1. Know what occurs during the four pharmacokinetic phases, as well as understand how concurrent pharmacotherapies (or dietary agents) might alter these phases
2. Know the role of the sympathetic vs. parasympathetic on the body, as well as the key neurotransmitters and receptors involved in each.
a. Understand the general mechanism of action and clinical indications for the use of sympathomimetics vs. sympatholytics
3. Know the factors that determine overall cardiac output (CO) and blood pressure (BP) and understand how the following drugs can alter each:
o Diuretics
o Nitrates
o ACE Inhibitors
4. Be able to compare and contrast the use (mechanism of action) of the following drugs in different cardiovascular pathologies (i.e. arrhythmia, hypertension, heart failure):
o Beta blockers
o Ca2+ channel blockers
o ACE Inhibitors
5. Understand the how cholesterol is synthesized in the body, the relationship between different types of cholesterol (HDL vs. LDL) and atherosclerosis, and the mechanism of action of the following drugs in treatment of cholesterol:
HMG CoA Reductase inhibitor (statin)
Cholesterol absorption inhibitors
6. Know the key neurotransmitters targeted by antianxiety and antipsychotic drugs:
Understand the mechanism of action and pharmacologic effects of the antianxiety drug class benzodiazepines
7. Know the key neurotransmitters targeted by antidepressant and anti-manic drugs:
Understand the mechanism of action for SSRIs and Lithium
8. Be able to compare and contrast the mechanism of action of opioids vs. non-opioid drugs (NSAIDs) in producing analgesia, as well as the key detrimental side effects of each class.
Receptors involved
Key signaling pathways (molecules, enzymes, involved)
9. Be able to compare and contrast the mechanism of action of the following antibacterial drugs:
Cephalosporins
Tetracyclines
Sulfonamides
Fluoroquinolones
10. Be able to compare and contrast the mechanism of action of the following antiviral drugs:
Oseltamivir
Docosonal
NRTIs
Protease inhibitors
11. Be able to compare and contrast the mechanism of action of a bronchodilator drug vs. an antileukotriene (or steroid) in asthma therapy
12. Understand the hypothalamic-anterior pituitary-gonadal axis in female and male gamete production (general overview), in addition to understanding the clinical indications and mechanism of action for the following hormones/drugs:
Estradiol/progestin
Urofollitropin
Testosterone
