School of Medical Sciences

Learning Guide

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Learning Guide
You are now beginning the course. Please turn to Topic 1 and
work your way through the sessions. Remember to use the
Planning and Time Management Guide in the Course Outline if
you are unsure about the next activity or section of work to
complete.

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Topic 1: Introduction - Medicine, Drug or

Poison?

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this Topic you will be able to:
• define the terms medicine, drug and poison
• define the terms Pharmacology and Toxicology
• list four different sources of drugs
• describe the main characteristics of medicines, drugs and
poisons.

Session 1.1: What do you already know?

We start this course by looking at what your current
understanding is.

Activity 1A

Medicine, Drug or Poison – what is your

understanding?
Read:
• eBook, Chapter 1, p.3 (up to Drug)
Complete table:
• Fill in the table on page 3 to explore your current
understanding of drugs, and the distinctions between
them. (You are not expected to research these, or to fill
in the table completely accurately.)

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Session 1.2: Definitions

We continue the course with some definitions.

Activity 1B

Definitions
Read:
• eBook, Chapter 1, pp.3 - 4
Test your understanding:
• Review the list of “Medicine, Drug or Poison?” and refine
it with your new understanding based on Session 1.2.

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Session 1.3: Drugs

For a drug to be useful either as a scientific tool or as a medicine,
there are certain characteristics it must possess in addition to
producing biological effects.

Activity 1C

Characteristics and sources of drugs

Read:
• eBook, Chapter 1, p.5 (up to Chemical synthesis of
drugs)
Test your understanding:
• In a few words define the terms:
− potency
− specificity
− selectivity.
• Many important drugs have been derived from plant
sources. Look up the sources of the drugs listed below.
What are the uses of these drugs?
- aspirin
- coumarin
- quinine
- atropine
- emetine
- strychnine
- cocaine
- morphine
- vincristine.
• As well as plants, other natural sources include minerals,
micro-organisms and animals. Give two examples of
drugs derived from each of these sources. What are the
uses of these drugs?

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Chemical synthesis of drugs

The first pure drug, morphine, was isolated in 1805 by Sertürner.
Morphine is one of the many constituents of opium. These
methods were valuable in showing that discrete compounds of
known chemical composition could be isolated from plants and
other natural sources.

Activity 1D

Chemical synthesis of drugs

Read:
• eBook, Chapter 1, pp. 5 – 8.
Additional reading:
• references listed on p.8 of your eBook.
Test your understanding:
• Using a source such as MIMS online (which you can
access through RMIT Library), look up at least two
different trade names under which the following drugs
are marketed. Comment on any similarities or
differences between the different preparations. Suggest
at least two ways of classifying each of the drugs.
− diazepam
− digoxin
− fluoxetine
− frusemide
− isotretinoin
− paracetamol
− propranolol
− simvastatin
− sumatriptan.

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Example:
• diazepam:
click on the link to MIMS online given above. A search
box will appear with three rows. Enter “diazepam” in
the first row (brand/generic name). A list of drugs will
then appear, trade names in bold and generic name in
brackets. Select two drugs that contain diazepam,
click on these names (e.g. valium and valpam) and
note any similarities or differences between the two
preparations:
e.g. Valium: available as tablets containing diazepam,
2 or 5 mg; also contains lactose but no gluten (for
those with allergies to gluten). Also available as
an injection.
Valpam: tablets containing diazepam, 2 or 5 mg
and also contains lactose but no gluten.
The two tablet preparations, Valium and Valpam seem
to be identical – both contain the same amounts of
diazepam and the same additives. The colours of the
tablets are also the same. Possibly one is a cheaper
alternative to the other.
May be classified on the basis of 1) use: anti-anxiety or
muscle relaxant or 2) chemical class or structure:
benzodiazepine (see “Pharmacology”)
Discussion Exercise:
• What do you understand by “chemical synthesis” of
drugs and “natural” remedies?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a)
chemically manufactured drugs; b) natural extracts?

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