Psychopharmacology

Psychopharmacology is the scientific study of how drugs influence mood, sensation, thinking, behaviour, judgment, evaluation, and memory. These agents can induce changes in mental states and may be derived from natural sources (such as plants) or chemically synthesized in laboratories. Researchers in this field explore the mechanisms by which drugs impact human cognition and behaviour, covering a wide range of methodologies, from neurochemical assays to neuroimaging studies. 

Drug toxicity occurs when a person accumulates too much of a prescription drug in their bloodstream, leading to negative effects. It can happen due to:

• Over-ingestion of medication (exceeding prescribed amounts).
• Adverse drug reactions, where normal therapeutic doses cause harmful side effects.
• Narrow thresholds between effective and toxic doses.
• Accumulation of drugs with longer half-lives.
• Factors like age, kidney function, and hydration affecting drug clearance.