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Unit of study_
PHAR5715: Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics
2025 unit information
This unit of study is intended to provide an understanding of drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacogenetics, and the clinical application of these concepts to support the safe and effective use of medicines. Lecture topics will include metabolic enzymes and pathways, identification of metabolites, pharmacokinetics, drug absorption and distribution, protein binding and bioavailability. These fundamental areas of knowledge start with an understanding of the relationship between drugs interacting with target sites in the body and the effect produced (i.e. pharmacodynamic principles) and understanding the physiological and physicochemical factors that govern the effect of the body on drugs (metabolism), the movement of drugs around the body and the time course of exposure of body tissues and blood to drugs (i.e. pharmacokinetics). These principles involve developing concepts and models to explain drug activity in patients and to guide appropriate drug dosage selection. This unit will also explore reasons behind the factors affecting drug efficacy and variability in response to medicines among different individuals. The effects of disease, other drugs, demographics and the genetic basis for variable response will be introduced. Basic pharmacogenetic principles for explaining and predicting pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic variability in response will be explored.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Medicine and Health
| Study level | Postgraduate |
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| Academic unit | Pharmacy |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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3 credit points of Calculus, 6 credit points of Biochemistry, 12 credit points of Chemistry |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. understand the theoretical and practical concepts of drug pharmacokinetics involved in drug dosage, design and adjustment
- LO2. understand how drugs are absorbed, distributed and eliminated from the body (i.e. how drugs behave in the body with respect to time)
- LO3. understand the concepts that control the action of drugs in terms of intensity and duration of effect
- LO4. evaluate the quality of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic information from different sources, including the effect of age, disease and different physiological conditions on the pharmacokinetics of drugs
- LO5. appreciate the genetic basis for drug action and disposition in different disease states
- LO6. appreciate the sources of pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and genetic variability that contribute to variability in drug response
- LO7. understand how pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and pharmacogenetic variability is characterised as well as factors affecting drug efficacy
- LO8. apply an understanding of basic and applied sciences to the management and solution of pharmaceutical and clinical problems
- LO9. appreciate how a rigorous understanding of drug interaction mechanisms may be used in clinical decision making
- LO10. know how therapeutic drug monitoring may be used to optimise patient care in a variety of clinical settings.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 2 2025
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Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.
