Drugs have
been around since the beginning of time both for medical and recreational
purposes, and many of these drugs are extracts of plants. A good example of both points would be extracts
of belladonna plant that ancient Greeks consumed to take care of stomach
ailments and to make themselves more beautiful.
Greek women thought that the pupil-dilating effects of these extracts
enhanced their attractiveness (belladonna literally means beautiful lady).
Without the
experimentation or research of drugs things would be so different. Psychological disorders would be
different. Would people with schizophrenia
be able to live among us and lead average lives without medication? I am going to take a wild guess and answer no
to that question. Which brings me to why
I am so enthralled by this particular subject (synapses, drugs, and
addiction). Drugs obviously affect
synaptic transmission, but how? Well
there are seven steps, "1. synthesis of neurotransmitter, 2. storage in
vesicles, 3. break-down in the cytoplasm of any neurotransmitter that leaks
from the vesicles, 4. exocytosis, 5. inhibitory feedback via autoreceptors, 6.
activation of postsynaptic receptors, and 7. deactivation" (Pinel 95). There are two types of drug effects known as
agonistic, and antagonistic. The way to
distinguish between the two is to remember that in agonistic the drug increases
the synthesis of neurotransmitter molecules.
While on the other hand when thinking about antagonistic drug effects I
think of the literal meaning of antagonist, opponent (or an easier way, antagonist=anti). Which means that unlike agonistic which increases
the synthesis of the neurotransmitter molecules antagonistic drug effects block
the synthesis. Of course there are other differences but these are the main
differences.
We have
come a long way since belladonna, and although some of these medications help
we must also think about the side effects and the fact that they do not always
work. Most medications do not cure, they
just get rid of symptoms. However, they
can produce symptoms of their own. It is
an important topic to research, because I am certain that there will be more
discoveries.
Very clean blog, I really enjoyed your opening to the topic. I too, am very fascinated over the subject of drugs and addictions. The fact that you brought up a very minor yet impotant question about schizophrenia as well adds to the topic.
ReplyDeleteAlot of the medications out there especially in the mental health field hurt us more than they help us. Yes they do get rid of the symptoms and provided temporary relief but in the long run they hurt you pretty bad and thats what the pharmaceutical companies hide from the people. To answer your question about schizophrenic people living among us, yes they would be able to live a normal life without medication. Before the introduction of Thorazine the first antipsychotic ever, people with schizophrenia would see psychologists to help them get through life as easily as possible. Now with all these antipsychotics and there side effects it hurts schizophrenics more than help them in the long run.
ReplyDeleteDamaris I know I am not part of your group but I found this blog so interesting. I like how you brought up a historical fact about the use of belladonna by females in the greek culture. Now I wonder how much the dilation of the eyes affected what they perceived as beautiful. Nonetheless, I especially enjoyed how you simplified for the reader how drugs affect synaptic transmission. I will agree with you I do not think that individuals with schizophrenia would be able to live in our society without being medicated because we as Americans live such busy loud lives that all of that stimuli would be overwhelming for them.
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