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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 3 to 27 of 40. Go back in thread:
Posted by Larry Hoover on November 27, 2004, at 16:32:51
In reply to What were the standard anxiety meds in the 1940's?, posted by mmcconathy on November 27, 2004, at 14:57:39
> I thought about that, and they didnt have benzo's.
>
> I think it was just chloral hydrate, and barbiturates.
>
> They definently were used alot during WW2 for anxious house wives hoping there husbands would come back alive.
>
> This is proably forgotten historical knowladge.A martini. Or two.
Posted by linkadge on November 27, 2004, at 16:37:35
In reply to Re: What were the standard anxiety meds in the 1940's?, posted by Larry Hoover on November 27, 2004, at 16:32:51
Miltown was a biggie.
Linkadge
Posted by mmcconathy on November 27, 2004, at 17:28:29
In reply to Re: What were the standard anxiety meds in the 1940's?, posted by linkadge on November 27, 2004, at 16:37:35
Marketed in 1955.
Were talking before all the modern tranquilizers.
No sweat
Posted by linkadge on November 27, 2004, at 17:43:44
In reply to Re: Miltown came out in the 50's » linkadge, posted by mmcconathy on November 27, 2004, at 17:28:29
Posted by Bob on November 27, 2004, at 17:55:20
In reply to What were the standard anxiety meds in the 1940's?, posted by mmcconathy on November 27, 2004, at 14:57:39
It's scary to think that so recently people with mental illness had almost no help whatsoever. It's only been a few decades since alternatives have surfaced. Mental illness without any meds must have been a swift and sure descent into terror and dysfunctionality. What's even more amazing is how human suffering just recedes into oblivion and is forgotten.
Posted by sl;inky on November 28, 2004, at 11:37:01
In reply to What were the standard anxiety meds in the 1940's?, posted by mmcconathy on November 27, 2004, at 14:57:39
My late grandmother had electric shock treatments..didn't do her any good.
Posted by mmcconathy on November 28, 2004, at 12:51:49
In reply to Re: What were the standard anxiety meds in the 1940's?, posted by sl;inky on November 28, 2004, at 11:37:01
Hysteria and Nuerosis i belive were considered back then to what we today call "anxiety".
Luminal (phenobarbital) was maybe a main choice medication, since it didnt have hypnotic properties like the rest. Amytal (amobarbital) may have been used too.
I was just wondering how they coped with it. Especially during WWII, worried mothers and wives.
Anyways, i dont know why shock treatment was even a idea.
Posted by ed_uk on November 28, 2004, at 13:05:02
In reply to Re: Back then anxiety was classified as nuerosis, posted by mmcconathy on November 28, 2004, at 12:51:49
Hi,
In the past, phenobarbital was used as a treatment for anxiety/neurosis and also for insomnia. Like other barbiturates, phenobarbital is very sedating. If you look in old psychiatry textbooks, it is often stated that low doses of barbiturates can be prescribed for anxiety (often in three divided doses per day). A single (high) dose at night was used for insomnia.
Ed.
Posted by jasmineneroli on November 28, 2004, at 13:16:35
In reply to Re: Phenobarbital, posted by ed_uk on November 28, 2004, at 13:05:02
If you read any Victorian era novels, you will notice that Laudanum (sp.?) was often given for "hysteria".(a.k.a panic or anxiety attacks).
Women would carry it in their purses (liquid, in a vial) and put drops on to a handkerchief, then put the hankie to the nose and inhale!!
I believe Laudanum to be an opioid, not sure.
They also took "salts", for the same purpose. Don't know what that refers to......anyone know?
Very interesting topic.
Jas
Posted by ed_uk on November 28, 2004, at 13:37:22
In reply to Laudanum, Salts- Ed_UK????, posted by jasmineneroli on November 28, 2004, at 13:16:35
Hi Jas,
Laudanum was the name given to tinctures of opium. The main active ingredients were morphine, codeine and alcohol.
Smelling salts consisted of salts of ammonium. They had a very pungent smell and were used to 'revive' a lady who had fainted.
Early treatments for anxiety...
alcohol
opium
The bromides... used in vast quantities before the introduction of the barbiturates
Hyoscine (still used to prevent motion sickness)
chloral hydrate (from the 1800s)
Barbiturates.. the first was barbitone (Veronal)... so named because Verona was said to be a peaceful town.
Meprobamate (Equanil/Miltown) from the 1950s.
Ed.
Posted by mmcconathy on November 28, 2004, at 13:44:05
In reply to Re: 'Remedies' for neurosis, posted by ed_uk on November 28, 2004, at 13:37:22
Yes.... good sourses, i should of put those on there.
But still i think the main nuerosis treatment where barbiturates, in the 40's. Opiates i belive by that time where not in favor of doctors becuase of the vast epidemic during the 1910's, afther the Narcotics Act of 1914, where barbiturates were used to calm opiate withdrawl.
but good info.
Posted by ed_uk on November 28, 2004, at 13:53:15
In reply to Re: 'Remedies' for neurosis, posted by mmcconathy on November 28, 2004, at 13:44:05
Hi,
You misunderstood what I wrote.....Yes, barbiturates were used in the 1940s. I wasn't saying that opium was used for anxiety in the 1940s, I was just saying that it has been used as a treatment for anxiety in the past, as have the other drugs that I listed. Perhaps I wasn't very clear.
All the best...
Ed.
Posted by ed_uk on November 28, 2004, at 13:59:02
In reply to Laudanum, Salts- Ed_UK????, posted by jasmineneroli on November 28, 2004, at 13:16:35
One of the oldest treatments for anxiety and insomnia was to be given a bromide drug. (Much *earlier* than the 1940s!!!!!!!!!)
Examples of bromide drugs include: acecarbromal, bromisoval, potassium bromide and carbromal. Long term use could cause a severe rash. These drugs are very rarely used today in human medicine. Potassium bromide, however, is very occasionally used to treat severe intractable epilepsy. It is necessary to monitor the serum bromide concentration to reduce the risk of accumulation and toxicity.
Ed.
Posted by Slinky on November 28, 2004, at 14:42:26
In reply to Re: Back then anxiety was classified as nuerosis, posted by mmcconathy on November 28, 2004, at 12:51:49
Oh..I'm sorry..I'm severely brain dead ..I saw the title as depression not anxiety..
Blimey : )
Posted by mmcconathy on November 28, 2004, at 15:23:40
In reply to Re: Back then anxiety was classified as nuerosis, posted by Slinky on November 28, 2004, at 14:42:26
That's ok, i actually do want to talk about what they used for depression back then.
I think it was just Shock therapy and Dexedrine and Benzedrine.
Posted by ed_uk on November 28, 2004, at 15:37:53
In reply to Re: Slinky, posted by mmcconathy on November 28, 2004, at 15:23:40
Amphetamines were widely prescribed for depression before the tricyclics and MAOIs were introduced. It was claimed that the new ADs were 'specific' for the treatment of depression whereas the stimulants were not. My opinion is that none of our current drugs are really 'specific' for depression.
Pills containing combinations of amphetamines and barbiturates were popular eg. Dexamyl- amobarbital+dextroamphetamine.
Ed.
Posted by linkadge on November 28, 2004, at 16:52:02
In reply to Re: The earliest anti-depressants, posted by ed_uk on November 28, 2004, at 15:37:53
The stimulant sedative combinations would've been particularly addictive. There would probably be a synergy effect of dopamine in the neucleus accumbens.
Linkadge
Posted by denise1904 on November 28, 2004, at 16:54:41
In reply to Re: Back then anxiety was classified as nuerosis, posted by Slinky on November 28, 2004, at 14:42:26
I often think I'm so lucky that I wastn't born in the early 20th century, I don't think I would have lived this long. I dread to think of how much some people must have suffered.
I always hope opium helped people in the early 20th Century, I can't bear to think of people feeling the way I have felt with nothing to give them any release.
Denise
Posted by ed_uk on November 28, 2004, at 17:08:53
In reply to Re: The earliest anti-depressants, posted by linkadge on November 28, 2004, at 16:52:02
Have you seen the advert for Dexamyl from the 1960s. It's quite amusing. I found it in the 'American Gallery of Psychiatric Art'.
Ed.
PS. Dexamyl certainly had a high abuse potential!
Posted by paulbwell on November 28, 2004, at 19:13:26
In reply to Re: The earliest anti-depressants, posted by ed_uk on November 28, 2004, at 17:08:53
> Have you seen the advert for Dexamyl from the 1960s. It's quite amusing. I found it in the 'American Gallery of Psychiatric Art'.
>
> Ed.
>
> PS. Dexamyl certainly had a high abuse potential!Not as high as this one
DESBUTAL=Methamphetamine (Desoxyn)15mgs+ Pentobabital (Numbutal)50mgs combined!
People would seperate these two, and use at different times.-A fav of ELVIS during the 60's
Discontinued due to large 'Non-Medical use' HA!!
These combos were known as 'Goofballs'
Posted by mmcconathy on November 28, 2004, at 19:15:20
In reply to Re: The earliest anti-depressants, posted by ed_uk on November 28, 2004, at 17:08:53
yes they were implified it made her very happy vacumming.
Why would it have abuse potential? the sedative should of numbed the euphoria.
Posted by mmcconathy on November 28, 2004, at 19:19:22
In reply to Re: DEXAMYL--DESBUTAL, posted by paulbwell on November 28, 2004, at 19:13:26
when combined with a sedative, that should of pullled back some dopmaine, reducing the euphoria, or leveling the effect, i thought that was the main reason of there creation.
What where they prescribed for anyways?
Posted by ed_uk on November 28, 2004, at 19:49:52
In reply to Re: DEXAMYL--DESBUTAL why where they abused?, posted by mmcconathy on November 28, 2004, at 19:19:22
They were certainly euphoric..... people were even happy when they were vacuuming!!!
They were used for depression and obesity amongst other things. The barbiturate was present to reduce anxiety while the stimulant was intended to elevate mood (or decrease appetite). Remember, some people find short-acting barbiturates euphoric on their own!
Ed.
Posted by paulbwell on November 28, 2004, at 19:59:29
In reply to Re: DEXAMYL--DESBUTAL why where they abused?, posted by mmcconathy on November 28, 2004, at 19:19:22
> when combined with a sedative, that should of pullled back some dopmaine, reducing the euphoria, or leveling the effect, i thought that was the main reason of there creation.
>
> What where they prescribed for anyways?Stim-Barb combos were used extensively during the 1950's-60's for weight loss, depression, fatigue.
The idea was to use the Neuro-stimulating effects of The Amphetamine to do the main job of treating the above ills, and the sedative to prevent-minimise overstimulation.
Following the Controlled Substances Act- of 1970, Amphetamine use dropped 80-90% due to fear being placed into Docs, who prescribed Amphetamines, as all use except, Narcolepsy, Morbid Obesity, and probably sever, treatment-resistant Depression was tolerated.
Goofballs were ceased to be maunfactured around this time too.
Cheers
Posted by ed_uk on November 28, 2004, at 20:07:08
In reply to Re: DEXAMYL--DESBUTAL why where they abused?, posted by paulbwell on November 28, 2004, at 19:59:29
Does anyone know of any other stim-barb combinations which were formerly used in medicine?
Ed
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