Drug information newbie.

[thedeadlywar]

I know most of the basics, I know everything there really is to know about dosages, what to expect from most drugs effects wise, and everything there. I'm more interested in learning about how drugs effect the brain, understand why a certain chemical compound may effect some things in certain ways, and learn more about the actual body itself. The problem is I don't know where to start, Are there any Online sites I could visit or does anyone have any recommendations on where I need to start my reading.

Edit: I think it's important that you know I don't have really any background in chemistry besides very basic stuff.

 

[kyanite]

If you've got a grasp of simple biology(cells, body, etc), like a high school course, and some knowledge of chemistry, try finding this book in a university library, or something similar

"Pharmacology" by H. P. Rang
5th edition is the newest
ISBN: 0443071454

It's a textbook used by my university, and it covers a lot of what I think you're looking for. Maybe try to get an older edition off of amazon.

I'm sure theres lots of resources on the internet, but I prefer a hard copy to own and read, and it covers a hell of a lot, just under 800 pages. Pretty steep learning curve if you're tackling it by yourself though...

 

[thedeadlywar]

I'm fine with devoting time and effort into learning, It will be just as pleasurable as it will be challenging and frustrating as I look forward to knowing more about myself.

 

[thedeadlywar]

I'm pretty surprised no body else has any helpful resources, I'm pretty young and I'd just like a nice fresh start at learning what I'm most interested in. Any resources at all are greatly appreciated. ANY.

 

[kyanite]

give it time.
a lot of ppl dont go on here multiple times a day, and most dont go into ADD

 

[drscience]

http://www.cmu.edu/oli/

Free Online College. Situated in Pittsburgh, PA USA.

Chemistry and Biology courses avail.

2 Units of Chem for example:

UNIT 1: Stoichiometry I
Module 1: Introduction
Module 2: The mole
Module 3: The arsenic problem in Bangladesh
Module 4: Measuring arsenic in the lab
Module 5: Basic tools of stoichiometry
Module 6: Testing water for arsenic contamination
Module 7: Using density to check arsenic concentrations
Module 8: Arsenic remediation
Module 9: Unit recap
UNIT 2: Stoichiometry II
Module 10: Empirical formula
Module 11: Reaction stoichiometry
Module 12: Limiting reagents
Module 13: Titration
Module 14: Analysis of mixtures
Module 15: Unit recap

 

[thedeadlywar]

Thanks for the help guys^^ but everyone note that I can use as many resources as possible. Never can have to many .

 

[Ham-milton]

Doesn't MIT have a course available online? Or is that Harvard?

 

[UnfortunateSquid]

MIT has all (most of) its lectures available online, even videos for some of them!

http://ocw.mit.edu/

 

[Xaratoostrah]

Thedeadlywar,

a Book i love on psychopharmacology ,which has an easy sometimes tongue in cheek approach is "
A Primer of Drug Action: A Concise, Non-Technical Guide to the Actions, Uses, and Side Effects of Psychoactive Drugs" by Robert M. Julien (10th edition)

I think the 11th edition is the most recent and just out!!

Easy,spot on ,will give you some basics on how to "think" on the mechanism of action of psychotropic drugs.Highly recomended ,at least in my book!

Another great resource is the website "The Brain from Top to Bottom". So you have the "hots" for learning about the body and the brain ,thinking that this can complete the overal picture? Here is a little gem of a website!

Its not your "usual"website... One can navigate in it in a multitude of ways,you can choose from 3 levels of explanation for EACH interactive chapter (Basic,Intermediate,Expert) and even level of organisation (from brain area you can "zoom" in cellular or chemical mechanis).It even has a User Guide which i quote to see how unusual the website is :

User's Guide

You can browse this site in several different ways.

By topic, like a wanderer with your knapsack of knowledge on your back. Enter whatever topic interests you and amble around. Sometimes you may feel a little lost, but you may also make some amazing discoveries.

By level of explanation, like a seasoned traveller exploring one of the world’s great cities from top to bottom. Since you will want to see and know everything about the topic you have chosen, you will start at the beginner level, then go on to the intermediate and advanced levels. When you are done with that, you can go on to explore the links we provide to other Web sites and all the knowledge that the Internet has to offer.

By level of organization, like an archaeologist exploring the various levels of a dig site. You can dig down to the nervous-system level, the cellular level and even the molecular level. Or if you prefer, start from the molecular level and work all the way up to the psychological and social implications of your sub-topic.

By module, like a researcher consulting an encyclopedia. The modules on this site are a gold mine of information on such subjects as the history of various disciplines, the tools used in them, the researchers involved in them, and famous experiments that can help you understand them.

By guided tour, following your guide, Right Brain, who takes you through all the levels of the site as if you were at a museum. Right Brain’s guided tours are custom-designed to answer all your questions. To teach you everything he knows, he will take you down secret paths known only to him.

My advice : Bookmark it.

 

[drscience]

Xaratoostrah: Very interesting website! thx!

Heres a freeware program that lets you view 3d images of the brain using MRI scans.

http://brainvoyager.com/BrainTutor.html

Link to DL is at bottom of page