The subject of Pharmacology and Toxicology for medical students has several key objectives. Building on the foundational knowledge from Physiology and other subjects covered in the first two years, and considering that it is taught alongside Pathology and Pathological Physiology, the goals for teaching Pharmacology and Toxicology in the third year (5th and 6th semesters) are to ensure that students understand:
- Fundamental concepts of drugs, including their origin and structure.
- Mechanism of action, their pharmacological effects, and the distinction between therapeutic and side effects.
- How drugs are processed in the body (pharmacokinetics), the potential for pharmacokinetic interactions between drugs, and how drugs affect organisms.
- The basics of drug use in therapy, the core principles of toxicology, and the common acute and chronic poisonings encountered in primary health care.
Throughout this course, students should understand how drugs interact with living organisms and their practical applications, as well as become familiar with major drug groups and their characteristics.
Lecturers:
Prof Nina Žigon, MD, PhD
Prof. Zoran Todorović, MD, PhD
Prof. Dragan Obradović, MD, PhD,
Prof. Ljiljana Gojković-Bukarica, MD, PhD
Prof. Sonja Vučković, MD, PhD
Prof. Miroslav Radenković, MD, PhD
Prof. Gordana Dragović Lukić, MD, PhD, Course Coordinator
Prof. Zorica Nešić, MD, PhD
Prof Nevena Divac, MD, PhD
Assoc. Prof Janko Samardžić. MD, PhD
Assoc. Prof Katarina Savić Vujović, MD,
Asist. Prof Branislava Medić Brkić, MD, PhD
Asist. Prof Marko Stojanović, MD, PhD
Asist. Prof Dragana Srebro, MD, PhD
Asist. Prof Bojana Božić Cvijan, MD, PhD
Asist. Prof Božana Obradović, MD PhD
Teaching Assistants:
Vladislav Pajović, MD, PhD
Marija Kosić, MD, PhD
Miloš Basailović, MD
Maja Stojković, MD
Milica Radosavljević, MD
Miloš Gostimirović, MD
Sara Milojević, MD
Course director:
Prof. dr Gordana Dragović Lukić
Lecture 1 (2 hrs): Introduction to Pharmacology of neurotransmission (ANS and CNS). Cholinergic and anicholinergic drugs.
Seminar 1 (1 hr): Anticholinesterase substances
Lab 1 (1 hr): Cholinergic & anticholinergic drugs in blood pressure modulation (computer program Autonomic Pharmacology).
Lecture 2 (2 hrs): Skeletal muscle relaxants. Histamine and H1-antihistamines. Serotonin and serotonin antagonists.
Seminar 2 (1 hr): Anticholinesterase poisoning. Mushroom poisoning. Nicotine toxicity.
Lab 2 (1 hr): Skeletal muscle relaxants
Lecture 3 (2 hrs): Pharmacology of adrenergic transmission.
Seminar 3 (1 hr): Pharmacology of eicosanoids and inflammation.
Lab 3 (1 hr): Pharmacology of inflammation - computer simulation.
Lecture 4 (2 hrs): Adrenergic and antiadrenergic drugs
Seminar 4 (1 hr): Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID)
Lab 4 (1 hr): Adrenoceptor agonists & antagonists in blood pressure modulation.
Lecture 5 (2 hrs): Introduction: Development of pharmacology as scientific discipline; areas of pharmacology. The term drug, origin, drug development. Pharmacokinetics: Drug transport through biological membranes; absorption, bioavailability, distribution of drugs in the body.
Seminar 5 (1 hr): Pharmaceutical drug forms and routes of administration.
Lab 5 (1 hr): Pharmacokinetics- introductory class
Lecture 6 (2 hrs): Biotransformation and drug elimination. Pharmacokinetic drug interactions
Seminar 6 (1 hr): Understanding of basic pharmacokinetic parameters and modalities of kinetics having regulatory significance for drug dosage.
Lab 6 (1 hr): Pharmacokinetics computer simulation (program Pharmatutor).
Lecture 7 (2 hrs): Pharmacodynamic: Drug classes. Characteristics of drug effects on various body levels (general, organs, tissues, cell, subcellular organelles). The mechanisms of drug action and receptor theory. Quantitative aspects of drug effects. Factors influencing drug effects. Repeated drug administration alterations.
Seminar 7 (1 hr): Drug dependence and drug abuse (mechanisms of habituation, classes of abused drugs).
Lab 7 (1 hr): Dose-response relationship.
Lecture 8 (2 hrs): Adverse drug reactions: causes, incidence and prevalence, types and significance. Risk-benefit ratio. Drug toxicity. Allergic reactions to drugs
Seminar 8 (1 hr): Drug interactions (pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic drug interactions).
Lab 8 (1 hr): Antagonism & synergism -computer simulation.
Lecture 9 (2 hrs): Antihypertensive drugs.
Seminar 9 (1 hr): Diuretic agents
Lab 9 (1 hr): Hypertension - computer simulation (presentation of hypertension, EpharNet).
Lecture 10 (2 hrs): Drug treatment of ischemic heart disease.
Seminar 10 (1 hr): Drugs used in hyperlipidemia.
Lab 10 (1 hr): Drugs affecting cardiac blood flow (isolated heart-computer simulation, program Langendorff Heart). Vasoactive drugs
Lecture 11 (2 hrs): Inotropic drugs. Drugs used in treatment of acute and chronic heart failure.
Anti-dysrhythmic drugs.
Seminar 11 (1 hr): Pharmacology of shock. Fluid and electrolite replacement therapy.
Lab 11 (1 hr): Drugs affecting cardiac contractillity and rhythmicity (isolated atria, digitalis, computer simulation, program Langendorff Heart).
Lecture 12 (2 hrs): Introduction to antimicrobial chemotherapy. Beta-lactam antibiotics: penicillin, cephalosporin.
Seminar 12 (1 hr): Basic principles of antibacterial chemotherapy (susceptibility testing, post antibiotic effect, empirical and causal antimicrobial therapy)
Lab 12 (1 hr): Allergic drug reactions and treatment
Lecture 13 (2 hrs): Antituberculosis drugs. Antiviral and antifungal drugs.
Seminar 13 (1 hr): Antimalarial agents
Lab 13 (1 hr): Antiseptics and disinfectants
Lecture 14 (2 hrs): Macrolides and lincosamides; Chloramphenicol. Tetracyclines. Sulfonamides
Seminar 14 (1 hr): Antiparasitic chemotherapy (antiprotozoal drugs, antihelmintics)
Lab 14 (1hr): Pharmacokinetics of antibiotics - computer simulation (program Microlabs).
Lecture 15 (2 hrs): Glycopeptide antibiotics. Aminoglycosides.
Seminar 15 (1 hr): Basic principles of antibacterial chemotherapy (antimicrobial drug combinations, resistance to antimicrobial agents).
Lab 15 (1 hr): Make up class
Lecture 16 (2 hrs): Heparin. Oral anticoagulants. Fibrinolytics and antifibrinolytics. Platelet aggregation inhibitors
Seminar 16 (1 hr): Immunopharmacology
Lab 16 (1 hr): Drugs acting on blood coagulation - Computer simulation (program Blood
Coagulation).
Lecture 17 (2 hrs): Basic principles of cancer chemotherapy. Adverse drug reactions and toxicity of cytotoxic agents
Seminar 17 (1 hr): Agents used in anemias.
Lab 17 (1 hr): Drug induced blood disorders.
Lecture 18 (2 hrs): Drugs affecting the respiratory system (bronchodilators, anti-inflammatory agents)
Seminar 18 (1 hr): Antitussives. Oxygenotherapy.
Lab 18 (1 hr): Drugs affecting smooth muscle contractility (respiratory system, program
Respiratory Pharmacology).
Lecture 19 (2 hrs): Psychopharmacology: introduction to psychotropic drugs. Antipsychotic drugs
Seminar 19 (1 hr): CNS stimulants and hallucinogens.
Lab 19 (1 hr): Psychotropic drugs.
Lecture 20 (2 hrs): Antidepressants. Anxiolytics. Sedatives.
Seminar 20 (1 hr): Ethanol
Lab 20 (1 hr): Psychotropic drugs. Experimental animal models of anxiety.
Lecture 21 (2 hrs): Antiepileptics. Antiparkinsonian agents.
Seminar 21 (1 hr): Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetics of general anaesthetic agents.
Lab 21(1 hr): Convulsants and anticonvulsants drugs (video presentations).
Lecture 22 (2 hrs): Pharmacology of pain, opiates and opioids.
Seminar 22 (1 hr): Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetics of local anaesthetic agents
Lab 22 (1 hr): Analgesic drugs
Lecture 23 (2 hrs): Emetics & antiemetics. Drugs affecting gastric secretion.
Seminar 23 (1 hr): Drugs affecting gastrointestinal motility and secretion.
Lab 23 (1 hr): Drugs affecting smooth muscle contractility (GUT).
Lecture 24 (2 hrs): Basic principles of toxicology.
Seminar 24 (1 hr): Heavy metal intoxication and chelators.
Lab 24 (1 hr): Poisoning with acids and alkalis (presentations).
Lecture 25 (2 hrs): The most common drug and other substances intoxication
Seminar 25 (1 hr): The treatment accidental and intentional overdose persons.
Lab 25 (1 hr): The effect of drugs on blood pressure and heart rate in rats (computer simulations- program Virtual Rat).
Lecture 26 (2 hrs): Introduction to pharmacology of hormones. Pharmacology of thyroid gland and antihyperthyroid agents.
Seminar 26 (1 hr): Hypothalamic and pituitary hormones (adenohypophysis).
Lab 26 (1 hr): Computer simulation of drug action. Drugs affecting uterus.
Lecture 27 (2 hrs): Pharmacology of insulin and oral antidiabetics.
Seminar 27 (1 hr): Hypothalamic and pituitary hormones (neurohypophysis).
Lab 27 (1 hr): Drugs causing hyper- and hypoglycemia and therapy
Lecture 28 (2 hrs): Steroid hormones: glucocorticoids. Mineralocorticoids.
Seminar 28 (1 hr): Drugs affecting bone mineral homeostasis.
Lab 28 (1 hr): The action of glucocorticoids on the immune system: Corticotherapy in sepsis (discussions).
Lecture 29 (2 hrs): Estrogens. Gestagens. Hormonal contraceptives. Anabolics. Antiandrogens.
Seminar 29 (1 hr): Vitamins used in pharmacotherapy.
Lab 29 (1 hr): Drugs and pregnancy.
Lectures 30 (2 hrs): Make up class.
Seminar 30 (1 hr): Make up class.
Lab 30 (1 hr): Make up class.
Basic Literature
Katzung B et al. (eds). Basic & Clinical Pharmacology (16th ed), 2023.
Additional literature
Rang H et al. (eds). Rang & Dale's Pharmacology (8th ed), 2019.
Colloquia:
During the school year, students take two tests with 20 questions.
Chapters from the textbook Katzung B et al. (eds). Basic & Clinical Pharmacology (13th ed), 2015.
The first colloquium:
General pharmacology (basic principles)
Autonomic pharmacology
The second colloquium:
Cardiovascular pharmacology
Drugs affecting the respiratory system
Pharmacology of CNS
Drugs affecting GUT
Colloquium tests that students pass during the classes are graded according to the Regulations and they are included in the total sum of pre-exam points. The total number of points acquired by students through the pre-exam activities (maximum 30) will be written in the cards after the completion of sets (total score) and will be taken into account for the final assessment for the two following academic years (therefore, for students who attend the course in 2024/2025 the results remain valid until the end of October 2026.). After two academic years (after October 2026), all passed tests and gained points stopped being valid.
Tests passed during the classes include 20 questions and are scored as follows:
20 correct answers - 10 points
19 correct answers - 9.5 points
18 correct answers - 9 points
17 correct answers - 8.5 points
16 correct answers - 8 points
15 correct answers - 7.5 points
14 correct answers - 7 points
13 correct answers - 6.5 points
12 correct answers - 6 points
11 correct answers - 5.5 points
0-10 correct answers - 0 points
FINAL EXAM
Final exam
The final test consists of 60 questions that cover the entire course content of Pharmacology and Toxicology which students attend during the school year.
Marks obtained in the final test bear the following points:
31 - 36 correct answers – passed six (6) – 51 points
37 - 42 correct answers – passed seven (7) – 56 points
43 - 48 correct answers – passed eight (8) – 61 points
49 - 54 correct answers – passed nine (9) – 66 points
55 - 60 correct answers – passed ten (10) – 70 points
Final score
Regular attendance and class participation: up to 10 points (up to 5 per semester).
The first and second colloquiums: up to 20 points (up to 10 per colloquium).
Final test: up to 70 points.
Points gained through the pre-exam activities (up to 30 points) and obtained on the final test (up to 70 points) are added together for final assessment.
The final score contains up to 100 points and is determined according to the following scale:
51 – 60 points – mark six (6)
61 – 70 points – mark seven (7)
71 – 80 points – mark eight (8)
81 – 90 points – mark nine (9)
91 – 100 points – mark ten (10)
Research topics
Course director:
Prof. dr Gordana Dragović Lukić
tel. 011/3643-406
Božana Obradović, MD, PhD
bozana.dimitrijevic@med.bg.ac.rs