Drugs Flashcards
What should a good drug be?
Effective, stable, safe and successfully taken out of the system as quickly as possible.
What is a stimulant?
A drug which speeds up chemical reactions in the body.
What is a placebo?
A substance used in clinical trials that doesn’t contain any of the drug
What is a double blind trial?
A drug trial in which neither the doctor nor the patient knows whether they are taking the real drug or the placebo.
What was thalidomide originally designed for?
To treat insomnia in pregnant women - as a sleeping pill.
What was Thalidomide also found to cure?
It was used as a morning sickness pill.
Why was Thalidomide important in the history of drugs?
It shows that new drugs need to be tested on all different types of people - pregnant women as well.
Define a drug.
A chemical substance that causes chemical changes in the body after ingestion.
What is a sedative?
A drug that causes chemical reactions in the body to slow down.
Define a gateway drug.
A less harmful drug that can lead a person to take a more harmful drug.
Why do more people suffer health problems caused by legal drugs than illegal drugs?
Because legal drugs are taken by more people and are more widely available.
What is cholesterol?
A substance found in the blood used to build cell membranes and control hormones.
What are statins used for?
To lower cholesterol levels in the blood.
