Category: Health history

In 1998, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared Mercurochrome "not generally recognized as safe and effective" for over-the-counter use, effectively halting its sale. This decision ended the era of a beloved household antiseptic known for its signature bright red color, leading many to wonder, **why did they stop making Mercurochrome?**. The answer lies in a mix of potential toxicity from its mercury content and the rise of more superior, modern antiseptics.

In 1976, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) outlawed the use of chloroform in medications, marking a significant turn for pharmaceutical safety. This shift was just one part of a larger trend affecting drug formulations, which dramatically changed **what was the cough medicine in the 70s** compared to previous decades. The era saw a move away from potentially dangerous or addictive ingredients towards the safer, more regulated formulations we use today.

Over 125 years ago, pharmacist Lunsford Richardson created a salve for a deeply personal reason—to help his young son, who was suffering from a severe case of croup. This family-centric motivation directly answers the question of **what was Vicks originally made for**: a topical remedy for respiratory illnesses.

By the 1980s, physicians shifted dramatically away from highly toxic barbiturates, embracing benzodiazepines as the new standard for treating insomnia. This era saw the rise and fall of several prominent hypnotic drugs, defining what were the sleeping pills in the 80s and shaping modern sleep pharmacology.