Introduction to Pharmacology

Explore a brief history of pharmacology, including some major discoveries in the field, and how risks are mitigated in testing and manufacturing. Learn about dosages, the pharmacokinetics of how drugs behave within the body, routes of administration, essential vitamins and minerals, and individual drug metabolism.

Discover the medications used to treat infectious diseases, anticonvulsants, antihistamines, and antineoplastic drugs. Delve into biologics, stimulants, depressants, diuretics, and hormones, the drugs that affect the central nervous system and the conditions they treat. Examine natural remedies, opioids, and stem cells, the uses of each and why each of these classes of drug can be controversial.

Learn how drug interventions change depending on the age of the recipient, how health needs change over time and the types of contraindications and drug interactions that can occur.

Examine useful knowledge about drug regulations and applicable laws that influence the pharmaceutical industry, along with drug schedules, reporting schemes, and how brand-name drugs differ from their generic alternatives.

By studying this course, you will:

• Gain a greater understanding of pharmacology
• Explore the dosing, administration, and metabolism of drugs
• Discover how various medications work and the conditions they treat
• Learn how drug interventions change by age and the contraindications that can occur
• Examine drug regulations and applicable laws that influence the pharmaceutical industry

You could be considering pursuing an education in medicine and would like some insight into the field before committing to higher education or are simply curious about how pharmaceuticals work. Either way, this course provides a good introduction to the basics of pharmacology and requires no previous knowledge to get started.