Drugs Flashcards
What happens when new drugs are devised
They have to be extensively tested and trialled before being used
How are drugs tested in the lab
Using cells, tissues and live animals
How are drugs tested in clinical trials
Healthy volunteers are given very low doses of the drug , if it is found to be safe trials are carried out to find the optimum dose
What happens in some double blind trials
Some patients are given a placebo which doesn’t contain the drug
Neither docs or patients know who has revived this until trial is complete
What is cannabis
An illegal drug
The smoke contains chemicals which may cause mental illness
What does the use of statins do
Lowers the risk of heart and circulatory diseases
What is thalidomide
A drug that was developed as a sleeping pill
It was also found to be effective in relieving morning sickness in pregnant women
What happens with thalidomide
It hasn’t been tested for use in pregnant women
Many babies born to mothers who took the drug were born with severe limb abnormalities
DRUG BANNED
What has happened since thalidomide
Drug testing has become more rigorous
Thalidomide is now used in treatment of leprosy
What may misuse of illegal drugs ecstasy, cannabis and heroin have
May have adverse effects on the heart and circulatory system
The overall impact of legal drugs on health is what
Much greater than the impact of illegal drugs because more people use them
How can somebody become addicted to a drug
drugs change the chemical processes in people’s bodies so they may become dependent on the drug and suffer withdrawal symptoms without
Why do sports regulations not allow athetletes to take steroids
They can enhance performance as they boost bodily functions such as heart rate
What do anabolic steroids do
Stimulate muscle growth
What is a drug
A substance that interferes with body chemistry
