Aids HIV FAQ

Top 10 Drugs of the 20th Century

Question:

Hey, why isn’t prednisone on that list?……Guess it depends on how you define the target population. —

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Top Ten Drugs Of The Century   December 27, 1999  1. Aspirin It has > probably saved more lives than any other drug in history. Not only a > great pain reliever and fever reducer…it reduces the risk of heart > attacks, strokes and probably many common cancers. Also one of the > cheapest drugs in the pharmacy!  2. Penicillin It revolutionized the > treatment of infectious disease and changed the way the medical > profession viewed pharmaceuticals. This was truly the first magic > bullet.  3. Propranolol (Inderal) The first beta blocker that was > rationally developed to reduce the risk of heart disease. It lowers > blood pressure and also prevents the heart from racing. New research > proves the value of such drugs after a heart attack. Propranolol also > reduces the risk of migraines, diminishes performance anxiety and has > many other applications.  4. Cimetidine (Tagamet) The first H2 > antagonist. This drug almost didn’t see the light of day, but the same > researcher who discovered propranolol, Sir James Black, stuck to his > guns and brought out this revolutionary treatment for ulcers. It > heralded a whole new approach to stomach acid and ushered in the most > successful drugs in the history of the industry (Zantac, Pepcid, etc). > 5. Fluoxetine (Prozac) This antidepressant has become a household word. > It changed the way physicians and patients think about depression and > other disorders such as OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), bulimia > and PMS.  6. Insulin Let’s not forget that before insulin, diabetics > died quickly from their condition. Now with careful monitoring and > appropriate treatment they can live long and healthy lives.  7. > Diazepam (Valium) With all the excitement about Prozac and company it > is easy to forget that during the 1970s Valium and other > benzodiazepines were the most prescribed drugs in the country. This > medicine and its chemical cousins ease anxiety and are extremely useful > during minor surgical procedures.  8. AZT (zidovudine; Retrovir) The > first antiviral drug for HIV and AIDS changed the way the world thought > about this scourge. Although not a cure, this drug has led the way to > drug treatment that has allowed many infected people to live relatively > normal lives.  9. Sildenafil (Viagra) Another household name. Although > not a life-saving medication in the same sense as penicillin, this drug > has shown that couples do not need to accept sexual dysfunction as > inevitable.  10. Cloazpine (Clozaril) This medicine for schizophrenia > was the first in a new generation of medications that control this > devastating condition without some of the debilitating side effects of > older major tranquilizers. Risperidone (Risperdal) and olanzapine > (Zyprexa) have quietly helped many schizophrenics rejoin society. > RELATED HEALTHCENTRAL LINKS > . News – HealthCentral – World Medical Association calls > doping athletes unethical (10/15/1999) > . News – HealthCentral – Medicare HMO benefits vary > widely (8/23/1999) > . News – HealthCentral – Medicare prescription drug > proposals introduced (4/21/1999) > . News – HealthCentral – Medicare prescription drug bill > introduced (3/30/1999) > . Dr. Dean – HealthCentral – Dr. Dean Edell – Lack Of > Pain Medication Worldwide Problem (2/24/2000) > . Dr. Dean – HealthCentral – Dr. Dean Edell – Think > Medical Care Won’t Extend Your Life? For You, That May Be True > (11/30/1999) > . Dr. Dean – HealthCentral – Dr. Dean Edell – British > Ahead Of Us On Medical Marijuana (5/21/1999) > . Best Doctors – HealthCentral – What Role Does > Medication Play In Treating Back Pain? (2/21/2000) > Best, > Larry > — > Kissing a smoker is like licking an ashtray! > Before you buy.

Response:

 Top Ten Drugs Of The Century   December 27, 1999  1. Aspirin It has probably saved more lives than any other drug in history. Not only a great pain reliever and fever reducer…it reduces the risk of heart attacks, strokes and probably many common cancers. Also one of the cheapest drugs in the pharmacy!  2. Penicillin It revolutionized the treatment of infectious disease and changed the way the medical profession viewed pharmaceuticals. This was truly the first magic bullet.  3. Propranolol (Inderal) The first beta blocker that was rationally developed to reduce the risk of heart disease. It lowers blood pressure and also prevents the heart from racing. New research proves the value of such drugs after a heart attack. Propranolol also reduces the risk of migraines, diminishes performance anxiety and has many other applications.  4. Cimetidine (Tagamet) The first H2 antagonist. This drug almost didn’t see the light of day, but the same researcher who discovered propranolol, Sir James Black, stuck to his guns and brought out this revolutionary treatment for ulcers. It heralded a whole new approach to stomach acid and ushered in the most successful drugs in the history of the industry (Zantac, Pepcid, etc). 5. Fluoxetine (Prozac) This antidepressant has become a household word. It changed the way physicians and patients think about depression and other disorders such as OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), bulimia and PMS.  6. Insulin Let’s not forget that before insulin, diabetics died quickly from their condition. Now with careful monitoring and appropriate treatment they can live long and healthy lives.  7. Diazepam (Valium) With all the excitement about Prozac and company it is easy to forget that during the 1970s Valium and other benzodiazepines were the most prescribed drugs in the country. This medicine and its chemical cousins ease anxiety and are extremely useful during minor surgical procedures.  8. AZT (zidovudine; Retrovir) The first antiviral drug for HIV and AIDS changed the way the world thought about this scourge. Although not a cure, this drug has led the way to drug treatment that has allowed many infected people to live relatively normal lives.  9. Sildenafil (Viagra) Another household name. Although not a life-saving medication in the same sense as penicillin, this drug has shown that couples do not need to accept sexual dysfunction as inevitable.  10. Cloazpine (Clozaril) This medicine for schizophrenia was the first in a new generation of medications that control this devastating condition without some of the debilitating side effects of older major tranquilizers. Risperidone (Risperdal) and olanzapine (Zyprexa) have quietly helped many schizophrenics rejoin society.         RELATED HEALTHCENTRAL LINKS        

Filed under: HIV