I bet you're asking "Where am I?" Well, if not, you should be, y'know. You're currently sitting on the front page of an online "textbook" about the biology of neurological and psychiatric medications (as well as the biology of other ways to dork with our minds).
This discipline (as it applies to using chemicals to change our minds) is known as neuropharmacology. And when it comes to our psychology, of course, there's the division of neuropharmacology called psychopharmacology. I'd bet my buck that there's a huge public interest on how neurological medications such as antidepressants and pain relievers (and more, of course!) work in our brains and our bodies. At least, I hope there's a lot of interest.
That's why this isn't some college textbook... the point is for this book to be easy and fun to read (the latter I'm still working on). You're probably not a grad student in biology (and I'm not, either!), so this 'book' is going to be entirely in layman's terms. My final goal is to let you learn how these 'meds' work their magic (or wreak havoc if used improperly!). Instead of support groups where you interact, this is a site that lets me blabber on in a one way-conversation... also, with a dry sense of humor that would make (or do!) Oscar Wilde proud.
Honestly, I love hearing myself talk, that's the best part...
If you're that excited about neuropharmacology and psychopharmacology and don't want to read about the site's background, you can just skip to the table of contents.
You might be asking me what the hell drove me to start writing this big of a story regarding neurological and psychiatric/CNS medications. A simple answer is that not only are people more and more being treated with these medications, but there is also a general public thirst for knowledge on exactly how these medications work in the body. (At least judging by the sample size of my non-science nerd friends who keep asking me about this stuff!!) Alarmingly few people in general understand the modifyable neurological tango known as our synapses (gaps between our "neurons", aka nerve cells) as well as other "targets" neuro/psychiatric drugs can hit.
I also have to state that much of the public seems to be demonizing these neuro/psychiatric medications (especially the antidepressants, such as PROZAC, LEXAPRO, and many others). Or worse: Other members of the general public tend to blindly accept pharmaceutical companies' claims regarding their medication(s).
Finally, my soapbox here. You have a right to know what's going on your body while you take (or don't take!) these medications.
So sit back, relax... and read!
Last updated 6 February 2008
