Tag: Pharmacology history

First approved in 2004, Ketek (telithromycin) was a new class of antibiotic known as a ketolide, designed to combat resistance to older macrolide drugs. However, its history was marked by significant safety concerns, especially related to serious and sometimes fatal liver damage, which ultimately led to its removal from the market.

In the late 1980s, the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer began research on a new compound, sildenafil, to treat angina and high blood pressure. Its surprising journey from a potential heart medication to a global phenomenon raises the question: **What was Viagra originally meant to treat?**

During the American Civil War, Thedford's Black Draught was a widely known patent medicine, consumed by soldiers and civilians alike for its strong laxative properties. This historical remedy, known for its dark color and potent cathartic effects, offers insight into the era of unregulated proprietary medicines and their eventual pharmacological evolution.

Amantadine was approved by the FDA in 1966 for influenza prophylaxis, but by 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) no longer recommended it due to rampant resistance. This dramatic shift in its primary application is a key reason why is amantadine not used anymore for treating viral infections.

Initially approved by the FDA in 2010, the high blood pressure medication Tribenzor was developed and launched by Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.. Over time, the manufacturing rights for the brand-name product have changed hands, leading to different companies producing versions of the drug for patients struggling to control their hypertension.

In early 2025, the FDA approved Journavx (suzetrigine), the first new class of oral, non-opioid pain medication for moderate-to-severe acute pain in over two decades. This milestone brings attention to a critical question: What is the first non addictive painkiller, and how has the landscape for safe pain management evolved?

Approved in the U.S. in 1955, reserpine was a foundational antihypertensive medication [1.2.4, 1.3.5]. So, **why is reserpine not used clinically** today? The answer lies in its challenging side effect profile and the development of more tolerable and potent alternatives [1.2.4].

First introduced to Western medicine in the 1950s, reserpine, an alkaloid from the *Rauwolfia serpentina* plant, was once a pioneering treatment for high blood pressure and psychotic states. However, the answer to the question, 'is reserpine still used today?' is a complex one, as its role in human medicine has dramatically changed, leading to its general discontinuation in favor of safer alternatives.

In a classic example of medical serendipity, minoxidil was not originally intended for hair loss at all. In fact, the answer to the question, **'What was the first purpose of minoxidil?'** is that it was first developed in the 1960s as a potent oral medication for treating severe, persistent high blood pressure.

Originally developed in the late 1950s by the Upjohn Company, minoxidil was first intended as an oral medication to treat severe and treatment-resistant hypertension, or high blood pressure. This initial purpose was a far cry from its modern-day fame as a widely used topical treatment for hair loss.