Pharmacology Daily

About Pharmacology Daily

Psychopharmacology: Drugs, the Brain & Behavior explores what medications actually do to the brain—and what the research really says about their benefits, risks, controversies, and unexpected effects. Hosted by psychologist Dr. Carlos Vazquez, each episode examines a medication, drug class, emerging treatment, or provocative new study through the science of pharmacology, neuroscience, and human behavior. From antidepressants, stimulants, antipsychotics, lithium, and anxiety medications to ketamine, psychedelics, addiction treatments, pharmacogenetics, and emerging drugs, the podcast goes beyond headlines to explain mechanisms of action and the evidence behind them. You’ll also hear occasional foundational episodes explaining receptors, neurotransmitters, drug classes, side effects, tolerance, withdrawal, and other concepts that make psychopharmacology easier to understand. Whether you’re a psychologist, therapist, student, healthcare professional, or simply fascinated by how drugs change the brain, Psychopharmacology: Drugs, the Brain & Behavior turns complicated medication science into understandable stories. For educational purposes only; the podcast does not provide individual medical advice.

Publisher

Circle Of Insight Productions

Category

business · health & fitness · science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Feb 2020

Latest episode

11 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

427 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   11 Oct 2026

   Why Antidepressants Sometimes Stop Working: The Science Behind the Loss of Response

   Antidepressants influence neurotransmission relatively quickly, yet meaningful clinical improvement often takes longer. This episode explores receptor signaling, neural adaptation, stress circuitry, and neuroplasticity in depression treatment. Discover why changes in brain function are more complicated than the familiar chemical-imbalance explanation.

2. 

   7 Oct 2026

   When Antipsychotics Aren’t the Answer: The Medical Illness That Can Look Like Psychosis

   Hallucinations, paranoia, agitation, and bizarre behavior can reasonably lead clinicians toward antipsychotic treatment, but what happens when the underlying illness isn’t primarily psychiatric? Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis can initially resemble a severe psychiatric disorder before neurological symptoms emerge. This episode examines the diagnostic clues that can change the entire treatment strategy.

3. 

   4 Oct 2026

   Why Do SSRIs Take Weeks to Work If They Change Serotonin Within Hours?

   SSRIs begin altering serotonin signaling within hours, yet people with depression or anxiety are often told that meaningful improvement may take weeks. Why does the brain respond so slowly if the medication begins working almost immediately? The answer reveals why the familiar idea of antidepressants simply “correcting a chemical imbalance” is far too simplistic. This episode explores serotonin transporters, receptor adaptation, neural plasticity, and the gradual biological changes that may contribute to antidepressant effects. It also explains why an SSRI can be pharmacologically active long before a person notices a meaningful psychological difference.

Who has been a guest on Pharmacology Daily

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dr John Doe
• Dr John Smith
• Dr John Miller
• Tom Wolf

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

3.7 / 5

7 ratings

Spotify

2.5 / 5

14 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 52 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

68

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

90

Contact Pharmacology Daily

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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