When Drugs Became Available
Have you ever been writing some historical fiction and wondered "hey, I wonder if my characters would have been able to pop an ibuprofen in 1977?" Well, you're in luck, because this post is all about when common medications became available:
- Acetaminophen: 1950
- Albuterol: 1969 (UK) 1982 (US)
- Allopurinol: 1966
- Alprazolam: 1981
- Amitriptyline: 1961
- Amlodipine: 1990
- Amoxicilin: 1972
- Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine (together as Adderall): 1996
- Apixiban: 2012
- Aripiprazole: 2002
- Aspirin (first NSAID): 1899
- Azidothymidine (first antiviral): 1987
- Barbital (first barbiturate): 1903
- Bupropion: 1985
- Buspirone: 1986
- Calcium Carbonate (TUMS): 1930
- Captopril (first ACE inhibitor): 1981
- Chlordiazepoxide (first benzodiazepine): 1960
- Chlorothiazide (first thiazide diuretic): 1957
- Chlorpromazine (first antipsychotic): 1952
- Cyclobenzeprine: 1977
- Diphenhydramine: 1946
- Furosemide: 1959
- Fluoxetine (first SSRI): 1988
- Gabapentin: 1993
- Glipizide: 1984
- Hydrochlorothiazide: 1959
- Ibuprofen: 1969 (UK) 1974 (US)
- Insulin: 1923 (though many types of insulins would become available over the next century)
- Imipramine (first tricyclic antidepressant): 1959
- Iproniazid (first antidepressant (MAOI)): 1952
- Levothyroxine: 1927 (though desiccated pork thyroid was used for the same reasons as early as 1890)
- Lisinopril: 1987
- Lithium: 1949
- Losartan (first ARB): 1995
- Lovastatin (first statin): 1987
- Naproxen: 1976 (Rx) 1990 (OTC)
- Nitrogen Mustard (first chemotherapy agent): early 1940's
- Methotrexate: 1947
- Methylphenidate: 1954
- Metformin: 1957 (France) 1995 (US)
- Metoprolol: 1978
- Montelukast: 1998
- Morphine: early 1800's
- Omeprazole: 1989
- Penicillin: 1945
- Phenbezamine (first antihistamine): 1942
- Prednisone: 1955
- Propranolol (first beta blocker): 1965 (UK) 1967 (US)
- Sertraline: 1990
- Spironolactone: 1959
- Sulfanilamide (first modern antibiotic): 1935
- Tolbutamide (first oral anti-diabetic drug): 1956
- Tramadol: 1977 (Germany) 1995 (US)
- Trazodone: 1981
- Valacyclovir: 1995
- Verapamil (first calcium channel blocker): 1964
- Warfarin: 1954
- Zopiclone (first "Z-drug"): 1986
Someone asked for this list in date order, so here it is!
- Morphine: early 1800's
- Aspirin (first NSAID): 1899
- Barbital (first barbiturate): 1903
- Insulin: 1923 (though many types of insulins would become available over the next century)
- Levothyroxine: 1927 (though desiccated pork thyroid was used for the same reasons as early as 1890)
- Calcium Carbonate (TUMS): 1930
- Sulfanilamide (first modern antibiotic): 1935
- Nitrogen Mustard (first chemotherapy agent): early 1940's
- Phenbezamine (first antihistamine): 1942
- Penicillin: 1945
- Diphenhydramine: 1946
- Methotrexate: 1947
- Lithium: 1949
- Acetaminophen: 1950
- Chlorpromazine (first antipsychotic): 1952
- Iproniazid (first antidepressant (MAOI)): 1952
- Methylphenidate: 1954
- Warfarin: 1954
- Prednisone: 1955
- Tolbutamide (first oral anti-diabetic drug): 1956
- Chlorothiazide (first thiazide diuretic): 1957
- Metformin: 1957 (France) 1995 (US)
- Furosemide: 1959
- Hydrochlorothiazide: 1959
- Spironolactone: 1959
- Imipramine (first tricyclic antidepressant): 1959
- Chlordiazepoxide (first benzodiazepine): 1960
- Amitriptyline: 1961
- Verapamil (first calcium channel blocker): 1964
- Propranolol (first beta blocker): 1965 (UK) 1967 (US)
- Allopurinol: 1966
- Albuterol: 1969 (UK) 1982 (US)
- Ibuprofen: 1969 (UK) 1974 (US)
- Amoxicilin: 1972
- Naproxen: 1976 (Rx) 1990 (OTC)
- Cyclobenzeprine: 1977
- Tramadol: 1977 (Germany) 1995 (US)
- Metoprolol: 1978
- Captopril (first ACE inhibitor): 1981
- Trazodone: 1981
- Alprazolam: 1981
- Glipizide: 1984
- Bupropion: 1985
- Buspirone: 1986
- Zopiclone (first "Z-drug"): 1986
- Lovastatin (first statin): 1987
- Azidothymidine (first antiviral): 1987
- Lisinopril: 1987
- Fluoxetine (first SSRI): 1988
- Omeprazole: 1989
- Amlodipine: 1990
- Sertraline: 1990
- Gabapentin: 1993
- Losartan (first ARB): 1995
- Valacyclovir: 1995
- Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine (together as Adderall): 1996
- Montelukast: 1998
- Aripiprazole: 2002
- Apixiban: 2012
I already keep track of a lot of this stuff but hey, it's useful.
September 14, 2026 DEADLINE!!!
QR Code to Reach Your Congressman
I went to the dermatologist today and discovered something very disconcerting. There is a new proposed Medicare rule before Congress which would penalize doctors for performing necessary procedures on the same day as an office visit or exam. This ruling sets a precedent which could then be applied to all doctors not just dermatologists.
The new rule would make it harder for doctors to treat Medicare patients promptly and effectively in the following ways:
- Increased costs. You may be required to return for a second separate appointment just for your needed procedure, leading to additional copays and coinsurance.
- Delayed treatment. Essential diagnoses and treatments for skin conditions, including skin cancers, would be delayed until a follow-up visit can be scheduled.
- Inconvenience & hardship. This ruling creates an undue burden for patients, especially those with transportation challenges, who must take extra time off work, who live far away, or have mobility issues.
Your voice can protect Same-Day patient care!
You can take these actions:
- Comment to CMS. Tell CMS that you OPPOSE the proposed 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule because it could delay medically necessary procedures and require unnecessary return visits.
- Contact YOUR Representatives. By just clicking or tapping on the QR CODE above you will be taken to the website of the American Academy of Dermatology who is helping you to fight this battle. On this page you will see links for Physicians, Staff, and Patients who want to have a voice on this matter. By clicking PATIENT, the link takes you to a page where you will be given the opportunity to send a prewritten letter to your local congressman, regardless of which state you reside in.
In the box labeled “Message”, you can scroll to read the entire letter being sent to your congressman on your behalf. By giving your address and zip code, your Congressional representatives will receive a letter telling them you want them to vote NO - IN OPPOSITION to this ruling by Medicare.
This is an urgent matter. Congress is expected to act on this ruling in September, and the September 14th deadline is REAL. ACT today! Send your Congressman a letter that could make a difference to thousands of Medicare recipients. Do it now.
One last thing you can do is Get The Word OUT!!!
Share this blog post with every medicare patient you can think of. Tell your church! Tell your friends!
Thank you for your help in this matter.
Source: September 14, 2026 DEADLINE!!!
author: sorry I’m jumping on this bandwagon and writing a fic with the same premise as all these other fics
me, has read 500 fics like this one and is prepared to read 500 more: please never apologize for giving the people (me) what they (also me) want
WELL I WOULD READ FIVE HUNDRED FICS
AND I WOULD READ FIVE HUNDRED MORE
JUST TO READ ONE THOUSAND FICS WITH THE SAME
PREMISE AS THE ONES BEFORE
DADA DADA (DADA DADA)
DADA DADA (DADA DADA)
DADADUNdedeledeDUNdedeledeDUN
















