Tag: World war ii

In 1937, German chemists first synthesized methadone during a period of global unrest. A drug now primarily known for treating opioid addiction, its complex history reveals a fascinating shift in application. So, **what was the original purpose of methadone**? It was initially created as a synthetic analgesic to replace morphine amid wartime shortages.

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.