B1.3.1 - Drugs Flashcards
Where are drugs tested?
- In the lab using cells tissues and animals
- In trials involving healthy volunteers + patients. Low doses given at first
- (if drug safe) Further clinical trials to find optimum dosage level
- Some patients given a placebo that doesn’t contain the drug. Doctors + patients both don’t know which is real + fake
What do statins do?
Lower risk of heart and circulatory diseases
What are new drugs tested for?
Toxicity
Efficacy
Dose
What is thalidomide?
A drug that was developed as a sleeping pill, also found to be effective in treating morning sickness in pregnant women
What had thalidomide not been tested for?
Use in pregnant women
What happened because of the lack of testing with thalidomide?
Many babies born to mothers who took the drug were born with severe limb abnormalities.
What happened as a result of the shocking effects of thalidomide?
The drug was banned and testing has become much more rigorous
What can thalidomide now treat?
Leprosy
What is thalidomide?
A drug that was developed as a sleeping pill, also found to be effective in treating morning sickness in pregnant women
What had thalidomide not been tested for?
Use in pregnant women
What happened because of the lack of testing with thalidomide?
Many babies born to mothers who took the drug were born with severe limb abnormalities.
What happened as a result of the shocking effects of thalidomide?
The drug was banned and testing has become much more rigorous
What can thalidomide now treat?
Leprosy
What can the misuse of ecstasy, cannabis and heroin affect?
The heart and circulatory system
What does cannabis smile contain?
Chemicals which can cause mental illness in some
