Effects of drugs on the body

Pharmacodynamics is the study of the biochemical and physiological effects of drugs on the body and the mechanisms of drug action. 

A few weeks earher he had diagnosed himself with mild depression, and he d known exactly what to do about it. He d seen stories about the potential benefits of the herbal remedy St. John s wort in all kinds of tabloids and magazines, and here was his chance to give it a try. It never crossed his mind to check with his doctors first, since St. John s wort was a natural remedy, and therefore (supposedly) completely safe. But the effects of drugs on our bodies can be very complex and sometimes mysterious. While the mechanism by which St. John s wort carries out its antidepressant effect is not clear, researchers have been able to identify an unwelcome side effect. Some component in St. John s wort stimulates the production of an enzyme with the cryptic name of cyp3a, one of a number of... 

Apart from the direct effects of Ritalin on the body, other complications, specific to the method of intake, occur when the drug is snorted or injected by the user to intensify its effects. 

Specific measures are used to quantify the effectiveness of the response to a drug or substance (ED50) and its toxicity (LDS0). The EDS0 and LDS0 are often quoted in data, providing an indication of the effects of chemicals on the body. These values have been derived from animal studies, so variations will be found in human metabolism, but they can be used as a guide. 

Cardiovascular Pharmacology. Cardiovascular pharmacology examines the effects of drugs on the heart and vascular system, as well as on other body... 

Drug development has to evaluate the toxicity of drugs to the body. Animals, mainly rodents, are used to study toxicities. The evaluation should also consider the effect of drugs in causing cancers, tendency in inducing mutations, and the consequences on reproduction. 

To ensure that Chinese herbal formulas which are prescribed for use alongside western drugs are composed correctly, it is necessary to have a general idea of the main effects of western drugs on the body from the perspective of TCM. There are several examples, as set out below. 

In this section, the paper by Koella brings together some of the effects of LSD on the functioning of the nervous system and attempts to draw from these data some generalizations about both drug and nervous system. Because minds are generally found in bodies, it is important to understand how... 

Both drugs can produce significant increases in heart rate and blood pressure. Like speed or amphetamine, the stimulant effects of BZP on the brain are mirrored in the body, and may have equally disastrous results. Animal experiments suggest that piperazines such as TFMPP can actually inhibit learning rather than enhancing it. 

Ecstasy affects a number of body systems. The effects of ecstasy on the brain system are what lead to both the desired and undesired mental effects of the drug. Within the brain, there are different groups of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters that are responsible for the communication within the brain and between the brain and the body. Neurotransmitters flow... 

Melatonin has been shown to boost certain parts of the immune system. It boosts the activity of natural killer cells, a type of immune cell. It also prevents apoptosis, a type of destruction of T-lymphocytes, which are other important immune cells found in the bloodstream. Melatonin also limits the effect of corticosteroids on the immune system Corticosteroids are very potent drugs that are sometimes used to inhibit the immune system. Some people have autoimmune diseases in which their immune system attacks the cells of their own bodies. Physicians frequently prescribe corticosteroids for these individuals. 

Much has been written about the negative effects of marijuana on the human body. Before proceeding, it is important to note that an extensive review of the literature reveals much uncertainty about this. Marijuana is the most widely used illicit (illegal) drug among adolescents—among the entire population, in fact—and opinions are polarized on each side of an often raging debate. 

---