Antagonism in pharmacology is best described as which of the following?

Antagonism in pharmacology is best described as which of the following?

• A. Inactivating receptors
• B. Activating receptors
• C. Blocking absorption in the gut
• D. Increasing drug metabolism

Answer: (A)

Antagonism happens when a drug binds to a receptor and prevents that receptor from producing its usual response. The key idea is that the antagonist stops activation rather than turning the receptor on. So the best description is that it inactivates receptor activity by blocking activation by other substances, like an agonist. That’s why this option fits: it describes preventing the receptor from signaling. The other concepts describe different actions—activating receptors would be agonism, while blocking gut absorption or increasing metabolism are pharmacokinetic effects, not receptor-level antagonism. For context, a real-world example is using naloxone to block opioid receptors and prevent opioids from exerting their effects.

Antagonism happens when a drug binds to a receptor and prevents that receptor from producing its usual response. The key idea is that the antagonist stops activation rather than turning the receptor on. So the best description is that it inactivates receptor activity by blocking activation by other substances, like an agonist.

That’s why this option fits: it describes preventing the receptor from signaling. The other concepts describe different actions—activating receptors would be agonism, while blocking gut absorption or increasing metabolism are pharmacokinetic effects, not receptor-level antagonism. For context, a real-world example is using naloxone to block opioid receptors and prevent opioids from exerting their effects.