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 2021 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 2021
- Semester 1
- Malaysia, Parkville
- Assessment
- Exam 40%
- and 6 other tasks
This is the 2021 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before PHR1021
No prerequisites or corequisites.
After PHR1021
17 units list PHR1021 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
- PHR2011Professional Practice IIINo reviews yet
- PHR2012Professional Practice IVNo reviews yet
- PHR2021How Medicines Work IIINo reviews yet
- PHR2041Comprehensive Care: Respiratory and GastrointestinalNo reviews yet
- PHR2042Comprehensive Care: Endocrinology and RenalNo reviews yet
- PHR2141Comprehensive Care: Dermatology and PainNo reviews yet
- PHR2142Comprehensive Care: CardiovascularNo reviews yet
- PHR3041Comprehensive Care: Blood, Brain and CancersNo reviews yet
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- PHR3042Acute care: Inquiry casesNo reviews yet
- PHR3062Student Experiential Placements INo reviews yet
- PHR3141Comprehensive Care: Pathogens, host defence and treatmentNo reviews yet
- PHR4012Professional practice VNo reviews yet
- PHR4042Integrated CareNo reviews yet
- PHR4061Student Experiential Placements IINo reviews yet
- PHR5052Inquiry and Innovation MethodsNo reviews yet
- PHR5151Inquiry and Innovation ProjectsNo reviews yet
- PHR5252Inquiry and innovation resultsNo reviews yet
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 2021
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Malaysia | On campus |
| First semester | Parkville | On campus |
Assessment
- Progress questions5%
- Calculations testCompetency hurdle10%
- Chemistry MCQ test10%
- Chemistry Workshop test20%
- Drug Absorption Oral presentation5%
- Pharmaceutics MCQ test10%
- Final ExaminationCompetency hurdle40%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Describe the impact that pKa and pH have on the ionisation state of a compound, and on its solubility, permeability and stability
- 2
Explain how chemical and thermodynamic processes influence solubility and dissolution
- 3
Discuss the key physicochemical properties of molecules and physiological factors that affect oral absorption
- 4
Predict the oral absorption characteristics of a molecule based on its key physicochemical properties
- 5
Describe and apply the general principles concerning the formulation of tablets and capsules
- 6
Explain why medicines are administered by different routes based on clinical need and molecular properties
- 7
Effectively communicate (orally and written) aspects of how medicines work
- 8
Demonstrate proficiency in fundamental pharmaceutical calculations
Workload and teaching
- Applied sessions11 hours
- Workshops22 hours
- Lectures11 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
- 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
Learning resources
Required resources
Students should have access to the latest version of the Australian Medicines Handbook (hard-copy), Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary (APF) and eMIMS (online via Monash library).
Recommended resources
Basic textbooks in organic chemistry, physical pharmacy and biopharmaceutics may assist student learning. Examples include:
McMurry, J. Organic Chemistry, Cengage Learning, 9th edition, 2014
OR Brown WH and Poon T. Introduction to Organic Chemistry, 5th edition, 2014
OR Solomons TWG, Fryhle CB and Snyder S. Organic Chemistry, 11th edition, 2014.
OR Patrick, GL. An Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry, Oxford University Press, 6th edition, 2017
Shargel and Yu, Applied Biopharmaceutics & Pharmacokinetics. McGraw Hill. 7th edition, 2016
Sinko, PJ. Martin’s Physical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences: Physical chemical principles in the pharmaceutical sciences, 7th edition, 2016. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Technology resources
For more information on Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) specifications and the technology systems and services available to students, review the Student Technology Essentials Handbook
https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1041220/student-it-brochure.pdf
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 2021, PHR1021 runs in Semester 1 at Malaysia and Parkville.
Does PHR1021 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 40% of the final mark, alongside 6 other tasks.