Bi9995 Basic Pharmacology - Lecture

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2026
Extent and Intensity
1/0/0. 1 credit(s) (plus 1 for the colloquium). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Petra Amchová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. RNDr. Ladislava Bartošová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Nina Beňadik Zemanová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
PharmDr. Valentína Focková, PhD. (lecturer)
Mgr. Barbora Říhová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Barbora Říhová, Ph.D.
Department of Pharmacology – Theoretical Departments – Faculty of Medicine
Contact Person: Mgr. Petra Amchová, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Pharmacology – Theoretical Departments – Faculty of Medicine
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Abstract

By the end of this course, students will understand the main mechanisms of drug action and the circumstances under which drugs or combinations of drugs can produce not only therapeutic effects but also adverse and toxic effects. Students will be able to describe basic pharmacokinetic processes and the parameters that characterize them. Students will be able to classify selected drugs into the correct drug class and will be familiar with their basic indications, contraindications, and adverse effects.  They will know where to find information about drugs in online databases and printed publications.


Students will learn what pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics are and how gene polymorphisms can affect patients; they will know examples of drugs for which the impact of gene polymorphisms on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics is clinically significant.

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to understand the main mechanisms of drug action and the circumstances under which drugs or combinations of drugs may produce not only therapeutic but also adverse and toxic effects. They will be familiar with the clinical use of common drugs that they may encounter not only in their professional lives but also in their personal lives. He will know  examples of drugs for which the impact of genetic polymorphism on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics is clinically significant, and he will know websites where pharmacogenetic and pharmacogenomic information about drugs can be found.
Key topics
  • LECTURE 1

  • Basic Pharmacological Concepts (medicinal product, drug, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacogenetics) Mechanisms of Drug Action (specific, nonspecific, receptor-mediated, non-receptor-mediated) . Receptors (affinity, intrinsic activity, agonism, antagonism, receptor types, selectivity) Variability of Dosage Forms and Routes of Administration

  • LECTURE 2

  • Fundamentals of pharmacokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) Key pharmacokinetic parameters (bioavailability, volume of distribution, half-life, clearance). Factors influencing drug action (physicochemical properties of drugs, drug interactions)

  • LECTURE 3

  • Basic principles of autonomic nervous system pharmacology (sympathetic, parasympathetic, adrenergic, cholinergic, receptors, norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, acetylcholine)

  • LECTURE 4

  • Pharmacotherapy of pain. Opioid analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics-antipyretics – basic indications, mechanism of action, and adverse effects of selected representatives from these drug classes

  • LECTURE 5

  • Therapy of allergic conditions and drugs used in diseases associated with bronchial obstruction – antihistamines, bronchodilators, and inhaled glucocorticoids – basic indications, mechanism of action, and adverse effects of selected representatives from these drug groups

  • LECTURE 6

  • Fundamentals of Antimicrobial Therapy. Antibiotics, Antifungals, Antivirals – basic indications, mechanism of action, and adverse effects of selected representatives from these drug classes

  • LECTURE 7

  • Fundamentals of Psychopharmacology- basic indications, mechanism of action, and adverse effects of selected representatives

  • LECTURE 8

  • Pharmacology of the cardiovascular system. Overview of drug classes affecting the cardiovascular system, including lipid-lowering agents and drugs affecting blood clotting – basic indications, mechanism of action, and adverse effects of selected representatives from these drug classes

  • LECTURE 9

  • Pharmacogenetics I. Its theoretical foundations, the difference between pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics. The molecular biological basis of gene polymorphisms and their potential impact on the patient

  • LECTURE 10

  • Pharmacogenetics II. Examples of clinically significant gene polymorphisms. Applications of pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics in clinical practice, risks and limitations. What are PharmGKB and CPIC.

Study resources and literature
    not specified
  • Martínková, Jiřina, a kol.. Farmakologie pro studenty zdravotnických oborů, 2. zcela přepracované vydání, Grada Publishing a.s., 2018. 520 s. ISBN 8027109299.
  • MARTÍNKOVÁ, Jiřina. Farmakologie pro studenty zdravotnických oborů. 2., zcela přeprac. a doplň. Praha: Grada, 2014. ISBN 9788024713564. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching

The course schedule allows students to attend lectures led by the pharmacology instructor.


Students will attend eight lectures alongside students from other bachelor’s programs at the Faculty of Medicine. However, the scope of knowledge required for the exam will be narrower and will be precisely defined in the syllabus, which will be made available to students.


The last two lectures (on the topic of pharmacogenetics) will be held individually for students.


Students will have access to the instructor’s presentation in PDF format prior to the lecture, allowing for individual theoretical preparation.

Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements

Students must demonstrate an active understanding of pharmacology throughout their studies. The course is assessed through a multiple-choice written exam covering the topics discussed, in which students must select one correct answer from the options provided. The exam consists of 20 questions, each worth 1 point, with one correct answer per question. The grading criterion is the number of points earned. One point is awarded for each correctly answered question. No points will be deducted for unanswered questions. To pass the test, students must earn at least 60% of the maximum possible points (i.e., 12 points out of 20 questions). When retaking the course, students must complete the full prescribed course load.

Language of instruction
Czech
Teacher's information

The topics covered in the final written multiple-choice exam correspond to the topics covered in the lecture syllabus. Knowledge of these topics will be required within the scope of the syllabus and the teacher's study materials. Students should supplement these resources with additional notes taken during the instructor’s lectures.

When retaking the course, students must complete the full prescribed course load.

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024, Autumn 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/autumn2026/Bi9995