Biology B1 3.1 Developing new medicines.

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What has to happen before new drugs are sold as medicines?
They have to be thoroughly tested.
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Why are drugs tested?
To see if they might cure a disease or relieve symptoms, to find out if they are toxic and to see if they cause side effects.
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What is Thalidomide?
A drug that was developed as a sleeping drug but doctors realised it could control morning sickness in pregnant women. It was not tested for use in pregnancy, so some babies had birth defects.
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How are new drugs first tested?
In scientific laboratories on cells and tissues or organs.
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If a drug seems to work on cells and tissues or organs, what happens next?
It is then tested on animals, healthy humans and then patients.
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What happens first when new drugs are tested on humans?
Healthy humans are given very low doses of the drug to find out if it is safe.
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Why are some patients who take part in trials not given the drug, and what are they given instead?
In some trials with patients, placebos are used. Placebos do not contain a drug. To check that a drug tested really does have an effect on the patient, half the patients have the drug and the other half are given a placebo.
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When neither the doctor nor the patient knows who is given a drug within a trial, what is this called?
A double-blind trial.
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What are people taking part in a trial asked to report?
Side-effects.
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What happened as a result of women taking thalidomide during pregnancy?
Some babies were born with limb abnormalities.
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Wha happened to the drug thalidomide?
It was banned.
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What happened as a result of the effects caused by thalidomide?
The rules for drug testing were improved.
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Why has thalidomide been used again more recently?
It can be used to treat other conditions, including leprosy, but is never given to pregnant women.
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**YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS MEANT BY A DOUBLE-BLIND TRIAL***
**YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS MEANT BY A DOUBLE-BLIND TRIAL***
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Why are drugs tested?

Back

To see if they might cure a disease or relieve symptoms, to find out if they are toxic and to see if they cause side effects.

Card 3

Front

What is Thalidomide?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

How are new drugs first tested?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

If a drug seems to work on cells and tissues or organs, what happens next?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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