Tag: Arsenic

Introduced in 1910, Salvarsan was celebrated as the first effective treatment for syphilis, but it was an arsenic-based drug known for its severe side effects and challenging administration. This made the advent of a safer, more potent alternative inevitable, ultimately explaining why penicillin replaced Salvarsan as the superior treatment option in the mid-20th century.

First introduced in 1910 as a revolutionary "magic bullet" for treating syphilis, Salvarsan was an arsenic-based drug developed by Nobel laureate Paul Ehrlich and his Japanese colleague, Sahachiro Hata. Its use was ultimately discontinued due to significant toxicity, challenging administration, and the advent of a far superior alternative, which is why Salvarsan is no longer used today.

While historically arsenic was famously nicknamed the "king of poisons" for its insidious use in assassinations, modern toxicology reveals a different answer for **what is the king of all poisons?** The title for the most potent known substance by weight now belongs to a bacterial neurotoxin called botulinum.

Historically a notorious poison, arsenic has a unique regulatory status within pharmacology and is notably **not** classified as a controlled substance under the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) schedule. A specific formulation, however, serves as a modern, prescription medication for certain cancers.