Category: Historical medicine

Diethylstilbestrol (stilboestrol or DES), a synthetic estrogen, was largely discontinued for general human use in 1971 after it was linked to a rare vaginal cancer in daughters of women who took it during pregnancy. Understanding **how long does stilboestrol take to work** is primarily a matter of historical interest, though the answer varies depending on the medical condition it was prescribed for.

First approved in the U.S. in 1955 for treating hypertension, the use of reserpine has since been largely discontinued. The answer to **why is reserpine no longer used?** lies in its problematic side effect profile and the advent of superior pharmacological alternatives.