Learning biochemistry (or pharmacology, not sure, i'm a noob)

[Charles Ferdinand]

Well so I'm very very interested in medicine, specially psychiatry and psychopharmacology.
Being an Anxiety spectrum dissorder sufferer I'm not interested on stimulants or hallucinogens, or anything else for that mather, other than GABAergics.
So, I was reading about substituted amphetamines since last week, and realized that in order to learn more and understand everything I had to learn basic chemistry, of which I understand just the basics.
Right know I'm studying the different classes of amphetamines, and came to a sudden stop when I went into MDxx and didn't know how to classify those compounds: are they substituted amphetamines or substituted phenytilamines? or are amphetamines also phenetylamines?
I have many many questions, and need to clarify them because I write everything down on a huge notepad file, which contains information about every single neurotransmitter, including metabolization, receptors, effects on each receptor, class they belong to, transporters, compounds that agonize or antagonize them, etc. As of now I have completed Cathecolamines (Dopamine, Norepi and epi), GABA (partially because is hard to come by the info about every subreceptor and its effects) and am working on tryptamines right now (5-HT and Melatonin).

I'd really appreciate if someone could help or give me a good place, book, website, forum or anything about biochemistry and psichopharmacology for me to start.
My goal is to create the most comprehensive and complete compilation of psychopharmacology, and I'm willing to share it so anyone can study and review it. (it's in spanish but I'm translating it to english, it might take a couple days).

Thanks in advance!
PS. Please be nice remember I'm a noob.

Charles Ferdinand.

 

[sekio]

Amphetamine is a word made by running together 'alpha methyl phenethylamine'. All amphetamines are phenethylamines but not all phenethylamines are amphetamines.

My goal is to create the most comprehensive and complete compilation of psychopharmacology, and I'm willing to share it so anyone can study and review it. (it's in spanish but I'm translating it to english, it might take a couple days).

A lofty goal. Given how little we actually know about how biochemistry and the mind intermesh I would say there's little hope of a total newbie at the game writing anything but a book of lies, half-truths and oversimplifcations.

Other threads you may want to peruse:
http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/threads/402239-Where-did-you-learn
http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/threads/166687-Erowid-BlueLight-Neuropharmacology-Text
http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/threads/...phinephrine-re-uptake-inhibitors-on-dra-nra-s

 

[Charles Ferdinand]

Amphetamine is a word made by running together 'alpha methyl phenethylamine'. All amphetamines are phenethylamines but not all phenethylamines are amphetamines.



A lofty goal. Given how little we actually know about how biochemistry and the mind intermesh I would say there's little hope of a total newbie at the game writing anything but a book of lies, half-truths and oversimplifcations.

Other threads you may want to peruse:
http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/threads/402239-Where-did-you-learn
http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/threads/166687-Erowid-BlueLight-Neuropharmacology-Text
http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/threads/...phinephrine-re-uptake-inhibitors-on-dra-nra-s

Read again. It would be a compilation not an original work per se. This is what I love to do. Thanks for the references anyway!

 

[MeDieViL]

I dont wonna be a dickhead but pharmacology is either something you got in you or not, i never read any books ive learned most from pubmed wich is the only way to get the right knowledge as its important to look at study's that share contrasting views, i often see ppl that have read books post bullshit like stahl fans that for example claim 5HT2A reduces dopamine and other shit, making everyone on fora beleive that the way to go is to block that receptor and do that wich leads many ppl in the wrong direction, i was a bit like that too untill i realise how complex it all was and how individual things need to be modulated.

According to stahl 5HT2A is a evil receptor while in fact its a key receptor to treat anhedonia, atypical depression etc, in melancholic depression 5HT2A should be blocked.

In short either learn how to learn from pubmed or accept youll be learning alot of nonesense.

 

[$linky]

Go to a university and take some classes.

 

[Charles Ferdinand]

Go to a university and take some classes.

Duh, of course I'm gonna go to a university, but admission exams start in 6~7 months, and I've already finished my first career.
I'd like to become a psychiatrist and psychopharmacologist, that's my dream, my true call.

I dont wonna be a dickhead but pharmacology is either something you got in you or not, i never read any books ive learned most from pubmed wich is the only way to get the right knowledge as its important to look at study's that share contrasting views, i often see ppl that have read books post bullshit like stahl fans that for example claim 5HT2A reduces dopamine and other shit, making everyone on fora beleive that the way to go is to block that receptor and do that wich leads many ppl in the wrong direction, i was a bit like that too untill i realise how complex it all was and how individual things need to be modulated.

According to stahl 5HT2A is a evil receptor while in fact its a key receptor to treat anhedonia, atypical depression etc, in melancholic depression 5HT2A should be blocked.

In short either learn how to learn from pubmed or accept youll be learning alot of nonesense.

What's stahl????? Saying 2A receptors do not release dopamine is idiotic.

 

[m060mm]

Given how little we actually know about how biochemistry and the mind intermesh I would say there's little hope of a total newbie at the game writing anything but a book of lies, half-truths and oversimplifcations.

A little terse, a little more humorous.

 

[MeDieViL]

What's stahl????? Saying 2A receptors do not release dopamine is idiotic.

The autor of a basic book to learn pharmacology, he spreads that bullshit and it gets repeated everywhere, my point is its better to put pieces togheter from threads, pubmed articles, wikipedia togheter with a ebook instead of reading it and taking it as facts.

 

[i are spectre]

go to school. get a degree. that's the way to go... !

 

[Roger&Me]

My goal is to create the most comprehensive and complete compilation of psychopharmacology

Get a degree, get a PhD, do a post-doc, and work as a professor of pharmacology for 30 years and then maybe you'll be in a position to reasonably accomplish this goal.

 

[$linky]

Duh, of course I'm gonna go to a university, but admission exams start in 6~7 months, and I've already finished my first career.
I'd like to become a psychiatrist and psychopharmacologist, that's my dream, my true call.



What's stahl????? Saying 2A receptors do not release dopamine is idiotic.

Hey man you asked about how to learn the stuff. That's the best way. Also I don't quite understand Miedievil's thinking. I'm well into my undergrad, in molecular bio, and I still find research difficult to read and learn from. I still find myself looking up alot of the language, and I think it would be very very difficult to self teach by reading research alone. I mean you can read it, and pick up trivial knowledge by memorization, but too actually learn and apply your knowledge to problem solving... I do not think you'll have a great time doing that from research papers. I mean even something as basic as a western blot, will mean nothing to a novice.

 

[i are spectre]

uni or gtfo, sorry bro.

 

[endotropic]

uni or gtfo, sorry bro.

I think with all of the free online course lectures from major universities, free online textbooks, etc. that a highly motivated person could give themselves a fairly good education even if a university education isn't accessible to them.

That said trying to learn psychopharmacology from scratch is really starting a few rungs too high on the knowledge ladder. Before you even start thinking about drugs or drug action you need to get the basics of biology down (and then some). I'd suggest you start here:

http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/biology/

 

[Roger&Me]

I think with all of the free online course lectures from major universities, free online textbooks, etc. that a highly motivated person could give themselves a fairly good education even if a university education isn't accessible to them.

You cannot learn an experimental scientific discipline through online courses. You can learn about it maybe, but there is no replacement for actually working in a real lab on real research.

 

[powerofthemind]

yeah but having all the background knowledge behind the concepts wouldn't hurt, it'd be a damn good start but take too much time unless your not already in college

 

[i are spectre]

You need to go to a good university.

 

[tyrael]

You cannot learn an experimental scientific discipline through online courses. You can learn about it maybe, but there is no replacement for actually working in a real lab on real research.

Basic fundamentals can be, but I think any further is obviously impossible! lol

I think with all of the free online course lectures from major universities, free online textbooks, etc...

Agreed! There are extensive and surprisingly comprehensive online courses (free) to take which will teach said fundamentals. (Quite now tbh) a while a go this is how I began. Self-discipline is clearly a huge must though!

....That said trying to learn psychopharmacology from scratch is really starting a few rungs too high on the knowledge ladder. Before you even start thinking about drugs or drug action you need to get the basics of biology down (and then some)...

Complete agree! Even (if) with a knowledge of pharmacology, you will find you'll come across (often large) gaps in your knowledge leading to not (a great) understanding of pharma- concepts! As endotropic said, basic biology would be a must! Chemistry, psychology or even patho- would help in with certain concepts also.

Good luck! I personally have a lot of educational resources (papers, tutorials, videos, etc.) if you want them, feel free to PM me and I'll arrange somewhere for you to access them.

....I still find myself looking up alot of the language...

This is common, especially in med/anatomy/pharma- due to the profession/topic being one of the oldest, a lot of Latin and Greek words/phrases (from the old world =P)! (too many to example) Although there are common pre-/in-/suffixes used (particularly in bio/patho) which once known, helps understand a concept/word without having encountered it before. I find (as with many things I guess ) the more often you use that particular vocabulary, the easier and more natural it comes - putting oneself in the environment and situations which require the use of them (eg, working in a hospital, pharmacy, etc). Medical dictionaries help, Wikipedia's list.

(Unfortunately?) Irrespective of the knowledge you (know you) have, without that little A3 piece of paper from a University (in the degree), dunnit mean nuffin! (not like, say IT, where tertiary/post-HS education isn't generally needed!)