History of painkillers

For over half a century, the only anti-inflammatory drug available was aspirin. However, this drug caused serious side effects when taken in large doses or for long periods of time. The minor side effects normally experienced with taking aspirin became extremely serious, such as stomach ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding.

Paracetamol was tried as an alternatives, but it did not do anything to relieve the inflammation even though it did offer relief from the pain.

In 1948 the first steroid based drug, cortisone, was discovered and initially it was regarded as a miracle cure until problems with essential salt, sugar and protein metabolism were linked with its use. Safer, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were needed.

After the Second World War a number were discovered. The most common drugs to be discovered were the α – arylpropionic acids. This means that the molecule contains an aryl group (the benzene ring) joined to a carboxylic acid derived from propane.

Ibuprofen was authorized to be sold over-the-counter in the 1980s and has become the most well known of all the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs available. Its use has become very widespread and is, in many cases, used in preference to other painkillers, due to the reduced side effects of ibuprofen.