PolyDiscipline
Courses

CoursePsychopharmacology Introduction

The drug-action atlas

Enter through a molecule, a synapse, or a brain circuit. Change the conditions and trace what happens next.

Explore the system

Follow a drug through the body

Choose an entry route and trace absorption, circulation, tissue distribution, metabolism, and excretion.

Follow a drug through the body
Intravenous → Systemic circulation → Brain / site of action → Liver → KidneysBrain / site of actionLungsSystemic circulationLiverGastrointestinal tractKidneysIntravenousSystemic blood
Intravenous · Systemic blood

No absorption or initial hepatic first pass; systemic bioavailability is complete

All routes can reach the liver later through systemic circulation.

Immediate blood entry; brain effect still requires distribution

Precise entry; difficult to reverse and requires sterile administration

Intravenous route in Figure 1.1

On a small screen, pan the diagram or increase zoom. Named controls provide the same exploration by keyboard.

Predict, then check

Which route enters systemic blood without an absorption phase?

Exploration and predictions are practice. They do not award mastery or XP.

Sources and model limits

Original schematic. Positions show relationships; structures and concentrations are not to scale.

  • Julien's Primer of Drug Action · 15 · 1 · Follow a drug through the body · PDF 8, 10, 11, 12, 13 · 1.1, 1.3, 1.4