B1.3 Medicine And Drugs Flashcards
What are some features of a good medicine?
Effective, safe and stable
How long could it take to bring out a new medicine and how much would it cost?
12 years
£350 million
What’s a placebo?
In a drug trial you would give one group a fake pill which is a sugar pill. Niether the doctors nor patients know who has the correct drug. It creates a non-bias test.
What’s the thalidomide case?
It was created to be a sleeping pill but then they discovered it healed morning sickness for pregnant women. Lots of pregnant women took this drug but their babies were born without limbs. This led onto the new law of Medicines Act 1968. Medicines now have to incredibly thoroughly checked. It also heals leprosy but still deforms foetuses to was banned by WHO
What’s the process of making a new drug?
Researchers target a disease and make lots of possible new drugs.
They are tested in the lab on cells, tissues and organs.
They are then tested on animals.
Drugs which pass are tested on human in small doses.
Then it’s used on a small number of patients.
Then it’s used on bigger clinical trials.
Then a doctor will be able to prescribe it.
What are statins?
Drugs that lower the amount of cholesterol in your blood. They stop your liver producing too much cholesterol. Patients need to keep a relatively low fat diet as well for the best effects.
Name an example of a medicinal drug
Penicillin
Paracetamol
Aspirin
Name an example of a recreational drug
Nicotine
Caffeine
Alcohol
Name an illegal drug
Heroin
LSD
Betel nut
What are the advantages of statins?
People don’t have to change their diet
Significantly lower rates of strokes and heart attacks
Give an example of an addictive drug
Alcohol Cocaine Nicotine Cannabis Caffeine
Define addiction
Where you keep taking a drug because you feel it makes you better
What are the problems with addiction?
Depression Slurred speech Physical changes Vomitting Losing touch with family and friends
What happens during drug withdrawal?
A drug is taken away from someone who is addicted to it. The person would the suffer from side effects like feeling uncomfortable, aches, shaking, coldness and itchiness. The body is so addicted that the body has change which is painful
What are steroids?
Drugs which build up muscle mass
They are banned for professional athletes because it enhances their performance which is unfair.
