Mechanism of Drug Action

The purpose of studying the mechanism of drug action is to clarify where and why drugs work. The mechanism of action of each drug is often different, but it can be divided into the following categories：

• Altering cells or bodies’ physical and chemical properties

• Changing the activity of intracellular enzymes

• Affecting the permeability of ion channels in the cell membrane

• Affecting the synthesis and release of active substances in the body

• Affecting body metabolism

• Inhibiting or killing pathogens

• Acting through the binding of receptors to ligands

• Applying changes to intracellular cellular signaling pathways

  
  

Examples