Pain and palliative care pharmacotherapy literature summaries and analyses

Amy P Abernethy1, Tommie W Farrell

  • 1Duke Cancer Care Research Program, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA. amy.abernethy@duke.edu

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Continuing Care

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Agonism and Antagonism: Quantification01:14

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When drugs are administered, they can elicit either an agonist or antagonist effect on the body. Agonism occurs when a drug activates a specific receptor, triggering a biological response. On the other hand, antagonism happens when a drug binds to the same receptors but blocks their activation, thereby preventing a biological response.
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