If an antagonist is irreversible, it will remain bound to that receptor forever. The receptor only becomes “unblocked” once the body creates new receptors. This is commonly seen in aspirin platelet therapy, where Aspirin actions lasts for the life of the platelet (7days) because it is bound irreversibly. Half life refers to how long a drug acts in the body. So yes, in some ways you are correct, although since you are talking about an irreversible drug the receptor it’s blocking will never become unblocked but new ones will be created instead. The blocked receptors will eventually be broken down by the body
The lifespan of dopamine and serotonin receptors is not fixed and can vary from a few hours to several days. The lifespan depends on the type of cell and physiological conditions.
In general, neurotransmitter receptors have short and dynamic lifespans, with receptors constantly being broken down and new ones being created. For serotonin receptors, they are often regenerated within 1–2 days, and dopamine receptors typically follow a similar cycle. However, long-term medication use or neurological changes can influence the regeneration rate of these receptors.
Therefore, even if dopamine or serotonin receptors are blocked by a drug, new receptors continue to be generated over time, causing the drug’s impact to gradually diminish.
