Drug Tests

Question 1

Pre-clinical trials:

Answer 1

1. Pre-clinical trial: not performed in humans, computers used to determine potential efficacy of drug based on our chemical knowledge.
2. Cells and tissues: tested on human/animal cells and tissues in a lab. Testing for toxicity
3. Drugs tested on live animals: test dosage and to see if there are side effects. Still pre-clinical.

Question 2

Clinical trials: phase 1

Answer 2

Phase 1: First on a small group of healthy VOLUNTEERS (not patients) to test side effects and correct dosage.

Question 3

Clinical trials phase 2:

Answer 3

Tested on a small group of patients with the disease to test effectiveness.

Question 4

Clinical trials phase 3:

Answer 4

Tested on a large group of patients to test large scale effectiveness.

Question 5

Final stage

Answer 5

Drug trial of two groups (blind or double blind trials). One takes the drug two takes the placebo. To test for legitimacy of side effects and dosage.

Question 6

What is a placebo?

Answer 6

An artificial, inactive substance that looks like the drug but doesn’t have any actual effect on the patient.

Question 7

William withering

Answer 7

• took an old woman’s tea containing herbs that treated heartbeat slowness and guessed that floxglove was the active ingredient.
• he tested random dosages on humans (many died of digitalis poisoning).

Question 8

Compare William withering’s method with a modern day drug trial (3 marks)

Answer 8

• withering used no placebo, no animal testing, less scientific, didn’t test on cells and tissues, he used trial and error, whereas modern testing is precise and scientific, no ethics.
• both used different dosages, both tested on humans.

Question 9

Compare William withering’s method with a modern day drug trial (3 marks)

Answer 9

• withering used no placebo, no animal testing, less scientific, didn’t test on cells and tissues, he used trial and error, whereas modern testing is precise and scientific, no ethics.
• both used different dosages, both tested on humans.