drugs

• What is a big part of medicine?

  The use of drugs or medications
• How much does the NHS spend on medications annually?

  Over seventeen billion pounds
• What are the two groups of medications?

  • Medications that relieve symptoms
  • Medications that treat diseases
• What medications might you take for a sore throat?

  Aspirin or paracetamol
• What do painkillers do for a sore throat?

  They reduce pain and headaches
• Do medications that relieve symptoms cure the problem?

  No, they do not cure the problem
• What do antibiotics do?

  They kill bacteria or prevent their growth
• Why might antibiotics not help a sore throat?

  Most sore throats are caused by viruses
• Why can't antibiotics kill viruses?

  Antibiotics are made to interfere with bacteria
• Why is it difficult to destroy viruses?

  They hide within our body cells
• What must doctors do before prescribing antibiotics?

  Test to find out the bacteria type
• What is antibiotic resistance?

  Bacteria become resistant to antibiotics
• How has the ability to treat diseases changed medicine?

  • Improved quality of life
  • Extended people's lives
  • Multiple drugs can be used simultaneously
• What is the role of multiple drugs in treatment?

  Some improve symptoms, others treat causes
• Why is it beneficial to use substances from microorganisms and plants for drug development?

  They have evolved to produce useful substances
• What is aspirin commonly used for?

  To lower fevers and relieve pain
• What is digitalis used to treat?

  Heart problems like heart failure
• Who discovered penicillin?

  Alexander Fleming
• What did Alexander Fleming observe in his lab?

  A fungus killed surrounding bacteria colonies
• What are the three main factors to consider when testing drugs?

  Efficacy, toxicity, and dosage
• What does efficacy refer to in drug testing?

  How well the drug produces the desired effect
• What does toxicity refer to in drug testing?

  How harmful the drug is to cells
• What does dosage refer to in drug testing?

  The amount or concentration of the drug given
• What are the three main stages of drug testing?

  1. Testing on human cells and tissues
  2. Testing on live animals
  3. Clinical testing on humans
• What is the benefit of testing drugs on human cells and tissues?

  It allows for easy and cheap testing
• Why are live animals used in drug testing?

  To assess efficacy and toxicity in mammals
• What types of mammals must drugs be tested on in the UK?

  Two different types like mice and rabbits
• What is the first step in clinical testing?

  Giving drugs to healthy volunteers
• What is the aim of the initial clinical testing phase?

  To check for side effects at low doses
• What is the goal of increasing the dosage during clinical testing?

  To find the maximum dosage before side effects
• What is the optimum dosage in drug testing?

  The dose maximizing efficacy while minimizing toxicity
• What is the purpose of using a placebo in clinical trials?

  • To compare effects with the real drug
  • To avoid bias in reporting side effects
  • To ensure validity of results
• What does it mean for a clinical trial to be blind?

  Participants do not know which treatment they receive
• What is a double-blind trial?

  Neither doctors nor participants know treatments
• Why is avoiding unconscious bias important in drug testing?

  To ensure accurate reporting of side effects
• What happens after drug testing is complete?

  Results are written up and peer-reviewed
• What is the purpose of peer review in drug testing?

  To check fairness and validity of tests
• What is the significance of rigorous analysis in science?

  • Prevents false claims
  • Ensures reliability of results
  • Maintains scientific integrity