Lesson 18: Medcinal Drugs

Question 1

What are the 3 steps of medicinal testing?

Answer 1

1- Drugs tested using computer models and human cells grown in a lab, for any toxicity.
2 - Tested on animals. Given a substance, monitor side effects, correct dosage.
3- Tested on healthy volunteers (any serious side effects at low dosage.)Then tested on people with an illness to see eficacy of the drug.

Question 2

What is meant by “eficacy”?

Answer 2

• How effective a drug is.

Question 3

What is a placebo?

Answer 3

Inactive substance given to the control group, looks like the treatment but doesn’t contain any drugs.

Question 4

Why does the placebo look like the drug?

Answer 4

• So the patients don’t know which is which.

Question 5

What is the control group?

Answer 5

• The people in a drug trial who aren’t given the new drug.

Question 6

What is an open trial?

Answer 6

• Both the patient and doctor know whether the patient is in the control group.

Question 7

What is a blind trial?

Answer 7

• Doctor knows that patient is in control group.

- Patient doesn’t know.

Question 8

What is a double blind trial?

Answer 8

• Neither the patient or the doctor know if they are in the control group.

Question 9

What is a drug?

Answer 9

A drug is a substance that can change chemical reactions in the body.

Question 10

What is a depressant?

Answer 10

A depressant is a drug that slows down brain and nerve activity.

Question 11

Give three examples of a depressant

Answer 11

Temazepam (used for insomnia)
Solvents (glues, gases, aerosols.)
Alcohol

Question 12

What is a hallucinogen?

Answer 12

A hallucinogen is a drug that alters what we see/ hear

Question 13

What is a painkiller?

Answer 13

A painkiller is a drug that blocks nerve impulses.

Question 14

What is a performance enhancer?

Answer 14

A drug that improves muscle development

Question 15

What is a stimulant?

Answer 15

A drug that increases nerve and brain activity. Eg. caffeine, nicotine, ecstasy.

Question 16

Give an example of a hallucinogen

Answer 16

An example of a hallucinogen is LSD -made from lysergic acid from the ergot fungus plant.

Question 17

Give two examples of a painkiller

Answer 17

Two examples of a painkiller are aspirin and paracetamol.

Question 18

What do stimulants/ depressants affect?

Answer 18

Stimulants/ depressants affect synapses between neurons.

Question 19

How do stimulants affect the synapse?

Answer 19

A stimulant causes more neurotransmitter molecules to diffuse across a synapse.

Question 20

What do stimulants do to someone’s appetite?

Answer 20

Stimulants decrease someone’s appetite.

Question 21

How do depressants affect synapses?

Answer 21

Depressants affect the nervous system by stopping neurons from sending impulses. They bind to the receptor molecules.

Question 22

What are Class A drugs?

Answer 22

Class A drugs are the most dangerous drugs to use with the highest penalties.

Question 23

What are Class C drugs?

Answer 23

Class C drugs are the least dangerous drugs to use with the lowest penalties.

Question 24

What was used by the ancient Greeks to help cure fever/ pain?

Answer 24

Willow Bark was used by the ancient Greeks to heal fever and pain.

Question 25

Why was salicylic acid modified into aspirin?

Answer 25

Salicylic acid was modified into aspirin as it is less irritating for the stomach.

Question 26

Give an example of a performance enhancer

Answer 26

An example of a performance enhancer is anabolic steroids.