Drugs that elicit a small response and block other responses are known as what?

Drugs that elicit a small response while effectively blocking the responses of other substances in the body are referred to as partial antagonists. These drugs bind to the same receptors as full agonists but activate them to a lesser degree, resulting in a reduced physiological effect. This characteristic allows partial antagonists to inhibit the actions of full agonists; if a full agonist were present, the partial antagonist would limit its effectiveness by occupying the receptor without triggering an equivalent level of response.

In the context of pharmacology, understanding partial antagonists is critical because they can be used strategically to modulate receptor activity, provide therapeutic effects in various conditions, and minimize side effects or adverse reactions that might arise from full agonist stimulation. This ability to fine-tune receptor activity makes them valuable in treating various disorders where balance in neurotransmitter systems is required.