Category: History of medicine

In 1944, penicillin was made widely available to treat bacterial infections, changing the course of medicine forever. Its revolutionary effectiveness in saving millions of lives against once-fatal diseases earned it the title, "**Which drug is known as the wonder drug?**", marking the dawn of the antibiotic era.

With billions of doses consumed annually, Panadol is a household name for pain relief [1.2.1]. But where is Panadol from? The journey of this trusted brand begins not with the drug itself, but with its strategic introduction in the United Kingdom in the mid-1950s.

For decades in the mid-20th century, APC tablets were a popular over-the-counter remedy for common aches and pains. While the APC drug may no longer be available, its history serves as a cautionary tale in the world of pharmacology and drug regulation.

In 1992, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved finasteride, not for hair loss, but as a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a condition that causes an enlarged prostate. It was marketed under the brand name Proscar. This initial use established the foundation for its later, more widely known application.

The first effective medicine for epilepsy, potassium bromide, was introduced in 1857 by Sir Charles Locock, marking a pivotal shift from centuries of ineffective or spiritual remedies [1.3.4, 1.4.2]. Before this breakthrough, treatments ranged from herbal concoctions to surgical procedures like trepanation [1.8.2]. So, what was the old medicine for epilepsy before pharmacology transformed patient care?

Originally hailed as a revolutionary antibiotic in the 1940s, sulfathiazole was once widely used to combat a range of serious infections, from gonorrhea to pneumonia. The drug’s high toxicity, however, eventually led to its retirement for widespread systemic human use. What does sulfathiazole help with today, and why is its application so different from its past?

Cantharidin, a potent medication, has been used in medicine for over 2,000 years, and its nickname, **Beetlejuice**, comes from its insect-based origin. The topical treatment is derived from the defense secretions of blister beetles, which have a long and complex history in both folk medicine and modern dermatology.

Before the widespread use of penicillin, common bacterial infections like strep throat or a minor cut could be fatal. The answer to **what was the first drug that killed bacteria?** is not as simple as it seems, involving a series of groundbreaking discoveries rather than a single event. Early treatments ranged from synthetic chemicals like Salvarsan to the first true antibiotic, Penicillin, and the journey reveals the evolution of modern chemotherapy.

By 1956, only one year after its release, doctors had written 36 million prescriptions for the tranquilizer Miltown, a drug commonly associated with 1950s housewives coping with anxiety. Often nicknamed “Mother's Little Helper,” this and other prescription pills reveal the intense societal pressures and expectations placed on women during that era.

In 1937, the deaths of more than 100 people from a toxic liquid preparation known as “Elixir Sulfanilamide” led to the passage of the 1938 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in the United States. While this tragedy forever marked its history, the crystalline sulfanilamide powder from which the compound was derived was a life-saving wonder drug that ushered in the antibiotic era.