dopetalk does not endorse any advertised product nor does it accept any liability for it's use or misuse

This website has run out of funding so feel free to contribute if you can afford it (see footer)

Author Topic: Explainer: how do drugs work?  (Read 5148 times)

Offline Chip (OP)

  • Server Admin
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2014
  • Location: Australia
  • Posts: 6648
  • Reputation Power: 0
  • Chip has hidden their reputation power
  • Gender: Male
  • Last Login:Today at 05:53:23 PM
  • Deeply Confused Learner
  • Profession: IT Engineer
Explainer: how do drugs work?
« on: May 03, 2016, 06:38:10 AM »
source: http://theconversation.com/explainer-how-do-drugs-work-48665

Explainer: how do drugs work?

Whether a drug is prescribed by the doctor, bought over the counter or obtained illegally, we mostly take their mechanism of action for granted and trust they will do what they’re supposed to.

But how does the ibuprofen pill turn off your headache? And what does the antidepressant do to help balance your brain chemistry?

For something that seems so incredible, drug mechanics are wonderfully simple. It’s mostly about receptors and the molecules that activate them.

Receptors

Receptors are large protein molecules embedded in the cell wall, or membrane. They receive (hence “receptors”) chemical information from other molecules – such as drugs, hormones or neurotransmitters – outside the cell.

These outside molecules bind to receptors on the cell, activating the receptor and generating a biochemical or electric signal inside the cell. This signal then makes the cell do certain things such as making us feel pain.

Agonist drugs

Those molecules that bind to specific receptors and cause a process in the cell to become more active are called agonists. An agonist is something that causes a specific physiological response in the cell. They can be natural or artificial.

For instance, endorphins are natural agonists of opioid receptors. But morphine – or heroin that turns into morphine in the body – is an artificial agonist of the main opioid receptor.

... this continues on so read the whole article by clicking here
friendly
0
funny
0
informative
0
agree
0
disagree
0
like
0
dislike
0
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
Our Discord Server invitation link is https://discord.gg/jB2qmRrxyD

Offline neighbor

  • marquis de nod
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jun 2015
  • Location:
  • Posts: 310
  • Reputation Power: 0
  • neighbor has hidden their reputation power
  • Gender: Male
  • Last Login:September 10, 2016, 05:45:42 PM
  • carpet diem
Re: Explainer: how do drugs work?
« Reply #1 on: May 03, 2016, 06:17:32 PM »
wouldnt morphine be classified as a natural agonist, now that its been confirmed the human body produces its own morphine?

:blank:
friendly
0
funny
0
informative
0
agree
0
disagree
0
like
0
dislike
0
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
"I do not thus betray my enjoyments to the vulgar"

Tags:
 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
4 Replies
2679 Views
Last post October 17, 2015, 02:24:52 PM
by Chip
17 Replies
16018 Views
Last post June 01, 2016, 06:34:04 PM
by nikita70
0 Replies
4181 Views
Last post September 06, 2016, 01:32:23 PM
by Chip
11 Replies
11690 Views
Last post November 04, 2016, 03:00:06 AM
by 6-mam
1 Replies
2495 Views
Last post May 08, 2018, 10:26:17 AM
by Chip
1 Replies
5243 Views
Last post May 29, 2019, 08:39:45 AM
by Chip
0 Replies
5260 Views
Last post May 10, 2019, 08:51:24 PM
by Chip
0 Replies
3933 Views
Last post June 01, 2019, 08:18:04 AM
by Chip
1 Replies
5211 Views
Last post May 31, 2023, 09:56:09 PM
by Chip
0 Replies
2926 Views
Last post June 03, 2023, 05:52:24 PM
by Chip


dopetalk does not endorse any advertised product nor does it accept any liability for it's use or misuse





TERMS AND CONDITIONS

In no event will d&u or any person involved in creating, producing, or distributing site information be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, special or consequential damages arising out of the use of or inability to use d&u. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless d&u, its domain founders, sponsors, maintainers, server administrators, volunteers and contributors from and against all liability, claims, damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from the use of any part of the d&u site.


TO USE THIS WEBSITE YOU MUST AGREE TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ABOVE


Founded December 2014
SimplePortal 2.3.6 © 2008-2014, SimplePortal