How drugs work-all real dudes should read this.

let me explain for all of us real dudes how pharmaceuticals usually work-doctors and clinicians propose a need for a drug they want for their patients so the drug can alleviate (most of the time) or cure a disease.

Then, the phds (the researchers) take over. What they do is isolate the most specific receptors possible that will "target" their organ as specifically as possible. For example, if you wanted to find your long lost brother, and you know he was in FL, you would be a lot more successful if you searched "lost brother homestead miami florida zipcode" as opposed to "lost brother FL".

Imagine that receptor we just talked about as a lock. Whenever you put a key in that lock, depending on the type of key it is, will induce a specific effect. For example, if my "lock"/receptor is an IP3 receptor, that receptor most often will work with IP3, one of the common keys for the receptor.
When IP3 inserts into the lock, it will produce a specific effect, such as opening up channels in the cell membrane to let more calcium into the cytoplasm.
Now, another key may bind to the IP3 receptor, and this key could do the complete opposite thing-instead of letting IN calcium, it would let OUT whatever amount of calcium the cell already has. And take it from me, having a lot of calcium vs not having a lot of calcium is night and day with whatever physiological effect the cell is exuding.
So, say our patient has a heart problem-his heart stores too much calcium, leading to erratic heart beats. We will have then discovered calcium channels and learned about them. Then we would learn about calcium channels in the heart specifically, and their protagonists. then we would learn about those antagonists. then we would make the antagonists in the lab. then we would test the antagonists, first on animals, and then if we are lucky it will be safe enough to move onto humans, and once FDA approves everything (they only approve about 5% of major idea), it will be sold to the masses.
If there is anything I can clarify, please let me know.

#realdudesgangsigns.