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Science Attacks The Mystery Of Tylenol
nm1m writes "For decades, millions of physicians have advised their patients to take acetaminophen - the drug behind "aspirin-free" pain relievers like Tylenol - without understanding how or why the popular medicine works. Now, a professor at Brigham Young University has discovered what could be the enzyme the drug attacks to relieve pain."
Well considering a lot of the drugs that fall under the 'controlled substance' category used to be recommended by doctors, I'm guessing a lot.
Cocaine was a cure-all up until the late 1800s, PCP and ketamine were used as anaesthetics until the 60s/70s.
Morphine is still widely prescribed, and I'm pretty sure the doctors don't know too much about it except that its really addictive and it really works (until you develop a tolerance, as is the case with any drug).
Hell, even ritalyn is still widely used, and considering it affects everyone differently (could be an upper, could be a downer, who knows until you try it right?)
I'm guessing many of the original drugs currently on the North American market are only there today because of something akin to a 'grandfather clause'.
I'm sure if it had gone through the 'rigorous' testing todays pharmaceutical companies had to go through to get a drug past the FDA, it would not have made it.
Bear in mind I am not a pharmaceutical chemist and this post did not come out of any textbooks, instead from various sources (some you may feel are questionable) like Discovery channel and my own research into some of the things I have taken over the years. If I'm wrong, correct me so I don't make the same mistake again.