Not medical advice. This site is general information only. In an emergency call your local emergency number. For advice about your own health, speak to a doctor, pharmacist or other qualified health professional.
Early 20th Century
24 medications
Penicillin
Discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928 when mold contaminated his petri dish. Penicillin revolutionized medic...
Chloramphenicol
A broad spectrum antibiotic discovered in a Venezuelan soil sample. Chloramphenicol was once widely used but i...
Streptomycin
The first effective treatment for tuberculosis, discovered by Albert Schatz and Selman Waksman. Streptomycin i...
Bacitracin
A topical antibiotic used in over the counter ointments for minor cuts and scrapes. Bacitracin is produced by ...
Neomycin
An aminoglycoside antibiotic used topically for skin infections and orally for bowel preparation before surger...
Oxycodone
A semisynthetic opioid derived from thebaine, a component of opium. Oxycodone treats moderate to severe pain. ...
Hydrocodone
Long one of the most prescribed opioids in the United States. Hydrocodone treats moderate to severe pain and i...
Methadone
A long acting synthetic opioid used for two purposes: treating opioid addiction and managing chronic pain. Met...
Heparin
An injectable anticoagulant discovered in 1916 by Jay McLean, a medical student. Heparin prevents blood clots ...
Digoxin
A cardiac glycoside derived from the foxglove plant. Digoxin treats heart failure and controls heart rate in a...
Insulin
The discovery of insulin by Banting and Best in 1921 transformed diabetes from a death sentence into a managea...
Influenza Vaccine
One of the most widely used vaccines, given to hundreds of millions of people each year. Flu vaccine effective...
Tetanus Vaccine
A vaccine against tetanus, a bacterial infection causing severe muscle spasms. Tetanus bacteria are found in s...
BCG Vaccine
The Bacillus Calmette Guerin vaccine against tuberculosis, developed by Albert Calmette and Camille Guerin. BC...
Yellow Fever Vaccine
A vaccine against yellow fever, a mosquito borne viral disease found in tropical Africa and South America. The...
Theophylline
A methylxanthine bronchodilator used for asthma and COPD since the early 20th century. Theophylline relaxes ai...
Testosterone
The primary male sex hormone. Testosterone treats male hypogonadism, a condition where the body produces insuf...
Diphenhydramine
A first generation antihistamine marketed as Benadryl. Diphenhydramine treats allergic reactions, hives, and i...
Lidocaine
A local anesthetic that blocks nerve signals. Lidocaine or Xylocaine is the most widely used local anesthetic ...
Phenytoin
One of the oldest antiseizure medications. Phenytoin or Dilantin treats tonic clonic seizures and status epile...
Dimercaprol
A chelating agent developed during World War II as an antidote to arsenic based chemical weapons. Dimercaprol ...
Dapsone
A medication originally developed for leprosy that is now used for multiple skin conditions. Dapsone or DDS tr...
Hyoscyamine
An anticholinergic medication that relieves smooth muscle spasms. Hyoscyamine or Levsin treats intestinal cram...
Polymyxin B
A last resort antibiotic for multidrug resistant gram negative infections. Polymyxin B belongs to an old class...