Transcript Using Medicines Wisely

Chapter 17
• Scientists develop or discover a
new drug.
• Scientists test the drug on
animals.
• Successful animal testing will
allow testing on healthy humans.
• The usefulness is then tested on
humans who need the treatment.
• If these tests are successful, the
drug’s creators can apply for
FDA approval of the drug.
• The FDA then approves or
rejects the drug.
• A medicine is any drug that is used to
cure, prevent, or treat illness or discomfort.
• “All medicines are drugs, but not all drugs are medicines”.
• Medicine that can be bought only with a written order from a
doctor is called prescription medicine.
• An over-the-counter medicine is any medicine that can be
bought without a prescription (doctor’s permission).
• A drug interaction is when a drug effect is different from
expected when the drug is taken at the same time as another
drug.
• Prevent disease.
• A vaccine is a preparation of dead or weakened pathogens that is
introduced into the body to cause an immune response.
• These protect against communicable diseases.
• Your body develops antibodies that attack and kill off germs.
• Some protect for many years, others protect yearly – as the virus
mutates.
• Antibiotics are medicines that reduce or kill harmful bacteria in the body.
• Usually administered to fight an infection.
• Excessive use makes certain antibiotics ineffective against infection.
• Relieving pain.
• Pain relievers block pain signals.
• Different strengths depending on the intensity of pain.
• Managing diseases.
• Chronic diseases/conditions, allergies, asthma, diabetes, or mental
illnesses.
• There are a variety of administrations for medicine.
Various Types of Medicines
• In early times, many medicines were taken from plant
leaves.
• People would eat the leaves or drink tea made from the leaves.
• Today, most medicine is made in laboratories.
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Pills or liquids are the most common form. Ingested/swallowed.
Intravenous medicines are injected into the bloodstream.
Intramuscular medicines are injected into muscles.
Transdermal (topical) medication is rubbed into the skin or using
a patch.
• Inhalation, medicine inhaled for respiratory diseases of the
nose, throat, or lungs.
• Most drugs have side effects. A side effect is any effect that is caused
by a drug and that is different from the drug’s intended effect.
• A drug allergy is when a person has a very bad reaction to a medicine
that causes little or no side effects in most people.
• There is no way of telling you have a drug allergy until you experience
the negative side effects.
• Tolerance is the body’s need for larger and
larger amounts of a drug to produce the same
effect. This usually happens after you take a
medicine for a long time, it’s effects can become
weaker.
• When you stop taking a medicine, you may go
through withdrawal, your body’s desire for more.
• Symptoms include: nervousness, insomnia, severe
headaches, vomiting, chills, and cramps.
• Antibiotic resistance is from either overuse or from
not following prescription directions.
• Medicines are designed to be helpful.
• If used improperly, medicines can be as harmful as illegal drugs.
• Every day in the US, 2,500 youth (12 to 17) abuse a prescription pain
reliever for the first time.
• The average age for first-time users is now 13 to 14.
• Depressants, opioids and antidepressants are responsible for more
overdose deaths (45%) each year than cocaine, heroin,
methamphetamine and amphetamines (39%) combined.
• Taking medicine in a way that is not intended is known as medicine
misuse.
• Taking more than prescribed, taking someone else's medicine, taking out dated
medicine, taking for other than what it is prescribed for are a few examples of
medicine misuse.
• Medicine abuse is intentionally using medicines in ways that are
unhealthful and illegal.
• To lose weight
• To stay awake
• To get “high”
• Using medicines safely means:
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Follow the instructions
Take the correct amount
Discard after expiration date
Do not share prescription medicines
Contact your doctor for clarification
Store all medicines safely