Prescription Painkillers: History

Though prescription painkillers are relatively new when considering the timeline of history, there has always been a need for pain-relieving agents. Prescription painkillers are regulated by the government and are available by prescription from a qualified health professional. This includes doctors, veterinarians, psychiatrists and dentists. Pharmaceutical companies typically research, develop, test and market prescription painkillers which are classified by the government into five schedules based on usage and their potential to be habit-forming. Prescription painkillers include opiates, also called narcotics, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

From Hippocrates to Bayer: A Historical Timeline

Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, left behind records of his pain relief treatments which included salicin powder made from leaves and bark of the willow tree and used to treat headache, fever and pain. This was used as early as the 4th Century B.C. German chemist Felix Hoffmann developed aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) in 1897 and it was introduced to the market in 1899. Hippocrates also used opium as a narcotic. Dating back as early as 3400 B.C., the opium poppy was cultivated by the Egyptians, Sumerians, Babylonians and Assyrians. A German man discovered morphine in 1803 and in 1843 a Scottish doctor first administered morphine via injection. Heroin was first synthesized from morphine in 1874 and sold by The Bayer Company in 1898.

Opiates Are Highly Effective Painkillers But Can Be Habit-Forming

Opium was banned by the U.S. Congress in 1905. In an effort to curb drug abuse and addiction, the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act passed in 1914, requiring doctors, pharmacists and others who prescribe narcotics to register and pay a tax. Opiates are derived from opium. Active opiates found in opium include morphine, codeine, thebaine and papaverine. Synthetic opioids such as heroin and hydrocodone are synthesized from these substances, mainly morphine and codeine. Today, opiates are still the most effective pain relievers available in medicine, and include morphine, OxyContin, Percocet, Tramadol, Fentanyl and Vicodin. Prescription painkillers, namely opiates, are widely prescribed throughout the world. They block pain signals by attaching to opioid receptors located throughout the body and brain. Opiate pain relievers also have the potential to be habit-forming, leading to dependency and addiction.

Waismann Method Offers Opiate-Free Treatment for Painkiller Addiction

The Waismann Method of Accelerated Neuro-Regulation offers a premiere prescription painkiller detox program. If you are addicted to opiates including Vicodin, OxyContin, heroin, Tramadol, Lortab, Percocet or Darvocet, our program can help you become drug-free in days. The pioneering procedure takes place in a hospital while patients sleep lightly under anesthesia for a short time. Opiate dependency is reversed as opiate receptors are cleansed with intravenous medication. Patients awake and are unaware of the withdrawal that occurred during the procedure. Unlike many other detox programs, the Waismann Method does not use opiates to treat opiate addiction. Our safe and humane treatment for prescription painkiller addiction can get you back on your feet and living life again to the fullest.

Get Help Now

Call us today to discuss how the Waismann Method can free you from your Opioid dependency and get your life back.

• Call (310) 205-0808 or (888) 987-HOPE (4673) during business hours. for more information about rapid detox treatment for prescription drug addiction
• After-hours and weekends, please call (310) 927-7155.
• send us a confidential email.