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• What are the differences between an agonist, partial agonist, antagonist, and inverse agonist?
o Use an example of a psychiatric drug from each category (agonist, partial agonist, antagonist, and inverse agonist), explaining the mechanism of action.
• What is the importance of understanding this foundational level of mechanism of action for medications?
Understanding the nuances of ligand-receptor interactions is a cornerstone of psychopharmacology. These terms describe the "efficacy" or "intrinsic activity" of a drug—how it behaves once it binds to a specific receptor.
To understand these differences, it is helpful to visualize a baseline level of activity. Most receptors have a "constitutive" (resting) level of activity even when no drug is present.
Agonist: Diazepam (Valium)
Category: GABA-A Receptor Positive Allosteric Modulator (Functional Agonist).
Mechanism: Diazepam binds to the GABA-A receptor and increases the frequency of chloride channel opening. By mimicking and enhancing the inhibitory effect of the natural neurotransmitter GABA, it creates a maximal calming effect on the central nervous system.