Unit 1: Chapter 3 - Medicine and Drugs Flashcards
Developing New Medicines
What is the process of testing developing medicines?
What is a double-blind trial?
What was the Thalidomide Tragedy?
What was the drug originally used for?
Then what was discovered it could treat?
Medicines must be:
- Safe
- Stable
- Effective
- Successfully taken into and removed from body
It costs a lot of money and time to develop drugs.
They are first tested on cells, tissues and organs.
Then they are tested on animals to find they work on living organisms. Gives information of possible doses and side effects. These models are used as predictions for humans. They are also tested on pregnant animals (see Thalidomide Tragedy)
The drugs will then be tested on human volunteers in clinical trials.
If it is safe, large clinical trials take place to find the optimum dose.
DOUBLE-BLIND TRIALS
Double-blind trials see how EFFECTIVE a drug is. A placebo is given to the patient that does not contain the developed drug. Neither the doctor or patient know which is the real drug and which is the placebo. Often, a placebo may contain a different, current drug to treat the disease so the patient isn’t deprived.
THALIDOMIDE TRAGEDY
In the 1950s, the drug called Thalidomide was used originally as a sleeping pill.
It was then discovered it could treat morning sickness in pregnant women. Because Thalidomide was safe adults, it was assumed so for kids too.
But it was NOT safe for developing fetuses. These babies were born with severe limb deformities.
Since 1968, new medicines must be tested on on animals.
Doctors discovered it could treat leprosy but children.
How effective are medicines?
What is the relationship between statins and cardiovascular disease?
Why are non-prescribed drugs are sometimes less effective?
Why are non-prescribed drugs sometimes dangerous?
How can a non-prescribed drug prove to be as effective as a prescribed drugs?
STATINS
High blood cholesterol are linked to a higher average risk of cardiovascular disease. You are more likely to have a stroke or heart attack if if blood cholesterol is high.
Statins decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease up to 40%.
PRESRIBED DRUGS VS. NON-PRESCRIBED DRUGS
Non-prescribed drugs sometimes contains just sugars and flavouring. They won’t hurt you - but they wont help you either.
Although some other ‘natural’ products could be potentially dangerous many of out effective prescribed medicines come from living organisms.
A non-prescribed drug can only be proved as effective as a prescribed drug if it goes under a double-blind clinical trial.
Drugs
How do drugs affect you?
What makes them addictive?
What happens if you stop using these drugs?
What are the problems of taking drugs besides affecting yourself?
A drug alters the way a body works. It can affect you physically and mentally. Some are used for medicinal purposes. Some are used for recreation.
All drugs, including medicines can cause great harm. However, because we use drugs to make ourselves better, it is usually worth the risk.
WHY DO PEOPLE GET ADDICTED TO DRUGS?
Changing chemical processes in the body can make you addicted to that drug. You may become DEPENDANT on them.
Without these drugs, you will feel abnormal and may get some WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS.
WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS OF DRUG ABUSE?
Drugs can be taken to boost self-confidence, but these drugs are a risk. Hard drugs are EXTREMELY ADDICTIVE and will lead to SEVERE HEALTH problems. These drugs are also very EXPENSIVE and may turn to crime to pay for their drugs. Moreover, sharing needles will lead to people CONTRACTING STDs.
Legal and Illegal Drugs
Medicines vs recreational drugs on nervous system?
Why do people take drugs?
Why do legal drugs cause more death than illegal drugs?
Medicinal drugs almost have no affect on the nervous system, whereas all recreational drugs affects the way your nervous system works.
For example, caffeine and cocaine speed up the activity of your brain.
Whereas, alcohol and cannabis slows down responses of your brain.
WHY DO PEOPLE USE DRUG?
Few people who use drugs think they are addicts and they want to cope with everyday life.
Some may want to escape or find excitement or may even want to be part of the crowd.
IMPACTS OF DRUGS
While illegal drugs may be far more harmful than legal recreational drugs, there are more deaths from legal recreational drugs as it is easy to obtain.
Effects of Cannabis
Some effects of cannabis are:
- Significantly higher risk to depression for teens.
- More likely to develop mental disease such Schizophrenia (4x more likely) when they start taking drugs at 15 to 26.
On the other hand, children who are already suffering depression are no more likely to use cannabis.
Almost all heroin users were originally cannabis users, however almost all cannabis users were smokers. On the other hand, not all smokers go on to smoke cannabis. Getting in touch with drug dealers may cause people to move from cannabis to a harder drug.
Drugs in Sport
WHICH DRUGS ARE USED?
Anabolic Steroids - Help build muscle mass.
Strong Painkillers (narcotic analgesics) - Allows athelete to train and compete with an injury. May cause permanent damage. Illegal for those involved in sport.
Blood doping - increases stamina by allowing more blood cells carrying more oxygen to their muscles. Drug - testers look for abnormal levels of peptide for doping that is found naturally in the body. Injecting the hormone is illegal, however naturally is ok.
Stimulant - speed up brain activity and heart rates e.g. Cocaine, adrafinil
Beta blockers - Slow heart rate and keeps hands steady.
Diuretics - Removes drug residue from body. E.g alcohol, nicotine
Using drugs aren’t ethically accepted at the moment. Richer contestants can buy drugs which can’t be detected by drug tests
