Bayer Aspirin and Heroin 1898-1910

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.

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]

[champagnesupeRNova]

I love all these vintage posts!

[Vishwamitr]

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

[RNfaster]

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

[Genista, BSN, RN]

Scary!

[thelema13]

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

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

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

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

[pronurse45]

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