Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Janelle on March 30, 2002, at 2:08:56
Okay, I'm confused yet again with some terminology I've read on here!
I thought I knew what *antagonize* meant, but apparently I do not know what this means in pyschiatric context.
So, what does it mean when a med ANTAGONIZES a receptor?
What does it mean when a med is AGONISTIC to a receptor?
Thanks!
Posted by fachad on March 30, 2002, at 6:10:28
In reply to Need help w/ some TERMINOLOGY (what's new!), posted by Janelle on March 30, 2002, at 2:08:56
Janelle,
I'm glad to see you here again!
Take another look a this previous thread
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020322/msgs/99447.html
A drug "fits" into a receptor site because it is chemically similar to a neurotransmitter. When it (the drug) "clicks" into the receptor, it either does the same thing as the natural neurotransmitter (an agonist), or it "fills in the hole" on the receptor and does not do anything, preventing the natural neurotransmitter from doing it's thing (an antagonist).
A few book recommendations for you:
Clinical Psychopharmacology Made Ridiculously Simple (Medmaster Series, 2001 Edition)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0940780445/drbobsvirte00-20
and
A Primer of Drug Action : A Concise, Nontechnical Guide to the Actions, Uses, and Side Effects of Psychoactive Drugs
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0716744449/drbobsvirte00-20
Both books are the best I've seen to explain the types of questions that you are brimming with. Amazon.com even has a deal where you can buy both books as a package deal for $34.
Or you can just ask questions here, for free!
> Okay, I'm confused yet again with some terminology I've read on here!
>
> I thought I knew what *antagonize* meant, but apparently I do not know what this means in pyschiatric context.
>
> So, what does it mean when a med ANTAGONIZES a receptor?
>
> What does it mean when a med is AGONISTIC to a receptor?
>
> Thanks!
Posted by Janelle on March 30, 2002, at 15:04:59
In reply to Re: Need help w/ some TERMINOLOGY (what's new!) » Janelle, posted by fachad on March 30, 2002, at 6:10:28
Fachad,
THANK YOU EVER SO MUCH for your PERFECT explanation of an agonist and an antagonist. Now I totally understand these concepts! Thanks again.
I went back to that post you linked and have a couple more questions:
1) (this should be right up your alley, since you are a computer person!) How did you find that post since it is now in the archives? Did you do some kind of search (if so, what terms) and then did you copy/paste the URL for the post in your answer here? I am fascinated by computer applications, especially online type things, so I'm very curious how you did this.
2) I'm copying/pasting something from that previous post which I now have a question about: You had written: "An anti-histamine blocks histamine receptors and the things they do like make itching, watery eyes, runny nose and hives"
I thought that receptors are *holes* which only RECEIVE messages, so I'm confused by your saying that histamine receptors cause itching, watery eyes, runny nose, etc. How can receptors *cause* things? I thought they were just part of the message relay system so to speak. Could you please clarify this for me - thanks very much.
-Janelle
Posted by Janelle on March 30, 2002, at 15:14:48
In reply to Re: Need help w/ some TERMINOLOGY (what's new!) » Janelle, posted by fachad on March 30, 2002, at 6:10:28
Fachad,
Thank you very much for the book recommendations - from the titles, those books sure do sound perfectly suited to me and my types of questions on here.
You wrote "Both books are the best I've seen to explain the types of questions that you are brimming with. Amazon.com even has a deal where you can buy both books as a package deal for $34. Or you can just ask questions here, for free!"
I hope that you are not *bothered* by my asking questions on here (for free) - I'll explain a bit about why I'm doing it - first, I'm broke - I literally have NO money to buy books on these pyschiatric subjects. There are many reasons for my dismal financial state, including that I've been out of work for some time now, and before that, due to the area in which I'm now living in, I had to work several part-time jobs with wages and duties which are far beneath my educational background (Master's Degree) and prior professional work experience where I used to live.
Second, believe it or not, I would have even MORE questions, but I do conduct Internet searches on some of them and get answers that way, but certain questions (the ones I pose on here) I need a *human* to explain, and it is especially helpful to be able to ask follow-up questions to the person who explained it if I can't quite follow what they posted. I need the interactive nature of this forum for many of my questions.
I hope this clarifies it a bit and that you understand. Thanks!
-Janelle
Posted by fachad on March 30, 2002, at 22:25:26
In reply to FACHAD: U R so helpful! 2 more questions here: » fachad, posted by Janelle on March 30, 2002, at 15:04:59
Q: How did you find that post since it is now in the archives? Did you do some kind of search (if so, what terms)
A: I tried to search for it, because I remembered typing up an answer to a similar question not too long ago. I then learned that Dr. Bob only archives the posts every so often, and you can't search for very recent posts.
If you click the "Search with Options" you can see the available date range. As of today 03/30, you can search up to 02/21. That thread was after 02/21, so I kinda just "browsed" for it. A little work, but I figured it was less work than re-composing and re-typing the answer. 10 years of psychopharmacology has not cured my laziness!
Q: and then did you copy/paste the URL for the post in your answer here?
A: Once I found the thread, I just clicked in the Address Bar, which highlights the whole url that you are currently at, and did Ctrl+C (copy), clicked down in the message text box, which puts the cursor there, and then did Ctrl+V (paste). Again, incurable laziness, or maybe I should say "treatment refractory laziness".
Q: You had written: "An anti-histamine blocks histamine receptors and the things they do like make itching, watery eyes, runny nose and hives". I thought that receptors are *holes* which only RECEIVE messages, so I'm confused by your saying that histamine receptors cause itching, watery eyes, runny nose, etc. How can receptors *cause* things? I thought they were just part of the message relay system so to speak.
A: Poor word choice on my part. I should have said that histamine receptors MEDIATE the itching, watery eyes, etc. They are not the direct cause, but they are a link in the chain reaction.
The chain goes something like this (less than perfect scientifically, but basic idea is there): An allergen in the body is perceived as an irritant, histamine is released, histamine receptors are activated, nerve impulses are transmitted, and the final event is hives or whatever.
So the histamine neurotransmitter and the histamine receptor are two links in a chain that starts with cat hair and ends with hives. If you stay away from cats, or if you block the histamine receptor, you can avoid hives. Although neither cat hair nor histamine receptors are the total CAUSE of hives, you can avoid hives by blocking the process at either point.
> Fachad,
>
> THANK YOU EVER SO MUCH for your PERFECT explanation of an agonist and an antagonist. Now I totally understand these concepts! Thanks again.
>
> I went back to that post you linked and have a couple more questions:
>
> 1) (this should be right up your alley, since you are a computer person!) How did you find that post since it is now in the archives? Did you do some kind of search (if so, what terms) and then did you copy/paste the URL for the post in your answer here? I am fascinated by computer applications, especially online type things, so I'm very curious how you did this.
>
> 2) I'm copying/pasting something from that previous post which I now have a question about: You had written: "An anti-histamine blocks histamine receptors and the things they do like make itching, watery eyes, runny nose and hives"
>
> I thought that receptors are *holes* which only RECEIVE messages, so I'm confused by your saying that histamine receptors cause itching, watery eyes, runny nose, etc. How can receptors *cause* things? I thought they were just part of the message relay system so to speak. Could you please clarify this for me - thanks very much.
> -Janelle
Posted by IsoM on March 30, 2002, at 23:40:00
In reply to Finding Threads, Histamine, Cat Hair and Hives » Janelle, posted by fachad on March 30, 2002, at 22:25:26
Haven't been following the thread much lately as I've been very busy with work, but your subject line intrigued me & I had to read. :-)
To find recent posts that haven't been archived yet, I go back to the time-frame I think it's in & on the task bar of the browser, select 'Edit' & then click on 'Find (on This Page)' & type the person's name who posted it, or my own. Finds it quickly. Navigator has a similar search.
If one is allergic to cats & it's not extremely severe, it can be controlled by bathing the cat once every week or two, rinsing the shampoo out well. It's not the fur or dander that the vast majority of people are allergic to, but a protein that's in the cat's saliva. When the saliva dries, the protein does too & becomes air-borne. Washing the cat removes the build-up & enables allergic cat lovers to keep their pets.
If you think bathing a cat is impossible, well, it helps to start them as kittens. Otherwise, you might wish to try this method:
Cat Bathing as a Martial Art - http://www.cathumor.com/Cat%20Bathing%20as%20a%20Martial%20Art.htm
(my contribution for the day for good mental health)
Posted by Janelle on March 30, 2002, at 23:53:14
In reply to Finding Threads, Histamine, Cat Hair and Hives » Janelle, posted by fachad on March 30, 2002, at 22:25:26
Fachad,
First I just want to say that you are VERY special - not only are you a fountain of knowledge, but you are kind, thoughtful and just plain nice in your willingness to share. I greatly appreciate it all.
Okay, moving along to the ol' histamine receptors, I have a question about something you explained. You wrote: "An allergen in the body is perceived as an irritant, histamine is released, histamine receptors are activated, nerve impulses are transmitted, and the final event is hives or whatever."
What do you mean by "HISTAMINE RECEPTORS ARE ACTIVATED" - I am under the impression (Probably wrong!) that the histamine receptors would be holding tanks, so to speak, for histamine? In other words, once the body releases histamine (in response to the allergen) is that histamine then kept, for lack of a better word, in the histamine receptors? If so, the blocking the receptors prevents them from eventually letting go of the histamine and prevents the allergic reaction?
I have a feeling I'm still missing a piece of the puzzle when it comes to RECEPTORS! Argh ...
This is the end of the thread.
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