Agonists and antagonists play important roles in how drugs work in our bodies. Here's a simpler explanation of how they affect receptors:

1. Agonists:

   • These are substances that attach to receptors and act like the natural signals in our body.
   • When they fully connect to the receptors, they can cause a strong response (we call this high efficacy).
   • For example, morphine is a strong agonist that helps control pain in about 70-80% of people who use it.

2. Antagonists:

   • These are substances that also attach to receptors, but they do not activate them.
   • Instead, they stop agonists from working by blocking their action.
   • They usually have low or no efficacy (we call this low efficacy).
   • For instance, naloxone is an antagonist that can reverse the effects of opioids. It works in over 90% of overdose cases.

3. Statistical Impacts:

   • We can use dose-response curves to show how strong a drug is and how well it works. This information helps us figure out the right amounts of medicine to give to patients.