B1 - Medicine And Drugs Flashcards
What is an effective medicine?
It prevents or cure a disease or relieve the symptoms.
What is a safe drug?
The drug can’t be too toxic or have excessive side effects.
What is a stable medicine?
The medicine has to be able to be used under normal conditions and stored for some time.
How long and how much does it cost to release a new medicine?
Up to 12 years and £350 million.
What are new chemicals initially tested on?
Cells, tissues and organ
What is a new medicine tested on if successful at the first stage?
Animals such as rats and mice.
Why are new medicines tested on animals and cells?
They give an indication of requires dosage, side effects and how the drug behaves in humans.
What is the third stage of testing of a new drug?
Healthy volunteers and then a small number of patients.
Why is a new drug tested on healthy human volunteers?
To test for side effects.
Why does a new drug undergo trials?
To establish:
- its effectiveness
- its toxicity
- the appropriate dose.
What is a double-blind trial?
A clinical trial that involves the use of a placebo and the new drug with a select group of patients.
What is a placebo?
A chemical that doesn’t contain the new drug.
What will the placebo usually contain?
A different drug that is already used to treat the disease so the patient doesn’t go without treatment.
Why are new medicines tested so thoroughly?
In order to prevent cases where dangerous drugs are prescribed. An example of this is thalidomide.
What are statins?
Statins reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood reducing the risk of heart disease.
What is a drug?
Drugs change chemical processes in the body, possibly leading to addiction.
What is addiction?
When a person becomes physically or mentally dependent on a drug.
Why are drugs a problem?
They can be very addictive and can cause serious health problems.
What has more impact on general health, legal or illegal drugs?
Legal drugs because more people use them.
What do recreational drugs affect?
The nervous system
How do anabolic steroids affect performance?
More muscle can be made during training in the necessary places.
Why can’t athletes use some medical drugs?
They contain banned substances that give them an unfair advantage over their competition.
What must a medicine be to be considered successful?
- Effective
- Safe
- Stable
- Successfully inserted and removed from the body.
