Testing medicines

• What should you be able to describe by the end of the video?

  How new medicines are discovered and tested
• What types of medicines were discussed in the last video?

  Antibiotics and painkillers
• Where did medicines often come from in the past?

  Extracted from plants
• What is digitalis extracted from?

  Foxglove plant
• What painkiller was extracted from willow trees?

  Aspirin
• Who discovered penicillin?

  Alexander Fleming
• What is the current method for developing most new drugs?

  Synthesized by chemists in pharmaceutical companies
• What must all new drugs be tested for?

  Toxicity, effectiveness, and optimal dose
• What is the first stage of drug testing called?

  Preclinical testing
• Why is preclinical testing not carried out on humans?

  A drug could be extremely toxic
• What is preclinical testing carried out on?

  Cells, tissues, or live animals
• What happens after preclinical testing?

  The drug undergoes clinical testing in humans
• What is the purpose of giving low doses of the drug to healthy volunteers?

  To check that the drug is safe in humans
• What is the goal of continuing clinical testing after initial safety checks?

  To find the optimal dose with fewest side effects
• What is a placebo?

  A tablet or injection with no active drug
• Why do some patients get better when given a placebo?

  They believe they are being treated
• What is a double-blind test?

  Neither patients nor doctors know the treatment
• What is the purpose of a control group in drug testing?

  To compare effects with the active drug group
• How does a double-blind trial prevent bias?

  Stops doctors from favoring active drug patients
• Where can you find more questions on testing medicines?

  In the vision workbook
• What are the stages of drug testing?

  1. Preclinical testing

  • Conducted on cells, tissues, or animals
  • Checks toxicity

  1. Clinical testing

  • Initial low doses to healthy volunteers
  • Checks safety in humans
  • Continues to find optimal dose
• What are the key concepts related to placebos in drug testing?

  • Placebo: No active drug
  • Patients may improve due to belief
  • Double-blind tests prevent bias
  • Control group compares effects