UnitLevel 1Undergraduate

PHR1021 How Medicines Work I

Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

PHR1021 How Medicines Work I is a level 1, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, offered in 2020 in Semester 1 at Malaysia and Parkville. It has no prerequisites and unlocks 17 units, leading on to 18 units in all.

Credit points
6
Offered in 2020
Semester 1
Malaysia, Parkville

This is the 2020 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.

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Requisites

Overview

This unit provides an introduction to how drugs become medicines and explores factors that influence the absorption of drugs following oral administration. Students will study the physicochemical properties of molecules that determine dissolution, solubility, stability and permeability in order to explain how these factors affect oral drug absorption. In addition, the barrier properties of the small intestine, and how they contribute to, or limit, the oral absorption of drugs will be discussed as well as the formulation properties of commonly-administered oral formulations (tablets and capsules).

Offerings in 2020

Teaching periodCampusMode
First semesterMalaysiaOn campus
First semesterParkvilleOn campus
First semester (Fully flex)ParkvilleFlexible

Learning outcomes

When you finish this unit, you should be able to:

  1. 1

    Describe the impact that pKa and pH have on the ionisation state of a compound, and on its solubility, permeability and stability

  2. 2

    Explain how chemical and thermodynamic processes influence solubility and dissolution

  3. 3

    Discuss the key physicochemical properties of molecules and physiological factors that affect oral absorption

  4. 4

    Predict the oral absorption characteristics of a molecule based on its key physicochemical properties

  5. 5

    Describe and apply the general principles concerning the formulation of tablets and capsules

  6. 6

    Explain why medicines are administered by different routes based on clinical need and molecular properties

  7. 7

    Effectively communicate (orally and written) aspects of how medicines work

  8. 8

    Demonstrate proficiency in fundamental pharmaceutical calculations

Workload and teaching

  • Seventy-two hours of independent study
  • Twenty-four hours of pre-learning activities (up to 2 hours per week)
  • Twenty-four hours of active learning lectures (2 hours a week)
  • Twenty-four hours of small group classes including assessment (2 hours per week)
  • One 2-hour written examination

Contacts

Unit Coordinators
Dr Alice Chuah Lay Hong
Dr Darren Creek
Chief Examiners
Dr Darren Creek

Common questions

What are the prerequisites for PHR1021?

PHR1021 has no prerequisites.

What can I take after PHR1021?

PHR1021 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 17 units, including PHR2011, PHR2012, PHR2021, PHR2041, PHR2042 and PHR2141. Those lead on to 18 units in all.

When is PHR1021 offered?

In 2020, PHR1021 runs in Semester 1 at Malaysia and Parkville.

More details

Credit points
6
Level
1
Study level
Undergraduate
Faculty
Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Type
Coursework
EFTSL
0.125
Student contribution
SCA Band 2
Study abroad
Not available