Biotechnology-Research-News-Information: Drugs That Have Changed Our Lives

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Drugs That Have Changed Our Lives

Between 1870 and 2005 several dozen drugs have had profound effects on human health.

Here are the top medicines:

Allegra; (antihistamine) 1996
Aspirin; (analgesic) 1900
AZT; (antiviral agent) 1987
Cis-platin; (anticancer) 1978
Crixivan; (antiviral) ~1995
Cyclosporine; (immunosuppressant) 1983
Digoxin; (cardiac drug) 1930
L-Dopa; (antiparkinson drug) 1967
DiEthyl Ether; (anesthetic) 1841
Erythropoietin; (hormone) 1989
Fentanyl; (narcotic) 1960
Fluoride; (cavity preventor) ~1945
Fosamax; (osteoporosis medication) 1996
Hydrocortisone; (hormone) 1952
Insulin; (hormone) 1922
Isoniazid; (antibacterial) 1952
Ivermectin; (antiparasitic) 1987
Librium; (antianxiety) 1960
Lovastatin; (cholesterol lowering agent) 1987
6-Mercapto-purine; (anticancer) 1953
Methadone; (narcotic) ~1960s
Morphine; (narcotic) ~4000 B.C.
Norethindrone; (hormone) 1964
Oxytocin; (hormone also known as: pitocin, syntocinon, uteracon) ~1955
Penicillin; (antibacterial) 1943
Phenobarbital; (anticonvulsant) 1912
Premarin; (hormone) 1941
Prontosil; (antibacterial) ~1932
Quinine; (antimalarial) ~1640
Rituxan; (anticancer) 1997
Salbutamol; (bronchodilator) ~1963
Salvarsan; (antisyphilitic) 1910
Tagamet; (antiulcer) 1976
Taxol; (anticancer) 1993
Thalidomide; (immunomodulator) ~1957
Thorazine; (antiphsychotic) ~1940s
Thyroxine; (hormone) 1955
Vaccines; (various types for disease prevention) 1798
Vioxx; (antiinflammatory) 1999