Drug Testing

?

William Withering

  • Discovered that an extract of foxgloves could be used to treat dropsy
     
  • He made a chance observation
     
  • Tested different versions of the remedy with different concentrations
     
  • Too much digitalis poisoned his patients
     
  • Too little digitalis had no effect
     
  • Used trial and error to discover the correct dosage.
1 of 6

Phase 1

  • Small group
     
  • Healthy individuals
     
  • Takes place to find safe dosage
     
  • Side effects
     
  • How body reacts to drug
2 of 6

Phase 2

  • Passes phase 1
     
  • Larger group
     
  • Patients
     
  • How well the drug works
3 of 6

Phase 3

  • Drug is compared to existing treatments
     
  • Thousands of patients
     
  • Sample split into two groups
     
  • One recieves new drug
     
  • The other receives existing treatment
4 of 6

Placebos

  • Phase 2
     
  • An inactive substance that resembles the drug but doesn't do anything
     
  • Placebo effect may be demonstrated by patients
     
  • Patients show some improvement because they believe they're receiving treatment
5 of 6

Double Blind Study

  • Phase 2 and 3
     
  • Neither patients nor doctors know who has received the drug or placebo
     
  • Reduces bias
     
  • Attitudes of patients or doctors can't affect results
6 of 6

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Biology resources:

See all Biology resources »