UWA Handbook 2026

Unit Overview

Description

This unit provides detailed attention to the pharmacology of drugs used to treat major disease states as well as various factors that complicate the use of medicines in patients.

It also expands on the concepts and practical application of pharmacokinetics, which was first introduced to students in PHCY5602 Integrated Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Pharmacy Practice 1.

The pharmacology content is presented in an integrated manner with the concurrent pharmacotherapy unit PHCY5612. It accordingly provides a suitable level of insight into the mechanism of action and therapeutic rationale underlying the use of particular medicines in the management of specific disease states.

Additional key topics include drug-drug interactions; drug-gene interactions (pharmacogenomics); impact of organ diseases on drug responses; therapeutic drug monitoring; laboratory testing and monitoring of drug-related disease responses; clinical case studies and pharmacokinetics of specific drugs.

Use of clinically-oriented problems and case studies will help students apply principles of pharmacology to real-world examples in preparation for hospital placements while also helping them achieve the unit's learning objectives.

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Non-standard teaching period	UWA (Perth)	On-campus

The timetable for this teaching period is not currently available. Please see the Important Dates page for the timetable release date and other key date information.

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) describe the mechanism of action, pharmacological effects, pharmacokinetic properties and therapeutic uses of the main drugs and drug classes used to treat common clinical conditions.; (2) understand how pharmacological knowledge guides the selection of drugs during the treatment of major disease states.; (3) explain how knowledge of the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and transport properties of drugs can help to minimise predictable drug-drug interactions; (4) discuss the principles of pharmacokinetics in special populations (such as the elderly and patients with excretory organ dysfunction); (5) explain how pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles are applied during the analysis of clinical data from individual patients in an effort to achieve maximum efficacy and minimum toxicity; and (6) demonstrate an understanding of key concepts in pharmacogenomics and toxicology.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) ongoing assessments; (2) oral assessment; and (3) written examination. Further information is available in the unit outline.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Associate Professor Philip Burcham

Unit rules

Prerequisites

Enrolment in

51500 Master of Pharmacy

and Successful completion of

PHCY5602 Integrated Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Pharmacy Practice 1

Co-requisites

PHCY5612 Integrated Therapeutics and Pharmacy Practice

Contact hours

Lectures and workshop: 4 hours per week
tutorials: 2 hours per week

Texts

Required texts
1. Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary and Handbook. Current edition. PSA.
2. Australian Medicines Handbook. Current edition. PSA.

Recommended texts
Chen, T et al. Case Studies in Practice - Medication Review: A Process Guide for Pharmacists. Current edition. PSA.

Chen, T et al. Case Studies in Practice. Pharmacist only and pharmacy medicines: a process guide for pharmacists. Current edition. PSA.

Derendorf, H and Schmidt, S. Rowland and Tozer's Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics: Concepts and Applications. Wolters Kluwer. Current edition.

DiPiro J et al. Concepts in Clinical Pharmacokinetics. Current edition. American Society of Health-System Pharmacy.

Gowan J and Roller L. Practical disease state management for pharmacists. Current edition. APPCo.

Hughes, J. Case Studies in Practice. Use of Laboratory Test Data. Current edition. PSA.

Katzung, BG and Trevor, AJ.  Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. McGraw-Hill-Lange. Current edition.

Kumar V, Abbas AK, Fausto N, AsterJ.  Robbins and Cotran Pathologic basis of disease. Current edition. Elsevier Health Sciences‎

Rang, H et al. Rang and Dale’s Pharmacology. Current edition. Elsevier