Understand How Your Patient’s Medications Affect Functional Outcomes

Many patients being referred to therapy are taking prescription and/or over-the-counter medications. Although many of these medications are directly related to their therapy diagnosis, some may not be. What should you know about clinical pharmacology to manage them effectively? 

Join a leading rehab pharmacology expert, Dr. Suzanne Tinsley, as she examines the critical aspects of pharmacology, including the principles of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics as well as how to apply these concepts to all drug classifications. You will discuss specific concepts of the pharmacology of the central nervous system and autonomic nervous system. You will analyze effects of drug actions on the major body systems, including mechanisms of therapeutic actions and adverse drug effects, problems involving drug interactions, and variables that modify drugs’ effects. Special consideration will be given to many of the drugs most commonly used in treating cardiovascular and neuro-musculoskeletal disorders. Using case reports, you will uncover specific effects that have an impact on the rehabilitation management of patients and clients.  

What You Will Learn

• Describe the primary pharmacokinetic factors involved in drug administration, absorption, distribution, interaction, and elimination
• Explain how altered pharmacokinetics may lead to a decrease or an increase in drug effects, and how these effects may be recognized in patients receiving therapy
• Discuss the concepts of psychological and physical dependence, tolerance, withdrawal, receptor, sensitivity, and cross-tolerance
• Identify the general categories, mechanisms of action, risk-benefit ratio, and implications on physical therapy and occupational interventions for the pharmacological agents routinely prescribed for conditions involving the cardiovascular, neuromuscular, endocrine, pulmonary, and central nervous systems
• Analyze the possible effects of various drug actions on the effectiveness of physical therapy and occupational therapy interventions and functional outcomes