1. During drug development, trials are conducted to determine the therapeutic window.

(a) Explain the meaning of the term therapeutic window and discuss its importance in drug
administration.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(4)

(b) Explain the use of placebos in clinical trials on humans.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(3)

(c) Identify one other effect of a drug which must be determined during clinical trials.

......................................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 8 marks)
2. Explain what is meant by the term tolerance and suggest why this is a particular problem for
heroin users.

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................
(Total 2 marks)

3. Drugs can be prescribed for treating various diseases and assisting in healing the human body,
however, any drug presents potential risks. The properties of three drugs are summarized below.

Drug Physiological effect Side-effects Therapeutic window

A high severe medium

B moderate moderate narrow

C low minimal wide

Suggest which drug (A, B or C) could be

(a) considered safe enough to be taken by patients without supervision.

………………………………………………………............................................................
..........
(1)

(b) administered only by qualified staff.

......................................................................................................................................
(1)

(c) used only in a medical emergency.

......................................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 3 marks)
4. Medicines and drugs alter the physiological state of the body including consciousness and
coordination.

(a) State one other effect of medicines and drugs on the body.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(1)

(b) Explain the meaning of the following terms:

(i) therapeutic window.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) tolerance.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(iii) placebo effect.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 4 marks)
5. Outline the major stages in the development of a new drug.

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................
(Total 3 marks)

6. Medicines and drugs can influence the functioning of the body.

Discuss the term therapeutic window. Your answer should include its meaning, a quantitative
description and an explanation of wide and narrow therapeutic windows.

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................
(Total 4 marks)

7. Explain the meaning of the terms:

(i) side-effect

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(1)
 (ii) therapeutic window

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(1)

(iii) placebo effect.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 3 marks)

8. The effectiveness of a drug depends on the method of administration.

(i) One method of injecting drugs into the body results in the drug having a very rapid effect.
State the method and explain its rapid action.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii) List the two other methods which can be used to inject drugs into the body.

......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(1)

(iii) Identify the method of administration used to treat respiratory diseases such as asthma.

......................................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 4 marks)
9. Many drugs are taken orally. State three other ways in which drugs may be taken by a patient.

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................
(Total 2 marks)