Clinical Pharmacology — MBChB Level IV

Name: Clinical Pharmacology — MBChB Level IV
Author: Abongo Davis

Mount Kenya University, Dr. K. Ndemo. Three trimester units (MBPL 4411, 4422, 4433). Week numbers follow the order in each outline PDF; open the PDF for the full sub-topic detail.

Trimester 1 · Cardiovascular & blood drugs (MBPL 4411)

For each class: mechanism & site of action, pharmacological properties, side effects, clinical uses.

Week 1 Antihypertensive agents I — Overview of hypertension; beta-blockers, alpha-blockers, centrally acting agents, sympathetic nerve terminal blockers.
Week 2 Antihypertensive agents II — diuretics
Week 3 Antihypertensive agents III — Vasodilators, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, renin inhibitors.
Week 4 Drugs used in heart failure — ACE inhibitors, ARBs, aldosterone antagonists, beta-blockers, diuretics, vasodilators, inotropes (digoxin, beta-agonists, PDE inhibitors).
Week 5 Drugs used in cardiac arrhythmias — Cardiac electrophysiology, mechanisms of arrhythmia, Class I–IV drugs.
Week 6 Drugs used in angina pectoris — Organic nitrates, calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, sodium channel blockers.
Week 7 Acute coronary syndromes I — Fibrinolytics (activators and inhibitors) and antiplatelet drugs (COX-1, P2Y12, GP IIb/IIIa, dipyridamole, cilostazol).
Week 8 Acute coronary syndromes II — indirect thrombin inhibitors — Unfractionated heparin; LMWH (enoxaparin, dalteparin, tinzaparin).
Week 9 Acute coronary syndromes III — Hirudin, bivalirudin; fondaparinux (parenteral factor Xa inhibitor).
Weeks 10–11 Oral anticoagulants — Warfarin / coumarins; dabigatran; rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban.
Weeks 12–13 Drugs used in hyperlipoproteinaemias — Lipoprotein transport; statins, niacin, fibrates, bile-acid resins, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, omega-3.
CAT End-of-trimester CAT

Trimester 2 · Lipids, immune, endocrine, GIT, analgesics & anaesthetics (MBPL 4422)

Weeks 1–2 Drugs used in the treatment of dyslipidaemias — Lipoprotein physiology; statins, niacin, fibrates, resins, ezetimibe, omega-3.
Week 3 New agents in cardiovascular medicine
Weeks 4–5 Immunosuppressants — Cytotoxic immunosuppressants; immunophilin inhibitors; other agents.
Weeks 6–7 Endocrine pharmacology — Hormones of the pituitary and hypothalamus, thyroid drugs, other hormones and antagonists.
Weeks 8–9 GIT pharmacology — Antacids, proton-pump inhibitors and other drugs acting on the GIT.
Week 10 Analgesics — Narcotic and non-narcotic analgesics.
Weeks 11–12 Anaesthetic agents — General anaesthetics and related agents.
CAT End-of-trimester CAT

Trimester 3 · CNS, respiratory & toxicology (MBPL 4433)

Week 1 Introduction to psychopharmacology
Week 2 Sedative–hypnotics
Weeks 3–5 Antidepressants, antimanic & antipsychotic drugs — Mechanisms, indications, ADME, adverse effects, interactions.
Weeks 3–5 Anticonvulsants & drugs for neurodegenerative disease (antiparkinsonian)
Weeks 3–5 CNS stimulants & drugs for drug dependence — Amphetamines, opioids, alcohol, khat.
Week 7 Skeletal muscle relaxants & neuromuscular blockers
Weeks 8–10 Respiratory drugs — Drugs for asthma, leukotriene antagonists, cough suppressants, expectorants, corticosteroids, cromoglycate.
Week 11 Drug toxicology — Adverse drug reactions (Rawlins–Thompson classification).
Week 12 Non-drug toxicology & herbal preparations — Environmental & industrial toxicants; pesticides (organophosphate poisoning); herbal medicines.
CAT Week 13 CAT · Weeks 14–16 end-of-year exams

Compiled by Abongo Davis · Ompath Study · shared for MBChB students at Mount Kenya University and other universities.