Drugs and the brain

[pharmapsyche]

Just some random drug science:
A drug can act in one or more of the following ways in the body:

1) the drug crowds neurotransmittors out of their storage vesicles
2) the drug causes neurotransmittors to leak out of their storage vesicles
3) the drug mimicks the action of neurotransmittors by locking onto receptors
4) the drug blocks the action of neurotransmittors by blocking receptors
5) the drug prevents the re-uptake of neurotransmittors into their storage vesicles, causing them to remain in the synapse
6) the drug degrades enzymes which destroy neurotransmittors
7) the drug acts as a neurotransmittor precursor in the brain

[sands of time]

So with regards to number 7... That means 5-HTP is actually a drug, not a supplement? Also, many vitamins are precursors to neurotransmitters, could you call them drugs as well? That seems kinda strange because melatonin can be sold as a supplement since it's not a precursor, but 5-HTP could be called a drug.

Funny story, I once was chatting with a doctor who tried to tell me water could be called a drug... Seriously! Since water binds with receptors in the body, he claimed that you could call it a drug. I guess it depends on how specific you are about these rules.

[pharmapsyche]

I would most definatly call 5-hydroxytryptamine a drug, not a supplement. The definition of the word drug, according to the dictionary, is "any substance which alters biological function." 5-hydroxytryptamine is a drug by this definition. Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland and regulates circadian rhythm. This means that melatonin is indeed a drug. It's sold as a supplement but that doesn't mean it's not a drug. In reguard to the vitamin question, which vitamins act as precursors? I don't think any vitamins are actual precursors to neurotransmittors. Vitamins and minerals aid in the synthesis of certain neurotransmittors, but that doesn't classify them as precursors. For example, the neurotransmittor dopamine is synthesized from the precursor catechol, essentially. The neurotransmittor norepinephrine is then synthesized from dopamine with the help of copper and vitamin C. This doesn't mean that dopamine, copper or vitamin C are precursors to norepinephrine; the precursor is essentially catechol. I'm pretty sure of that, but maybe I'm wrong.

Reputation Comments on this post:

seems knowledgable

[sands of time]

delete please

[sands of time]

I thought I read somewhere that vitamin B was a precursor to some neurotransmitter, but I understand what you are saying.

[carousel]

most of us dont know what all of that means

[bcStoner420]

Originally Posted by jukidd

most of us dont know what all of that means

Youll probably find that many of us here actually do. Most would understand at least the basic concept of it.

[nanobrain]

lets get the nomenclature right first. its neurotransmitters.

and there are many more modes of drug action including secondary messenger systems, mesolimbic activation, GPCR activation and cascades, trace amine effects, etc.

jukidd, perhaps you may wish to try to overcome your educational deficiency instead of proclaiming it to the world?

[sands of time]

Originally Posted by nanobrain

lets get the nomenclature right first. its neurotransmitters.

and there are many more modes of drug action including secondary messenger systems, mesolimbic activation, GPCR activation and cascades, trace amine effects, etc.

jukidd, perhaps you may wish to try to overcome your educational deficiency instead of proclaiming it to the world?

Haha excellent points, could you explain the basics of those actions, or post a link?

[nanobrain]

haha, yes i could, got about 10 free years?

best bet is to open up a textbook like 'Principles of Neuropsychopharmacology' or the like.

[sands of time]

Figured so hehe. So do they got that textbook on audiotape???!

[nanobrain]

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