Drugs Summary

Thalidomide 1950s-60s Morning Sickness Distaval Birth Defects Francis Kelsey Lessons Learnt Leprosy, Cancer

Misuse Cannabis Depressants (Sedatives) Hallucinogens Recreational Gateway Tolerance Addiction Alcohol Tobacco Potential Schizophrenia Affects Brain Peer Pressures Life Stresses Binge Drinking 100kcl/unit 500 under 18s per year in hosppital Men 3-4 units Women 2-3 units Liver Damage Nicotine Tar Carbon Monoxide

Withdrawal and Dependency Psychological Physical 'Hard' Cannabis Irritability Depression Anxiety Cocaine Heroine Vomiting Cramps Muscle Spasms

Performance Enhancing Drugs Stimulants Anabolic Steroids Blood Doping Caffeine Increases red blood cells Increases oxygen transfer Increases energy Thicker blood Higher blood pressure Blood Clots Strokes Heart Attacks Increases Heart Rate Increases Blood Flow Increases Energy Shaking Nervousness High Blood Pressure Dehydration Stimulates muscle develpment Reduces recovery time after training Increase aggression, strength and speed Liver damage Mood swings Weak bones Hair growth Infertility

Selective Toxicity 1: Differences 2: Interference 3: Testing

Stages of Testing Stage 1: Research Stage 2: Laboratory Testing Stage 3: Clinical Trials 1 Stage 4: Clinical Trials 2 Stage 5: Clinical Trials 3

Drug developed in 1950s taken till early 60s, for morning sickness

Drug Misuse: When a person takes a drug for non-medicinal purposes to affect how they feel

Withdrawal symptoms; What happens when you stop taking a drug you are addicted to

Stimulants; Make you feel full of energy

Selective Toxicity: The principle that a drug must be toxic to the pathogen but not to human cells.

Step 1: Differences: Find differences between the host and the pathogen which the drug can target

Stage 2: Interference: Find a drug to interfere with target in the pathogen

Stage 3: Testing: See above

Stage 1: Research: Chemical simulations on the computer to test the hypothesis

Stage 2: Laboratory Testing: Drug tested on live cells then on animals for correct dose and level of toxicity.

Stage 3: Clinical Trials 1: Tested on small no. of healthy humans for side effects, starting with low dose

Stage 4: Clinical Trials 2: Tested on 100 humans with disease to see effectiveness in low doses

Stage 5: Clinical Trials 3: Several hundred sufferers to find best dose and effectiveness compared with current drug

Thalidomide affected 10,000 babies in the UK. It caused birth defects. Only in 1961 was link confirmed. The drug blocked creation of blood vessels

Kelsey didn't want drug licensed as she was appalled at lack of research, and there was not enough data

Lessons Learnt:  Companies must conform to laws and regulations before a drug is launched, and carry out multiple trials. This takes longer and costs more.

Thalidomide is still being used for leprosy and cancer

Depressants (Sedatives): make you feel relaxed

Hallucinogens; Drugs affecting hearing or vision

Recreational; Non medicinal, affecting mood, emotion or state 

Gateway Drugs; Drug tried out leading onto stronger drugs

Tolerance;  How much of a drug you can take before it has an effect

Addiction; Craving the drug and not resisting whatever the cost

Psychological; Depend on drug to cope with everyday stresses. 'High feeling'

Physical addiction; When the drug changes body chemistry so you feel sick without it

The government spends more on alcohol abuse than on tobacco/illegal drugs

Nicotine; Addictive, stimulates CNS increases heart rate and blood pressure. In large quantities poisonous

Tar; Thousands of chemicals leading to lung problems and maybe cancer

Carbon Monoxide; Colourless, odorless Is lighter than oxygen so is easier carried around blood and bound to haemoglobin, less oxygen getting around, more pressure on the heart

Drugs

Annotations