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Module 1 · General Principles of Pharmacology · Course 03 of 5

Pharmacodynamics

  • Course 3 of 5
  • 44 lessons
  • 5 Quick Recall Checks
  • 2 final assessments
  • Free in Module 1

Pharmacodynamics explains how drug concentration produces clinical response, including receptor interactions, dose–response relationships, therapeutic benefits, and adverse effects.

Role in Module 1: Connects exposure and drug–target interactions with effects and response. Recommended after Pharmacokinetics. How the five courses fit together →

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Syllabus

Course syllabus and recall checkpoints

The full lesson list, grouped by the Quick Recall Check that closes each unit.

Unit 1Foundations and exposure8 lessons
  1. 1Pharmacodynamics: Drug Action at the Bedside
  2. 2The Pharmacodynamic Chain
  3. 3Pharmacodynamics vs Pharmacokinetics
  4. 4Drug Targets Are Not Only Receptors
  5. 5Selectivity, Specificity, and Polypharmacology
  6. 6Binding Kinetics and Target Occupancy
  7. 7Binding Affinity
  8. 8Residence Time and Duration of Action

Smart Drill checkpoint · Quick Recall Check 1

Unit 2Receptor families and signaling9 lessons
  1. 9Event-Driven Pharmacology
  2. 10Four Major Receptor Families
  3. 11Ligand-Gated Ion Channels
  4. 12GPCR Signaling and Amplification
  5. 13Gs, Gi, and Gq G-Protein Coupled Signaling Pathways
  6. 14Enzyme-Linked Receptors
  7. 15Intracellular Receptors
  8. 16Biased Agonism
  9. 17Biologics and Monoclonal Antibodies

Smart Drill checkpoint · Quick Recall Check 2

Unit 3Response curves and agonism7 lessons
  1. 18Graded Concentration–Response Curves
  2. 19Potency vs Efficacy
  3. 20EC50, Hill Slope, and Cooperativity
  4. 21Two-State Receptor Model
  5. 22Agonist Classes
  6. 23Partial Agonists in Practice
  7. 24Receptor Reserve and Operational Efficacy

Smart Drill checkpoint · Quick Recall Check 3

Unit 4Antagonism and combinations8 lessons
  1. 25Map of Antagonism
  2. 26Competitive Antagonism and Naloxone
  3. 27Schild Analysis and pA2
  4. 28Noncompetitive and Irreversible Antagonism
  5. 29Targeted Covalent Inhibition
  6. 30Allosteric Modulation
  7. 31Physiologic and Chemical Antagonism
  8. 32Drug Combinations: Additivity and Synergy

Smart Drill checkpoint · Quick Recall Check 4

Unit 5Adaptation, disease, and safety9 lessons
  1. 33Target Plasticity
  2. 34Homologous vs Heterologous Desensitization
  3. 35Tolerance, Tachyphylaxis, and Dependence
  4. 36Up-Regulation, Rebound, and Withdrawal
  5. 37Disease Changes Pharmacodynamics
  6. 38Quantal Dose–Response Curves
  7. 39Therapeutic Index and Safety Metrics
  8. 40Monitoring: Concentrations, Biomarkers, Endpoints
  9. 41Pharmacogenomics and Precision Pharmacodynamics

Smart Drill checkpoint · Quick Recall Check 5

Unit 6Synthesis and review3 lessons
  1. 42Clinical Prescribing Framework
  2. 43Integrated Case: Inadequate Response
  3. 44Final Synthesis
Finish with two assessments

Foundations of Mastery: Comprehensive Final Assessment · Clinical Application & Mastery Assessment

How you’ll study

Apply pharmacology concepts and review your reasoning

  1. Study a pharmacology conceptUse focused lessons to develop your conceptual foundation.
  2. Recall and apply in a Smart DrillPractice retrieval and clinical application, then review immediate scoring and explanatory feedback.
  3. Target gaps and reassessUse feedback and AI Tutor review to identify reasoning gaps, repeat relevant practice and check your understanding.

See the full practice loop

Module 1 · General Principles of Pharmacology

Continue the Module 1 foundation

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