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Chapter 9. Understanding Drugs and Medicines. Analgesic. A medicine that relieves pain. Stimulant. A drug that increases alertness. Vaccine. A medicine that prevents infection in people exposed to infectious agents. OTC. Over the Counter A medicine available without a prescription.
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Chapter 9 Understanding Drugs and Medicines
Analgesic • A medicine that relieves pain
Stimulant • A drug that increases alertness
Vaccine • A medicine that prevents infection in people exposed to infectious agents
OTC • Over the Counter • A medicine available without a prescription
Prescription Medicine • A drug that required a written order from a doctor because it treats serious health conditions or is a very powerful medicine
Sedative • A medicine that causes Sleepiness
Addiction • A condition in which a person cannot control his or her drug use.
Active Ingredient • A chemical that gives a drug its action
Drugs of Abuse VS Medicines • Drugs of abuse have no medical purpose, while medicines treat, prevent, or cure illnesses
Medicines • People may have • Allergic reactions • Anaphylactic shock (Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. It can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure to something you're allergic to) • Side effects
Testing of Medicines • Test on cell cultures • Test on animals • Tests on healthy humans • Clinical Trials
Medicines • Before taking medicines prescribed by your doctor you should: • Ask the doctor if you can take a generic form of the medicine • Ask the doctor if there any side effects • Ask the doctor what to do if a side effect occurs
Chemical Messengers • Help the brain process information and affect emotions are released at synapses
Medicines • Must be safe to use • Must be effective • Must have only minor side effects
Drug Origins • Natural sources • Laboratories
OTC Medicines • Decide what works best for you • Read the list of uses to find out if the medicine will relieve your symptoms • Decide whether you want generic or brand name medicine
Methods used to administer medicines • Implanted pumps • Inhalers • Injections • Oral • Transdermal patches • lotions
Addiction • Avoid drugs
Drug Withdrawal • The unpleasant symptoms drive the addict to take more of the drug to relieve the symptoms
Experimentation with Drugs • Can lead to more regular pattern of abuse • Pleasure can lead to repeated use resulting in tolerance and then physical dependence • Adolescent brains are more vulnerable to the effects of drugs than adult brains are