Section A Flashcards
What are the symptoms of ergot poisoning?
Burning in limbs (St. Anthony’s Fire)
Constriction of blood vessels
Mental frenzy
Abortion
What two active principles have been isolated from ergot? What are their modern uses?
Ergotamine (migraines)
Ergonovine (arrest bleeding AFTER childbirth)
What accurate observations did the Ebers papyrus contain?
Information about purgatives (to cause bowel movements); recommended drugs included castor oil, figs and senna
What compounds can be isolated from opium (in what amounts)?
10% morphine (morphine may be chemically converted to heroin)
0.5% codeine
What compound is isolated from the plant Colchicum? What is its modern use?
Colchicine is extracted from the plant; used in the treatment of gout
Who isolated a compound from digitalis purpurea? What are its uses?
William Withering isolated digitalis drugs from foxglove for the treatment of weak heart muscles or disordered rhythms
What compound can be isolated from foxglove?
Digoxin (Lanoxin) can be isolated from foxglove
Who discovered amyl nitrate? What was it used for?
Lauder Brunton discovered the use of amyl nitrate in the treatment of angina pectoris; one disadvantage is that it is short lived
Who discovered nitroglycerin?
William Murrell
Describe nitroglycerin’s mechanism of action.
Nitroglycerin is used in the treatment of angina pectoris. It dilates blood vessels in the heart and elsewhere in the body.
What compound can be isolated from the Cinchona tree? What are its uses?
Quinine may be isolated for the treatment of malaria
What drug is related to quinine? What are its uses?
Quinidine may be used for the treatment of arrhythmias
What can be isolated from the rauwolfia plant? What are its uses?
Reserpine can be isolated from the plant. It was used for the treatment of uncontrollable patients (now there are better drugs) and still used in the treatment of hypertension
Which modern drug is a suitable replacement for reserpine?
Chlorpromazine
Who discovered LSD?
Albert Hofmann
Which compounds are structurally similar to LSD?
Ergotamine and ergonovine
Paul Ehrlich?
The father of chemotherapy; discovered organoarsenicals, which cured syphilis (Salvarsan)
Gerhard Domagk?
Introduced sulfa drugs
Alexander Fleming?
Discovered the first antibiotic, penicillin (treatment of Gram-positive bacteria)
Selman Waksman?
Discovered streptomycin (tuberculosis and Gram-negative bacteria)
Humphrey Davy?
Showed the pain-releiving effects of nitrous oxide
Colton?
Gave public demonstrations of nitrous oxide
Wells?
Dentist; used nitrous oxide during tooth extraction
Faraday?
Pointed out ether has similar properties as nitrous oxide
Morton?
Performed the first surgery under ether anaesthesia
List drug advertising techniques (6).
Catch audience attention Use of celebrities or authority Fear Offering an easy solution to problems Before-after technique Discredit competing drugs; praise own drug
What are the steps to introducing a new drug into therapeutics?
- Proof of safety and efficacy of drug in several animal species to government regulatory agency
- Methods for proposed human clinical trial
- Clinical trials by pharmacologists (P1-P4)
What is phase 1 of a clinical trial?
In a limited number of healthy volunteers the absorption, distribution, elimination and adverse effects are tested.
What is phase 2 of a clinical trial?
Proof of concept - drug is tested to see if it is effective in treating the condition for which it is recommended; safety is studied
What is phase 3 of a clinical trial?
Drug is testing in a larger number of people (1000+); safety and efficacy examined
What is phase 4 of a clinical trial?
Drug released for general use; post-marketing surveillance for delayed risks
What are placebo effects?
Effects which occur as a result of drug administration; unrelated to pharmacological effects