Those roughly two dozen drugs CAPITALIZED and HIGHLIGHTED are on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines
ANESTHESIA
Droperidal [Inapsine], 1961
KETAMINE, 1962
Etomidate, 1964 – for general anaesthesia
FENTANYL [Sublimaze], 1968 – opioid; anesthesia (synthesized 1960)
MIDAZOLAM [Versed], patented 1974 – anesthetic/seizure/anxiety
MEDICINE FOR PAIN & PALLIATIVE CARE
AMITRIPTYLINE [Elavil], 1960 – anxiety; depression
Betamethasone, 1961 – topical steroid
IBUPROFEN, 1961
DIAZEPAM [Valium], 1963
Tramadol, patented 1963 “Tramal” / Ultram – opioid
Metoclopramide, 1964 – stomach/esophageal
ALLOPURINAL, 1966 – gout (uric acid reducer)
Fentanyl [Sublimaze], 1968 – opioid
Floxetine [Prozac], 1972
ANTEDOTES, REVERSERS OF POISONING
ACETYLCYSTEINE, 1960 – treats Acetaminophen overdose; loosens cystic fibrosis mucous
NALOXONE [Narcan], 1961 – treats opioid (e.g., fentanyl ) overdose
Deferoxamine [Desferal], 1968 – removes excess iron from the blood
Penicillamine [Cuprimine], 1970 – treats Wilson’s disease; kidney stones; rheumatoid arthritis
ANTICONVULSIVE
Naloxone opiate overdose kit
James Heilman, MD
Ethosuximide [Zarontine], 1960 – petit seizures
Diazepam [Valium], 1963 – psychotropic; anxiety
LORAZAPAM [Ativan], 1963 – anxiety disorder; sleep disorders, seizures
THERAPIES FOR PARASITES
NIFURTIMOX, 1965 – Chagas Disease; sleeping sickness; African tripanosomiasis
Pyrantel, 1965
Levamisole, 1966
Benznidazole, 1971 – American tripanosomiasis
Mebendazole, 1971
OXAMNIQUINE, 1972 – schistosomiasis
Permethrin, 1973 – scabies, lice (insecticide)
Albendazole, 1975
IVERMECTIN, 1975 – lice, scabies, river blindness
ANTIBIOTICS
Cloxacillin, 1960
Metronidazole, 1960 [France]
Cephalosporin C, 1961 – MRSA
Spectinomycin, 1961
Trimethoprim, 1962 – bladder infections
GENTAMICIN, 1963
Dactinomycin [actinomycin D], 1964 – first antitumor antibiotic (trade name Cosmegen)
Rifampien, 1965 – leprosy
Cefalexim [Keflex] 1967
Cefazolin, 1967
Cindimycin, 1967
Amikacin, 1971
MUPIROCIN [Bactroban], 1971 – topical antibiotic
ANTIDIARRHEAL
LOPERAMIDE (Imodium), synthesized 1969 – irritable bowel syndrome [medical use starts 1976]
ANTIRETROVIRALS
Zidovudine, 1964
Ribavirin, 1971
ANTITUBERCULOSIS MEDICINES
Capreomycin, 1960
Ethambutol, 1961
Rifampicin, 1975
ANTIFUNGAL
Miconazole [Monistat], 1968 – topical
Clotrimazole, 1969
CYTOTOXIC & ADJUVANT MEDICINES (CANCER)
Cytarabine, 1960 – leukemia
BLEOMYCIN [Blenoxane], 1962 – squamous cell, head, neck, Hodgkin’s & non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Dactinomycin, 1964 – first antitumor antibiotic
Allopurinol [Zyloprin], 1966
HYDROXYCARBAMIDE, 1967 – sickle cell; leukemia, cervical cancer
TAMOXIFEN, 1967 – breast cancer
Procarbazine, 1969
VINCRISTINE, 1969
Paclitaxel (PTX [Taxol]), 1971
Doxorubicin, 1974
Dacarbazine, 1975 [intravenous] – melanoma; Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
MEDICINES AFFECTING COAGULATION
Tranexamic Acid, 1962
Protamine Sulfate, 1969 — reverses effects of Heparin (1916)
BLOOD PRODUCTS & PLASMA SUBSTITUTES OF HUMAN ORIGIN
Widespread use of packed red blood cells, 1960s
Rho(D) immuno-globulin, 1960s
Prothrombin complex concentrate, 1960s
CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINES
Methyldopa [Aldamet], 1960
Amiodarone, 1961, anti-arrhythmic
Furasemide [Lasix], 1962 – fluid accumulation, heart failure, kidney disease
PROPRANALOL [Inderal], 1964 – beta blocker
Nifedipine, 1969 – angina, high blood pressure
Fenofibrate, 1975 [medical use; trades = Lipofen, Fenoglide, Tricor] – hypercholesterolemia, diabetic retinopathy
1966: Ground broken for BRISTOL MYERS products & research development laboratories in Hillside, NJ. Largest proprietary lab in the world at the time.
OPTHALMIC MEDICINES
Tropicamide, 1960 – eye dilator
TIMOLOL, patented 1968 – glaucoma
DIURETICS
Amiloride, 1967 – high blood pressure; edema
HORMONES/SYNTHETIC SUBSTITUTES/
OBSTETRICS/REPRODUCTIVE
Levonorgestrel [“BCP”], 1960
Ethinylestradio / norethisterone [“BCP”], 1964
Misoprostol – induces labor/abortions;
treats postpartum bleeding and stomach ulcers, 1973
INSULINS & OTHER MEDICINES FOR DIABETES
Glucagon, 1960
Gliclazide, 1966
VACCINES
Rubella, 1968 – German measles
MMR, 1971 – mumps-measles-rubella
MENTAL & BEHAVORIAL DISORDERS
PROZAC
Amitriptyline [Elavil], 1960 — depression; anxiety
Valproate, 1962 – epilepsy/bipolar disorder
Diazepam, 1963 [Valium; modification of Librium, 1959] – anxiety. sleep disorders
Clomipramine, 1964 – tricyclic antidepressant
Nitrazepam, 1965 [Mogadon] – sleep disorders
FLUOXETINE [Prozac, SSRI], 1972 – antidepressant, OCD, panic disorder, bulimia nervosa
Flurazepam, 1973 [Dalmane] – sleep disorders
Midazolam [Versed], patented 1974 – anti-anxiety
ANTIASTHMATIC
SELBUTAMOL [Albuterol], 1967
BUDESONIDE, 1973 – corticosteroid