Drugs - developing & recreational

Question 1

What is a double blind trial?

Answer 1

Double blind trials aim to minimise the placebo effect. Some patients are given the drug while others are given a placebo.

Question 2

What is a placebo?

Answer 2

A placebo is designed to appear exactly the same as the drug itself, but it does not actually contain any of the drug. The doctors and patients are not told who have received the drug and who have received the placebo until the trial is over.

Question 3

What were the original intentions in the drug thalidomide?

Answer 3

Thalidomide was developed as a sleeping pill, but it was also thought to be useful for easing morning sickness in pregnant women. Unfortunately, it had not been tested for use in this way.

Question 4

What were the side of effects of thalidomide?

Answer 4

By 1960 thalidomide was found to damage the development of unborn babies, especially if it had been taken in the first four to eight weeks of pregnancy. The drug led to the arms or legs of the babies being very short or incompletely formed. More than 10,000 babies were affected around the world.

Question 5

What are stimulants?

Answer 5

Stimulants boost heart rate and other body functions

Question 6

What are anabolic steroids?

Answer 6

Anabolic steroids stimulate the growth of muscles