Bayer Aspirin and Heroin 1898-1910

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Specializes in CCU, Geriatrics, Critical Care, Tele.

From 1898 through to 1910, heroin was marketed as a cough suppressant by trusted companies like Bayer -- alongside the company's other new product, Aspirin.

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From wikipedia:

In 1895, the German drug company Bayer marketed diacetylmorphine as an over-the-counter drug under the trademark name Heroin.[56] The name was derived from the Greek word "Heros" because of its perceived "heroic" effects upon a user.[56] It was developed chiefly as amorphine substitute for cough suppressants that did not have morphine's addictive side-effects. Morphine at the time was a popular recreational drug, and Bayer wished to find a similar but non-addictive substitute to market. However, contrary to Bayer's advertising as a "non-addictive morphine substitute," heroin would soon have one of the highest rates of dependence among its users.[57]

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I love all these vintage posts!

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

Wow! Look at that. Coca Cola used to have cocaine in its formula and hence the name Coke.

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Heroin also goes by diamorphine in the U.K. where it is used to alleviate severe pain as well as for addicts.

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Scary!

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Specializes in ED.

How scary if pts switched to asking for diamorphine instead of dilaudid.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
How scary if pts switched to asking for diamorphine instead of dilaudid.

^^^Yup...rather be a dilaudid supplier...

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...well at least they have a good intention for selling heroin!

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