multireceptor

Multireceptor is a concept in pharmacology and neuroscience that describes the idea that many drugs and endogenous mediators produce their effects by interacting with more than one receptor type or signaling pathway. Rather than acting through a single, isolated target, multireceptor action acknowledges a network of receptor interactions that contribute to the overall pharmacological profile, including therapeutic effects and adverse reactions.

The concept emerged from observations that drugs with similar therapeutic outcomes can have diverse receptor affinities and that combining effects at multiple receptors can produce synergistic or complementary actions. It is often discussed in the context of polypharmacology, where drugs are recognized to bind to several receptor subtypes across different neurotransmitter systems. This framework helps explain complex drug actions in areas such as pain, mood disorders, sleep, and psychosis, where single-receptor models fail to capture full efficacy or side-effect patterns.

Mechanisms underlying multireceptor action include direct binding to multiple receptors, allosteric modulation of receptor activity, and receptor–receptor interactions such as heterodimerization. Downstream signaling convergence can also generate integrated responses from distinct receptor inputs. The concept also highlights the role of receptor distribution, brain region specificity, and individual variation in shaping outcomes.

Applications of the multireceptor perspective influence drug development and clinical practice by supporting strategies that target multiple receptors to enhance efficacy or address comorbid symptoms. They also raise considerations about safety, side-effect profiles, and the complexity of predicting individual responses.