Developing drugs

Question 1

why do new drugs need to be tested and trialled before doctors prescribe them and patients take them (name 3 things)

Answer 1

to check their efficiency, safety (toxicity) and dosage

Question 2

why do they need to check safety (toxicity)?

Answer 2

some drugs are toxic and have other side effects that might be harmful to people

Question 3

why do they need to check efficiency?

Answer 3

to check how well the drug cures the disease or improves symptoms

Question 4

why do they need to check the dosage?

Answer 4

This varies, and has to be closely controlled, as too high a concentration might be toxic

Question 5

what is the first stage of drug testing?

Answer 5

lab tests - testing tissue samples and cells to see if drug is toxic. (maybe does it work???)

Question 6

what is the second stage of drug testing?

Answer 6

animal testing - testing drug safety + how it works in a living body

Question 7

what is the third stage of drug testing?

Answer 7

phase 1 human - testing drug on healthy peeps + volunteers - looking for side effects

Question 8

what is the fourth stage of drug testing?

Answer 8

phase 2 humans - testing drug on small no. of patients w/ specific illness to see if it treats disease

Question 9

what is the fifth stage of drug testing?

Answer 9

phase 3 - test on larger sample of patients - comparission of current meds. double blind test - no one (patients and doctors) know who’s got what’s called a placebo and the real drug, so no bias. (but patients who have got the placebo still get treatment)

Question 10

what is a placebo?

Answer 10

dummy treatment (not the actual drug that’s being tested)

Question 11

what is the sixth stage of drug testing?

Answer 11

ongoing