I understand the kinetics and clearance and stuff, but I can’t wrap my head around how to tell what drug goes with what receptor and what it does when it gets there… What does it mean if something is described as muscarinic, nicotinic, adrenergic, or cholinergic? What is a catecholamine? Other than their physical location, is there any difference between alpha/beta/N/M receptors?
I’ve read books, looked at diagrams, watched videos, gone to lectures, and tried asking my profs but I still don’t understand and I’m going crazy because I always miss the pharm questions on my exams…
In: 3
muscarinic, nicotinic, adrenergic, or cholinergic receptors are named after the drugs or toxins that act on them
So there’s a toxin called muscarine. which comes from certain mushrooms. scientists found the receptor it targets, and they called it the muscarinic receptor.
Same deal with nicotine, from tobacco. It targets a different receptor, so they called that one the nicotinic receptor.
adrenergic is stimulated by adrenaline (epinephrine)
cholinergic are stimulated by acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter).
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