The course encompasses the following topics of Pharmacology:

- Elements of Pharmacokinetics: main routes of drug administration, and the pharmacokinetic processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination of drugs in healthy subjects, in patients, during pregnancy and in puerperium. Quantitative pharmacokinetic topics will also be used to set a correct dose, such as distribution volume, clearance, half-life, maintenance dose, and loading dose. The concept of bioavailability and the equivalent drug will be addressed.

-Elements of Pharmacodynamics: main mechanisms underlying drug action, theoretical basis for the interpretation of drug action by imparting the concepts of agonist, antagonist, partial agonist. Dosage-response curves that allow to interpret efficacy and pharmacological potency. Drug-toxicology topics will be addressed to interpret toxic drug effects, drug interactions, abuse, tolerance, addiction.
The course will encompass topics of Clinical Pharmacology. In particular the main pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics characteristics, adverse effect and drug-interaction of anti-inflammatory non steroideal drugs, corticosteroids; opioid analgesics, local and general anaesthetics, drugs used in the treatment of anxiety; drugs acting on coagulation disorders; antibiotic chemotherapy; drugs affecting the gastrointestinal function.