinical practice prescribing according to the theories of TCM different single or combined
forms.
• Understand the medicines’ cycle
• Identify ways to use the MMC.
• Described the main mechanisms of drug action.
• Understand the therapeutic uses of the major drug classes, as well as the most representative side
effects and interaction
• Identify the precautions and contraindications of using MMC.
• Understand the basic principles of Toxicology
• Understand the potential risks associated with therapeutic interventions

Syllabus

1. Basic concepts in Pharmacology.
2. Medicines’ cycle.
3. Drug information resources
4. Administration routes
5. Pharmacokinetics
6. Pharmacodynamics
7. Therapeutic groups
8. Rational use of medicines. Essential drugs. Precautions in pregnancy, breastfeeding and pediatrics.
Notification of ADRs
9. General notions of Chinese Materia Medica
10. Chinese Materia Medica
11. Principles of Toxicology
12. Dose-response and toxicological parameters
13. Risk assessment. Biomarkers
14. Mutagenesis and Mutagenesis
15. DART
16. Organ-directed toxicology: hepatic, cardiovascular, respiratory, neurologic, renal, locomotor
17. Applied toxicology: solvents, toxins, plants, pesticides, metals
18. Classification of hazardous substances. Material safety data sheets. Regulatory aspects.

Demonstration of the syllabus coherence with the UC intended learning outcomes

This curricular unit (CU) aims at initiating students in the field of Pharmacology and Chinese herbal
medicine. Therefore, a considerable part of the syllabus is devoted to the general concepts of this subject.
In this CU, it is sought that students acquire knowledge on the main drug classes, understanding their
mechanisms of action and therapeutic uses, as well as the main side effects and interactions, as well as
general notions of Chinese materia medica. In this context, and in order to facilitate the comprehension by
the students, the syllabus is divided according to the target organs/systems, in each the most relevant
drug classes will be studied. Such knowledge is essential for every health professional.
The second part is based on the analysis of the characteristics, processing, and precautions of different
groups of Chinese materia medica.
The second part of the syllabus is focused on Toxicology. After presenting the basic concepts and the
different types of toxic effects, the effects of the classes of toxicants more relevant for the clinical practice
will be addressed.

Teaching methodologies

Expositive, demonstrative, participative and problem solving. The unit can be effected by: (a) continuous
evaluation, ongoing at the school and that results in the exemption examination period, if the final grade is
equal to or higher than 10, and assuming the formative and summative dimensions; (b) exam, which takes
the summative dimension. The assessment is made by two written tests, each one accounting for 50% and
with 9,5 values of mínimal classification.

Demonstration of the teaching methodologies coherence with the curricular unit's intended learning outcomes

Lectures allow the transmission of all the contents of the syllabus to the students, according to the
objectives of the curricular unit. The fact that students are encouraged to actively participate in these
classes, discussing the subjects and exposing their questions, promotes the comprehension and critical
view.
The theoretical and practical classes based on work in groups require search of specialized literature
sources, critical analysis and contextualization of the information. Such works also promote the interaction
and debate among students and teachers. The resolution of practical cases allows a deeper understanding
of the subjects taught in lectures, in the perspective of its applied use.
The evaluation of the practical works in the continuous evaluation option promotes the active participation
of students in group works and discussions. The evaluation by written tests will assess whether students
acquired and understood the subject matter at the appropriate level.

Assessment methodologies and evidences

The classification of all assessment instruments is expressed on a scale of 0 to 20, and the weighted value
of the marks obtained must be equal or greater than 10. The exam consists in a written test, in which the
approval will require a rating equal to or higher than 10.

Bibliografia

Goodman, L. S. (2011). Goodman & Gilman’s. The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. (12th ed.).
McGraw Hill.
Guimarães, S., Moura, D. & Soares da Silva, P. (2014). Terapêutica Medicamentosa e suas bases
Farmacológicas. (6ª ed.). Porto Editora.
Infarmed (2013). Prontuário Terapêutico 11.
Lu FC, Kacem S. Lu’s (2012). Basic Toxicology: Fundamentals, Target Organs, and Risk Assessment. (6th
ed.). CRC Press.
Klaassen, C. (2013). Casarett & Doull's Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons. (8th ed.).
Teng, Jialin (2007). Chinese Materia Medica, People’s Medical Publishing House. China.
Tang, Decai (2003). Science Chinese Materia Medica, Publishing House of Shangai University of TCM,
Shanghai, China.