Agonist vs Antagonist
Agonists and antagonists are terms that are easy to remember since they are opposites of each other. They can sometimes be confusing due to their similar spellings. Agonist is a term that is mainly used in pharmacology, and it refers to a drug that combines with receptors in the body to initiate the drug’s action. Antagonists, on the other hand, are those that oppose the agonists. Both agonist and antagonist play significant roles in the chemistry within the human body and in pharmacology where drugs are developed to counter various ailments.
What does Agonist mean?
In the human body, agonists and antagonists are pairs of muscles that have opposite actions and reactions. A contracting muscle is an agonist. In pharmacology, these terms are used to describe how drugs work on receptors in our bodies. An agonist drug binds with the receptors in our bodies and induces a reaction or triggers a response from the cell, similar to the body’s response to a naturally occurring substance. Agonists and antagonists are essential in the development of new drugs. In literature, an agonist is a synonym for a protagonist, meaning the leading character or one of the major characters in a literary work.
What does Antagonist mean?
In anatomy, an antagonist is a muscle that resists or counteracts against an agonist muscle. In pharmacology, an antagonist binds to receptor cells and blocks or suppresses the normal response of the receptors. While an agonist drug initiates a response from the body, an antagonist blocks the normal response of the cell receptor and prevents a reaction. In a more general sense, an antagonist refers to someone who is hostile to someone or something.
Key Takeaways
- Agonists and antagonists are muscle pairs in the human body with opposite actions – agonists initiate a response, while antagonists prevent a response.
- In pharmacology, agonists and antagonists help describe the working of drugs on receptors in our bodies and are crucial in the development of new drugs.
- In literature, agonist is a synonym for protagonist, while antagonist refers to someone who is hostile to someone or something.
