Fundamentals of Pharmacology
From Molecule to Mind
Pharmacology Basics
Pharmacology studies how a substance enters the body, moves through it, binds to receptors, and produces effects. For psychedelics, the main focus is often the serotonin system, especially receptors involved in perception, mood, and cognition.
Key Concepts
Important ideas include dose, onset, peak effect, duration, metabolism, and half-life. A substance with a longer half-life often stays in the body longer, though subjective effects can differ from blood levels.
Pharmacology Vocabulary
What does an agonist do?
An agonist binds to a receptor and activates it.
Correct answer: Activates a receptor
What term describes how long a drug remains active in the body?
Half-life is the time needed for the amount in the body to decrease by half.
Correct answer: half-life
Drug Effect Features
Fast onset
- Effects begin soon after administration
- Can feel intense quickly
Slow onset
- Effects build gradually
- May allow more time for adjustment
Why This Matters
Understanding pharmacology helps explain why different psychedelics feel different, last for different lengths of time, and carry different risks.