LabKitty Recommends: The Biochemical Basis of Neuropharmacology

Keith Moon famously quipped: "I'm the best Keith-Moon-style drummer there is." The same can be said of Cooper, Bloom, and Roth (henceforth: CBR). What CBR does, it does better than any other book out there, and that is to provide a qualitative introduction to the biochemistry of psychoactive substances. You won't find any hardcore organic chemistry or differential equations here; what you will find is a superb overview of neuropharmacology.

There are introductory chapters on the cellular and molecular biology of neurons, receptor mechanics, and synaptic function. The book then attacks the major neurotransmitter systems: the small amino acids (primarily GABA and glutamate), acetylcholine, norepinephrine/epinephrine, dopamine, serotonin/histamine, and the ever-expanding list of neuroactive peptides. Each chapter loosely follows the same outline: synthesis, metabolism, pathways, physiological effects (including relevance to disease), and drug interactions. There's nice schematics of release/effect/uptake cycles and summaries of the chemical structure of each neurotransmitter and related substances.

My only criticism is that I wish the organization was a little more consistent from chapter-to-chapter. However, it's not the organization or choice of topics but rather the superb writing that makes CBR stand out. It is a reference detailed enough to be used as a course textbook, yet well-written enough to be read in bed or on an airplane.

A stone classic, now in its 8th edition. And for good reason. There simply is no better introduction to neuropharmacology.

Check it out on Amazon