Question

Psychoactive medications (drugs that impact our thoughts, emotions, and behavior) usually work as either agonists or antagonists for various neurotransmitters. Explain how both an agonist and an antagonist operate on a neurotransmitter. Explain, also, the process of reuptake inhibition and the effect it has on a neurotransmitter.

Answer 1

An agonist is a drug that increases the effect of the neurotransmitter, whereas an antagonist is a drug that decreases the effect of the neurotransmitter. If a neurotransmitter is inhibitory, an agonist will increase the inhibitory effect of the neurotransmitter, whereas an antagonist will decrease the inhibitory effect. On the other hand, if the neurotransmitter is excitatory, an agonist will increase the excitatory effect, and an antagonist will decrease the excitatory effect.

Please post the other question separately as we are supposed to answer just one question or four sub parts of the same question.