Where can I learn about pharmacology?

[ahint]

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum.

Anyway, I have basic neuroscience knowledge, and A Level Biology knowledge (grade A) - that'd be my starting point I guess. I'd like to learn about pharmacology, psychopharmacology in particular. Does anyone know any good textbooks or resources for this?

 

[lorne667]

I am surprised no one has replied to this. Unfortunately, I cannot help you, as I do my researching primarily on the net, so all I could say is to invest a lot of time searching, and referencing everything you find out.

But I am going to keep an eye on this thread, as I too am interested in this kind of thing.

 

[King Kong]

You could find the scientific litterature on pudmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/
There, you should focus principally on review (wich give you a nice overview about a precise subject). And even if you doesn't have access, a lot of content are free. For example, for a search about "serotonin system review", you will have 423 articles for free.

I hope it will help you!
Sorry for my bad english...

 

[ahint]

You could find the scientific litterature on pudmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/
There, you should focus principally on review (wich give you a nice overview about a precise subject). And even if you doesn't have access, a lot of content are free. For example, for a search about "serotonin system review", you will have 423 articles for free.

I hope it will help you!
Sorry for my bad english...

No probs, thankyou soooo much!

 

[gordonliu]

Pharmacology requires at least basic knowledge in the following fields:

Biochemistry
Chemistry (particularly organic)


I would recommend starting with a generic 2nd year college level Biochemistry textbook, and have a similar 2nd year O-chem textbook handy (not necessarily a requirement, but it makes understanding things easier)


at the end of the day, pharmacology is like a cross between O-chem, biochem, and biology (particularly neuroscience).... but at your level the type of understanding to "start" understanding things comes from basic Biochem.

learn about the physics and chemistry of protein-ligand interactions, some of the physical chemistry relevant to this sort of topic, drug delivery issues such as integral membrane proteins that are involved in the detection and transmission of exogenous ligands, transport mechanisms inside the cell, etc.

these are all topics of consideration in pharmacology, because the field studies all aspects of "Drugs" from the moment they enter your body to the moment they are excreted from your body, as well as the natural compounds that these drugs mimic, and the ways that drugs and their natural equivalents are created (biologically) and used.


its a highly interdisciplinary field.


but its at least 30% chemistry, 50% biochemistry, and 20% biology/neuroscience.

 

[Whoppletraps]

college?

 

[nAON]

Thought about university, college, stuff like that?

 

[Vader]

The answer is closer than you think:
http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/threads/166687-Erowid-BlueLight-Neuropharmacology-Text
This might be a bit basic, though. I don't know if you're interested in psychedelics, but I found this yesterday and it was interesting.
Formal education is the best way.
EDIT: I couldn't remember what the sit was called, but the Heffter Review is a great resource.

 

[specialspack]

I found this book helpful:

http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Neuropsychopharmacology-Leslie-Iversen/dp/0195380533

 

[Vader]

They do a level one, 10 credit course called "Molecules, Medicines and Drugs", which is good.

 

[specialspack]

What about their level 3 course, "Drug Design & Synthesis" - looks quite good:

http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/course/s346.htm

 

[Vader]

I think that would be quite a jump from A-level. It does look good though, I'm looking forward to it.

 

[specialspack]

Duh - sorry, I just realised sallycow mentioned it upthread already..

 

[mike592]

Pharmacology - Rang, Dale, Ritter. That's the general pharmacology book we used up to the final year of the BSc (hons) pharmacology.

 

[King Kong]

A little question, someone knows a university where we can study pharmacology (or biology) at distance?
For example, I know this uni: http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/science/health-sciences/index.htm
But it's soooo expensive (Yeha, I am swiss... Here a entire semester costs 500.- dollars)

 

[alkaline262]

I am a firm believer in not needing the university to learn this type of material. You only want go to university if you want to learn this material and then eventually have credentials to conduct pharmacological experiments in a university or government lab. Seriously though, if you want a lay-mans knowledge of this stuff the web is fine. There is nothing here conceptually difficult that you cant clear up with a little googling. If you want to be fluent in the material then just read the books. Start with a general chemistry text, move on to a full organic chemistry text, finally start reading a text on biochem or phamacology. When you are done primary literature will be your oyster.

 

[Roger&Me]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned picking up a copy of Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. Its basically the pharmacologist's bible, and gives a remarkably complete overview of the field. Locating a reasonably priced used copy should not be a problem, I believe there have been 12 or 13 editions released thus far.