Lesson 18: Medcinal Drugs Flashcards
What are the 3 steps of medicinal testing?
1- Drugs tested using computer models and human cells grown in a lab, for any toxicity.
2 - Tested on animals. Given a substance, monitor side effects, correct dosage.
3- Tested on healthy volunteers (any serious side effects at low dosage.)Then tested on people with an illness to see eficacy of the drug.
What is meant by “eficacy”?
- How effective a drug is.
What is a placebo?
Inactive substance given to the control group, looks like the treatment but doesn’t contain any drugs.
Why does the placebo look like the drug?
- So the patients don’t know which is which.
What is the control group?
- The people in a drug trial who aren’t given the new drug.
What is an open trial?
- Both the patient and doctor know whether the patient is in the control group.
What is a blind trial?
- Doctor knows that patient is in control group.
- Patient doesn’t know.
What is a double blind trial?
- Neither the patient or the doctor know if they are in the control group.
What is a drug?
A drug is a substance that can change chemical reactions in the body.
What is a depressant?
A depressant is a drug that slows down brain and nerve activity.
Give three examples of a depressant
Temazepam (used for insomnia)
Solvents (glues, gases, aerosols.)
Alcohol
What is a hallucinogen?
A hallucinogen is a drug that alters what we see/ hear
What is a painkiller?
A painkiller is a drug that blocks nerve impulses.
What is a performance enhancer?
A drug that improves muscle development
What is a stimulant?
A drug that increases nerve and brain activity. Eg. caffeine, nicotine, ecstasy.
Give an example of a hallucinogen
An example of a hallucinogen is LSD -made from lysergic acid from the ergot fungus plant.
Give two examples of a painkiller
Two examples of a painkiller are aspirin and paracetamol.
What do stimulants/ depressants affect?
Stimulants/ depressants affect synapses between neurons.
How do stimulants affect the synapse?
A stimulant causes more neurotransmitter molecules to diffuse across a synapse.
What do stimulants do to someone’s appetite?
Stimulants decrease someone’s appetite.
How do depressants affect synapses?
Depressants affect the nervous system by stopping neurons from sending impulses. They bind to the receptor molecules.
What are Class A drugs?
Class A drugs are the most dangerous drugs to use with the highest penalties.
What are Class C drugs?
Class C drugs are the least dangerous drugs to use with the lowest penalties.
What was used by the ancient Greeks to help cure fever/ pain?
Willow Bark was used by the ancient Greeks to heal fever and pain.
Why was salicylic acid modified into aspirin?
Salicylic acid was modified into aspirin as it is less irritating for the stomach.
Give an example of a performance enhancer
An example of a performance enhancer is anabolic steroids.
