At the end of the course students will be able to-

1. Describe the principles of rational prescribing and the basis of therapeutic decision making.
2. State the principles underlying the concept of essential medicines.
3. Recognize the implications of polypharmacy and other means of irrational prescribing.
4. Describe reaction, interactions and manage problems due to misuse and abuse of medicines.
5. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of teratogenic medicines.
6. Select appropriate learning resources periodically.
7. Evaluate the ethical and legal issues in drug prescribing.
8. Develop attitude for continuing self-learning.
9. Describe the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of essential and common drugs used in dentistry.
10. List the indications, contraindications, interactions and adverse reactions of commonly used drugs in dentistry with reasons.
11. Tailor the use of appropriate drugs in disease with consideration to its cost, efficacy, safety for individual and mass therapy needs.
12. Prescribe common and essential drugs in special medical situations such as pregnancy, lactation, old age, renal or hepatic damage and immune-compromised patients.