Drugs

Drugs The Actions of Drugs Scientists discovered certain substances that can help you feel better… Why talk about drugs?

What is an opioid?

Section I drugs medicines aspirin inflammation side effects What is the difference between drugs and medicines?

Drug vs. Medicine Drugs can help prevent, cure, or relieve disease. People today use thousands of different drugs as medicines. drugs Substances taken into the body that change one or more of the body’s functions medicines Drugs used to help cure disease, lesson disease severity, relieve symptoms, help with diagnosis, or produce other desired effects

Medicines benefit people by: preventing disease curing disease lessening the severity of disease relieving symptoms of disease bringing about other desired effects (example- a medicine that lowers blood pressure may also promote hair growth)

Drugs All drugs (and medicines) have physical side effects.

Amazing Aspirin Used as a pain reliever, reduce fever; also prevents the blood from clotting (NSAID) ◦ Can’t avoid the side effects:  What are the side effects?

Amazing Aspirin Used as a pain reliever, reduce fever; also prevents the blood from clotting (NSAID) ◦ Can’t avoid the side effects:  double the bleeding time of wounds (that’s why you don’t take aspirin before any kind of surgery)  worsen ulcers, stomach bleeding

Acetaminophen not an NSAID (weak anti-inflammatory, more for relief of headaches and minor aches and pains)

Ibuprofen This is an NSAID (more mild than aspirin)

Naproxen Sodium Also an NSAID

Ketoprofen Smaller pill size for ease of swallowing (similar to aspirin)

"The government doesn't want you to use your drugs, they want you use their drugs. So every night on TV, you see a weird a-- drug commercial trying to get you hooked on some legal [stuff]. And they just keep naming symptoms until they get one that you got.“ –Chris Rock

All drugs have side effects… What are the side affects for ◦ Cold medicines? ◦ Antihistamines?

All drugs have side effects… What are the side affects for ◦ Cold medicines- dizziness, drowsiness, constipation ◦ Antihistamines- dry mouth, nausea, blurred vision, drowsiness

Factors that change the way a medicine works: The age, weight, and height of the person taking the drug. The method used to take the drug The number of drugs taken. A person’s history of drug use (tolerance). tolerance Requiring larger and larger amounts of a drug to produce the same effect

Drug Synergy The benefits of drug synergy can be seen when medicines work together to help cure an illness. (pain killer like oxycodone and then take a Valium or xanax with it; the xanax or Valium will add to the "drowsiness" effect often felt with the pain killler)

Drug Synergy Some drugs are meant to be taken together to help cure an illness. Other times, combining drugs can result in dangerous interactions. (sleeping pills + alcohol) Many accidental deaths occur due to dangerous drug interactions.

Antagonist Drugs Antagonist drugs are often useful in the treatment of accidental overdoses or poisonings.

Transdermal Drugs that are absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream

Factors that Change Medicines’ Effects The nature of the drug The form and route in which it is taken(transdermal) Whether the drug is taken with or without food Your physical characteristics (age, weight, and height) Other drugs you take HX of drug use

REVIEW P. 294

Section 1 quiz

Drugs Section II The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ensures that ingredients in medicines are safe. FDA: -monitors drug companies -brings new medicines to market -checks for side effects

Do all drugs have risks? ◦ Drugs that carry low risks to health are the most helpful in the treatment of disease.

Do all drugs have risks? ◦ No drug is totally safe for all people at all times, but antibiotics are among the safest drugs. antibiotics Drugs used to fight bacterial infection.

How do antibiotics work? Antibiotics often work by preventing cell division. Bacteria divide faster than body cells, so bacteria die before the body can be harmed by the drug. Overuse of antibiotics can lead to an antibiotic-resistant bacteria strain that can be deadly if no other drug are available to treat it.

Drugs as Medicine Many surgeries performed today would not be possible without anesthetics to relieve pain. anesthetics Drugs that kill pain with or without producing loss of consciousness

Before the development of modern anesthetics, nearly lethal doses of alcohol were used to numb pain during surgery. lethal dose The amount of a drug necessary to cause death

Drugs as Medicines The safety of any substance depends on how much of it a person consumes. To determine drug safety, the FDA determines how close the effective dose is to a lethal dose.

REVIEW P. 296

Content Vocabulary over-the-counter (OTC) drugs prescription drugs chronic generic brand names active ingredients inactive ingredients relapses Section III OTC Medicines

What are OTC drugs?

Section III OTC Medicines What are OTC drugs? Over-the-counter drugs are available for purchase without a prescription from a doctor. over-the-counter Drugs legally available without a prescription

Survey How Wisely Do You Choose OTC Medicines? ◦ Hand out

You must have written authorization from a doctor to obtain prescription drugs. prescription drugs Drugs legally available only with a physician’s order

What are OTC drugs? Some over-the-counter medicines are used to treat chronic illnesses or conditions chronic A disease or condition that develops slowly, shows little change, and lasts a long time.

One generic drug may have several brand names. generic The chemical names for drugs brand names The names companies give to drugs p. 298

A generic drug contains the same active ingredients as the brand name drug but the inactive ingredients may vary. active ingredients Ingredients in a medicine that produce physical effects on the body inactive ingredients Ingredients in a medicine for effects other than medical ones p money and medicines

The instructions on OTC medications are easily understood and apply to most people. Some OTC medications are kept behind the pharmacist’s counter because they can be used to make powerful, illegal drugs.

Many people use too many OTC medications too often. Pain or discomfort is a signal from your body that something is out of balance. Try to determine the cause of your pain and find a way to relieve it without using medication.

Seeking cures for illnesses/problems Cold medicines Antacids Diet pills Laxatives SIDE EFFECT…see p. 292

How can you chose OTC drugs wisely? All OTC drugs carry labels that provide important information to help you use them correctly and safely.

Applying Health Skills Reading a label ◦ p. 300

Reading a Label quiz

How can you chose OTC drugs wisely? By reading labels of OTC drugs, you can protect yourself against ingredients that may harm you. Medicines must list complete ingredients and approved uses on the label. Before taking any OTC medication, consult with your doctor and pharmacist.

Most OTC drugs help relieve symptoms, but do not cure the illness. It’s possible to suffer relapses that can be more severe than the original illness. If OTC medications do not relieve your symptoms, visit your health care provider. relapses Illnesses that return after being treated and almost cured

OTC Medicine Activity ◦ “Sometimes people buy medicines that are not necessary and may be quite costly. Net sales for OTC medicines are in the many billions of dollars every year. Many people use too many OTC medicines, too often. Advertisers seeking to sell their products suggest that people pay attention to feelings in their bodies, label them as “problems” and then seek cures through pills.” ◦ What are the pros and cons of OTC medicines

Section 2 & 3 quiz

Prescription Meds RX Prescription drugs can be easily misused and cause addiction. Each dose must be adjusted to body type, weight, age, drug use, or other factors. Prescription drugs may have complicated directions and require guidance to use them.

Taking prescription medication safely requires that you follow the medicine’s instructions.

Safe Use of RX drugs If a doctor gives you a prescription medicine, make sure that you know the following: The name of your condition The name of the prescribed medicine Whether the doctor recommends a generic version of the drug, if available How often, how long, and in what doses you should take the medicine

Safe Use of RX Drugs If a doctor gives you a prescription medicine, make sure that you also know the following: Whether to take the medicine with meals or between them What side effects you should look for and report What you should do if you forget to take a dose on time—double the next one, take it late, or leave it out entirely

caffeine A mild stimulant of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) found in common foods, beverages, and medicines stimulant Any of a wide variety of drugs, including amphetamines, caffeine, and others, that speed up the central nervous system p. 304

Section 4 quiz Chapter review and then Chapter 11 test