3.1 Developing New Medicines Flashcards
What is the second step of testing drugs?
On animals
What is the third step of testing drugs?
On healthy human volunteers, in low doses
What is the final step of testing drugs?
On patients
What is a placebo?
A fake pill that does not contain a drug given to patients to see if the drug actually does have an effect on the patient
What happens in a double blind trial?
Neither the doctor nor the patient knows who is given the drug
Why is it important to test new drugs?
To check they work and have no harmful effect on humans
What is thalidomide?
A sleeping pill that expecting mothers used to stop morning sickness, thalidomide was never tested on pregnant women
What did thalidomide cause?
Some babies to be born with limb abnormalities
What happened to thalidomide?
It was banned and the rules for drug testing were improved. It is now used for leprosy and is never given to pregnant women
What are the first drug tests in science labs?
On cells, tissues or organs
