Tag: Phenacetin

Decades ago, a painkiller called phenacetin was conclusively linked to kidney and urinary tract cancers, leading to its ban in the US in 1983. The question of what medications cause kidney tumors is not limited to historical drugs, as research continues to explore associations between long-term use of modern medications and renal cancer risk.

First introduced into therapy in 1887, phenacetin was a widely used pain-relieving and fever-reducing drug for nearly a century before being banned [1.2.1, 1.6.3]. So, what does phenacetin do that led to its rise and dramatic fall from grace?

For decades, APC tablets were a common over-the-counter remedy for headaches and fevers in many countries, but the formulation containing phenacetin is no longer sold due to severe health risks. This article explores what kind of medicine is APC and explains why its key ingredient led to its withdrawal from the market.

While many believe the popular painkiller Anacin was outright banned, the truth is more complex: the brand was forced to reformulate in the 1980s after the FDA outlawed its key ingredient, phenacetin, due to serious health risks.

Introduced in 1887, phenacetin was once a widely used pain and fever reducer but was eventually withdrawn from markets worldwide due to its toxic effects. Understanding **what is phenacetin** reveals a cautionary tale of drug development, where a potent remedy was eventually eclipsed by its severe, long-term health consequences, leading to its replacement by safer alternatives like acetaminophen.

Millions of people worldwide rely on over-the-counter (OTC) medications for pain relief, especially for conditions like tension-type headaches (TTH) and migraines [1.2.1]. A once-common choice was a combination drug known as APC, but is APC a pain killer by modern standards, and is it safe?

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.

The original APC pill, a combination of aspirin, phenacetin, and caffeine, was a widely used over-the-counter pain reliever throughout the mid-20th century before its central ingredient was banned for causing serious health issues. This classic compound analgesic played a significant role in medicine but serves as a cautionary tale about drug safety.