Chemistry of Psychotropic Drugs (Chemotherapy of Mind)

The brain is thought to contain 100 billion neurons. Neurotransmitters are molecules that serve as "chemical messengers," carrying messages along neuronal pathways in the brain. A neurotransmitter is released by the first (sending) neuron into the synaptic cleft, a tiny space between neurons, where it binds with receptors on the second neuron. According to the saying, the neurotransmitter "fits into the receptor like a key into a lock." The second (receiving) neuron's firing can either be inhibited by this binding action or caused to fire. An inhibitory response reduces the activity of the neuronal network, while an excitatory response moves the message along the neuronal pathway. The chemical messenger is then "transported" back into the first neuron to complete the message and is then saved for later use.

In research, Hyman observed that all psychotropic drugs interfere with the brain's normal neurotransmitter function. However, the brain has a number of feedback mechanisms to monitor the activity of its neurotransmitters, and in response to the drug's disruption of that function, it undergoes a number of "compensatory adaptations." The brain strives to continue operating normally. For instance, the brain reduces its own serotonergic activity when a drug increases serotonin levels. The brain increases its dopaminergic activity if a drug blocks dopamine receptors and so on. According to Hyman, the brain is now functioning in a way that is "qualitatively as well as quantitatively different from the normal state" at the conclusion of this compensatory process. The key concept here is that all psychiatric medications interfere with neurotransmitter function, which causes compensatory changes that result in abnormal brain function. So, 

What are Psychotropic Drugs?

Psychotropic drugs are those that alter mood, perceptions, and behavior. It is also known as Psychoactive or Psychopharmaceutical. Psychotropic drugs, especially when used in conjunction with psychotherapy, can be effective tools in the treatment of conditions such as borderline personality disorder (BPD), anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia. A broad class of medications known as psychotropics is used to treat a wide range of ailments. They function by modifying the concentrations of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), norepinephrine, and serotonin in the brain. The psychotropic drugs fall into five main categories:

1. Anti-anxiety medication

2. Antidepressants

3. Antipsychotics

4. Stabilizers of mood 

5. Stimulants

Some psychotropic drugs can have very severe side effects and necessitate special monitoring by medical professionals.

How does it work?

As already mentioned, Psychotropic drugs are used to treat symptoms of mental illness such as mood swings, rage, hallucinations/delusions, and other issues that can interfere with therapy. With these symptoms under control, you can concentrate on learning skills to cope with and manage your mental health. These medications work by affecting the balance of neurotransmitters in your body, such as serotonin, dopamine, and -Aminobutyric acid (GABA). These chemical messengers transport signals between your organs to help them function properly. They assist neurons in communicating with one another in the brain to control mood, concentration, perception, and other aspects of brain function. They are specific to the cells that they attack.

How quickly do psychotropic drugs start working?

You may notice side effects right away in some cases, but you may not feel the full beneficial effects for several weeks or even months. If you believe your medication isn't working, consult your doctor to discuss alternatives. Never discontinue a psychotropic medication on your own; this can be dangerous and unpleasant. To avoid this, your doctor will know how to gradually reduce your dosage.

Note:- Never take psychotropic drugs (or any other prescription drugs that have not been prescribed to you) unless you have a prescription.

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Soap:- Cleansing Agent

Soap:- Cleansing agent

Fatty acid and an alkali metal hydroxide react chemically to produce soap, a cleaning agent. A fatty acid reacts chemically with an alkali metal hydroxide such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, to create soap, a cleaning agent. Because of its exceptional capacity to enclose oil particles, soap has the special power to disperse them in water and make them simple to rinse away. Since ancient times, soap has been used as a washing agent, a mild antibacterial, and an ingestible remedy for some poisonings. 

The general chemical formula for soap is RCOOX. The X on the periodic table of elements stands for an alkali metal, which is an element found in the first column. The R stands for a chain of hydrocarbons made up of anywhere between 8 and 22 linked carbon atoms that are encircled by hydrogen atoms. 

Features And Applications Of Soap

Soaps have good biodegradability and are great cleaning agents. The propensity of the carboxylate ion to react with Ca+ and Mg+ ions in hard water is a significant problem that limits their general use. The end result is a salt that is not water-soluble and can settle on clothing and other surfaces. Hard water plaques also cause rings in sinks and bathtubs and bleach fabric colors. The inefficiency of soaps in acidic environments is another drawback. In these situations, soap salts are inefficient as cleaning agents because they do not separate into their individual ions. Although soaps are usually used for cleaning, they also work well as ingestible antidotes for heavy metal or mineral acid poisoning as well as mild antiseptics. Polishes, inks, paints, and lubricating oils all utilize special metallic soaps as additions since they are manufactured from soap and heavier metals.

How Does Soap Work?

On our hands, soap eliminates germs rather than killing them.

The molecules of soap are uniformly distributed in a solution of soap and water. However, because the hydrocarbon ions in the soap are attracted to one another and aggregate into spheres known as micelles, this system is not a real solution. The hydrophilic heads of the molecules remain on the exterior of these micelles to interact with water, while the water-incompatible molecular tails are inside these micelles. Oil is absorbed by these micelles as tiny particles when it is added to this environment. After that, it can be rinsed off. Use soap and be thorough when washing your hands for the best results. Create a lather because, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the friction helps remove debris and oils from your skin (CDC). Depending on how dirty your hands are, you should scrub for whatever long it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice, which is often at least 20 seconds, according to health experts. Don't forget to scrape between your fingernails as well. Germs love that spot; it's good real estate. After washing, make sure to towel- or air-dry your clothes. There is no established optimal procedure for drying, however, the CDC notes that moist hands are more likely to spread germs than dry ones.

In water, soap partially separates into its component ions since it is a salt. The RCOO- is the soap molecule's active ion. This ion's two ends exhibit diverse behaviors. The hydrophilic (loving water) carboxylate end (-COO-) is referred to as the "head" of the ion. The "tail" of the molecule refers to the lipophilic (oil-loving) hydrocarbon part. The distinctive surface and solubility properties of soaps and other surfactants are the results of their particular molecular structure. The molecules of soap are uniformly distributed in a solution of soap and water. However, because the hydrocarbon ions in the soap are attracted to one another and aggregate into spheres known as micelles, this system is not a real solution. The hydrophilic heads of the molecules remain on the exterior of these micelles to interact with water, while the water-incompatible molecular tails are inside these micelles. Oil is absorbed by these micelles as tiny particles when it is added to this environment. After that, it can be rinsed off.

Is soap that is antibacterial even better? 

Ingredients like triclosan or triclocarban, which are hydrophobic compounds that can penetrate bacterial cell walls and kill the bacteria, are added to antibacterial soaps. Although it may sound amazing, research has revealed that antibacterial soaps are not any more successful at eradicating bacteria than normal soaps. Antibacterial soaps were no longer permitted to be promoted to the general public after an FDA rule was announced in 2016. Consumers might believe that antibacterial washes are more efficient at halting the transmission of germs, but there is no scientific proof to support this, according to Dr. Janet Woodcock, head of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER).