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Did This Cough Syrup Really Contain Morphine And Weed?
Claim:A photograph of "One Night Cough Syrup," which contained cannabis, morphine, and chloroform, depicts a genuine product from the late 1800s.
The product "One Night Cough Syrup" periodically goes viral as an example of the excesses of the unregulated medical-remedy market of yore. According to a photograph commonly shared on Reddit and other social media platforms, the ingredients were alcohol, cannabis, chloroform, and "morphia, sulph" — a dated name for morphine.
One Night Cough Syrup, manufactured by Kohler Manufacturing Co., was indeed a real product. Newspaper ads and pamphlets from the late 1800s and early 1900s are littered with ads for the product, which claimed to stop "that tickling in the throat … almost instantly."
Kohler was a big player in the so-called patent medicine market. Companies involved in this business claimed to produce proprietary concoctions able to cure a wide range of ailments.
Entirely unregulated, such drugs' effects, if any, could often be attributed to what would now be considered hardcore narcotics, recreational drugs, or some combination of the two. A series of exposes in the early 1900s and the passage of new laws led to increased scrutiny of the patent medicine market.
In 1910, Kohler's One Night Cough Syrup was specifically referenced on a list of "habit-forming agents" published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That document confirms the product's ingredients match the label in the viral image:
To a modern audience, such a concoction's over-the-counter use sounds absurd. We note, however, that the product was maligned as being irresponsible over a century ago, as well.
An imagined conversation between a woman, a pharmacist, and a doctor, published in a 1914 newspaper article, also uses One Night Cough Syrup as an example of the dangers of not reading the label on patent medicine:
"We think ourselves heirs to the wisdom of the ages, without stopping to consider that we're heirs to the foolishness, also. We're gulled by the printed lie about Doan's Kidney Pills, just as our fathers were by the cart-tail oratory of the itinerant quack who sold the 'Wonderful Indian Secrets of Life' at one dollar per bottle," [said the doctor].
"Well, I hesitate to admit it," said Mrs. Clyde, with a little laugh, "but! We always have a few of the old remedies about."
"Suppose you name some of them over," suggested the druggist.
"Usually I keep some One-Night Cough Cure in the house. That's harmless, isn't it?" The druggist glanced at Dr. Strong, and they both grinned.
"It might be harmless," said the druggist mildly, "if it didn't contain both morphine and hasheesh."
"Goodness!" said Mrs. Clyde, hor- rifled. "How could one suppose-"
"By reading the label carefully," interjected Dr. Strong.
Because contemporaneous records attest to both the existence of this product and the specific ingredients included, we rate the claim as "True."
Sources"17 Gross Sold in 6 Days!" Newspapers.Com, 21 Jan. 1893, https://www.Newspapers.Com/article/the-indianapolis-journal-17-gross-sold-i/124914632/.
Delicious-Let8429. "Ingredients of One Night Cough Syrup Manufactured in Late 1800s." R/Interestingasfuck, 17 May 2023, www.Reddit.Com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/13jnhaf/ingredients_of_one_night_cough_syrup_manufactured/.
Four (4) Booklets Advertising Patent Medicines by Kohler Manufacturing Co. Kohler Manufacturing Co, 1890. Biblio.Com, https://www.Biblio.Com/book/four-4-booklets-advertising-patent-medicines/d/1476876522.
Institution, Smithsonian. "History." Smithsonian Institution, https://www.Si.Edu/spotlight/balm-of-america-patent-medicine-collection/history. Accessed 18 May 2023.
Kebler, Lyman Frederic. Habit-Forming Agents: Their Indiscriminate Sale and Use a Menace to the Public Welfare. U.S. Government Printing Office, 1910.
"The Citizen 05 Nov 1914, Page 2." Newspapers.Com, https://www.Newspapers.Com/image/70918873/. Accessed 18 May 2023.
WHO Issues Warning On Lethal Cough Syrup
Tuesday, January 24th 2023 - 18:19 UTCFull article
The contaminated products have been authorized to enter other markets, although "they are not expected to be on sale," WHO Spokeswoman Margaret Harris said. The World Health Organization Tuesday issued a warning against a deadly cough syrup that has already killed some 300 children in 7 countries.
The contaminated medicine was said to contain high levels of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which are toxic for human consumption.
After Indonesia, Gambia, and Uzbekistan reported the deaths of 300 people, mostly children, the WHO added the Philippines, East Timor, Senegal, and Cambodia to the list. The presence of contaminated medication has not yet been confirmed but the global agency mentioned potential risks while calling for local sanitary authorities to ban the use of certain syrups.
The contaminated products are known to have been authorized to be introduced in other markets, although "they are not expected to be on sale," WHO Spokeswoman Margaret Harris told EFE.
Diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol are chemicals commonly used as industrial solvents and antifreeze agents that can be lethal even when ingested in small amounts, making them unfit for pharmaceutical use.
Given the proliferation of cases, WHO launched an appeal for the international community to increase its efforts to detect and recall contaminated products. WHO has issued three alerts on contaminated syrups in the past: First in October when they were found in Gambia (where they are believed to have caused at least 70 deaths), the following month for Indonesia (with some 200 deaths), and this month it was the turn of Uzbekistan, where at least 21 deaths have been reported.
What To Know About OTC Vs. Prescription Cough Medicine
Cough medications are available in over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription formulas. They may help suppress the urge to cough or break up mucus in the case of productive coughing. However, evidence to support their efficacy is limited.
Cough medication is a commonly available item at pharmacies. The active ingredients in cough medications may be included in multi-drug formulas, such as cold and flu medications, or as independent cough medications. Formulas are available for both children and adults.
It is important to note that different types of cough medication may interact with other medications and may not be safe for everyone, such as people who are pregnant. Some people may also misuse cough medication and take it for recreational purposes or in ways that differ from the product instructions.
This article reviews the different types of OTC and prescription cough medications available in the United States, the possible side effects of taking cough medications, and when to see a doctor.
There are two main types of OTC cough medications available from the pharmacy. They include antitussives and expectorants.
Other medication types, such as antihistamines and vapor rubs, may also help relieve a cough.
Learn about some natural cough remedies here.
AntitussivesAntitussives are a common cough medication that may be available for adults and children. They come in a variety of doses and oral formulas.
One of the most common compounds in brand and store own-brand antitussive medications is dextromethorphan. Experts speculate it works by suppressing the central nervous system's cough receptors, which interferes with the cough reflex to prevent a person from coughing.
Dextromethorphan may interact with other medications, and it can cause a range of effects at high doses, such as euphoria, which means it has the potential for misuse.
It is also important to note that researchers indicate that there is little evidence to support the efficacy of most antitussive medications.
Learn more about drug interactions.
ExpectorantsPeople may use OTC expectorants to help relieve a wet cough, or a cough that produces mucus. Expectorant medications help to break up and clear mucus from the airways.
Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved an expectorant medication called guaifenesin for OTC use. Researchers suggest it may work by helping to hydrate and thin the mucus, making it less sticky and easier to cough up.
Some studies involving guaifenesin in acute upper respiratory infections or stable chronic bronchitis suggest it has a favorable safety profile and can be effective. However, more research is necessary to prove its efficacy.
Learn more about phlegm and how it appears.
Other medicationsResearchers suggest that antihistamines may have antitussive effects, particularly if the cough is due to an itching throat from allergies. However, limited evidence supports their use as a cough treatment.
Vapor rubs are another type of medication that people may use to help relieve a cough. These topical medications may contain a variety of ingredients, such as:
However, there is limited evidence to support the efficacy of vapor rubs.
Learn about whether putting Vicks on the feet works for cold symptoms.
Similar to OTC medications, prescription cough medications come in two main forms, including antitussives and expectorants.
AntitussivesPrescription antitussives may include certain opiates. These medications work similarly to dextromethorphan by suppressing the cough reflex. Some examples include:
These medications may be effective at preventing coughing at lower doses than a person would need for pain relief. However, the FDA does not recommend them for teens and children. Opiates also have a high potential for misuse.
Another type of prescription antitussive medication is promethazine. It works by suppressing histamine receptors in the nervous system. Research to support its efficacy is limited, and it has a high potential for misuse, particularly among young adults and adolescents.
Finally, benzonatate is another form of prescription antitussive. Researchers suggest that this medication may work to suppress coughing by inhibiting pulmonary stretch receptors, which help to detect and respond to excessive stretching of the lungs during large inspirations (when the lungs take in air).
It is important to note that there is limited evidence to support the efficacy of benzonatate. In 2010, the FDA released a safety announcement that warned about the risk of death from accidental ingestion of benzonatate in children under 10 years old. The warning still applies.
ExpectorantsPrescription expectorants may include medications that contain higher doses of guaifenesin than in OTC formulas. They work in the same way as OTC expectorants.
Learn about codeine withdrawal.
Cough medications can cause side effects. They may not be appropriate for some groups of people, including younger children and people who are pregnant.
According to a 2021 study, some possible side effects of dextromethorphan in children include:
A person should speak with a healthcare professional about potential side effects and drug interactions of any medications before taking them.
Learn more about using cough medications safely.
Potential for misuseSome OTC and prescription cough medications have the potential for misuse, as they contain higher dosages of active ingredients than healthcare professionals recommend.
For example, people may misuse dextromethorphan because it can cause hallucinations at high doses, similar to ketamine and PCP. Misusing dextromethorphan may lead to a range of adverse health effects, including the risk of overdose and addiction.
A person should only take cough medications as instructed by a healthcare professional. People who misuse cough medications like dextromethorphan should contact a doctor who can offer advice and support to help prevent overdose and addiction.
Learn about tripping on dextromethorphan.
A person may not need to see a doctor or take any medication if their cough is due to a cold and goes away within a few days.
However, according to a 2021 study investigating the use of antitussive medications in children, due to the possibility of potentially serious side effects, a person should talk with a doctor before taking any cough medications. Particularly if they:
A person should consider speaking with a doctor if their cough does not go away within a few weeks.
Learn when to see a doctor about a cough.
There are two main types of OTC and prescription cough medications. One suppresses the cough (antitussives), while the other (expectorants) helps break up mucus, making it easier to cough up.
Research suggests that there is little evidence to support the efficacy of cough medications. They may also cause side effects, and some cough medications have the potential for misuse. People should speak with a healthcare professional before they take any cough medications.
A person should also speak with a doctor if they have a cough that does not go away within a few weeks.
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