Testing medicines

Question 1

Where were old medicines discovered

Answer 1

From plants and microorganisms for example :
. The heard drug digitalis was discovered from the plant foxglove
. The painkiller aspirin was extracted from willow trees
. Penicillin was discovered from the mould penicillium

Question 2

Where are drugs these day made

Answer 2

These days, most new drugs are synthesized by chemists working for pharmaceutical companies but the starting point is still often a chemical extracted from a plant

Question 3

Why do we need to test drugs

Answer 3

Firstly, we need to check the toxicity of a drug to make sure it’s safe for humans
We then need to check that the drug is effective
Lastly, we need to test the best dose of the drug

Question 4

Preclinical testing

Answer 4

Preclinical testing is not carried out on humans
This is because the drug is extremely toxic
Instead, preclinical testing is carried out on cells, tissues and on live animals

Question 5

Clinical testing

Answer 5

Clinical testing is carried out on humans
In the first stage of clinical testing, very low doses of the drug are given to healthy volunteers
That is to check the drug is safe in humans
If the drug is safe, clinical testing continues to find the optimal dose (the best dose to treat the disease with the fewest side effects)

Question 6

Placebo

Answer 6

A placebo is a tablet or injection with no active drug in it
Some patients will get better if you give them a placebo because they believe they’re being treated so they believe they’re going to get better

Question 7

Double - blind trials

Answer 7

The test group receive active drug
Placebo (control) group receive a dummy drug which looks exactly like the test drug but has no active ingredient
In a double - blind trial, neither the patients nor the doctors know which people are receiving the active drug and which are receiving the placebo
That is to stop bias incase the doctors pay close attention to people receiving the active drug