Chapter 3 - Medicine And Drugs Flashcards
What is a placebo
A dummy drug - does not contain a drug
What is a double blind trial
Neither the doctor nor the patient knows who is given the drug
What was thalidomide developed for
To act as a sleeping pill
What did doctors discover about thalidomide
It could control morning sickness in pregnant women. However it had not been tested for use in pregnancy
What were the results of thalidomide on pregnant women
The babies were born with limb abnormalities
What is thalidomide now used to treat
Leprosy
What are statins
Drugs which lower the amount of bad cholesterol carried in the blood
Why are recreation drugs easy to become addicted to
They affect the nervous system
What are steroids
Drugs used to build up muscle mass
Why are strong painkillers banned in sport
The athlete might ignore an injury and suffer further damage
What are the processes of testing a new drug
The first tests are in scientific laboratories on cells and tissues or organs. If the drug seems to work it is then tested on animals, healthy human volunteers and finally on patients.