Pharm Facts

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Pharmacists were responsible for developing some of the world’s favorite beverages? Pepsi-Cola was developed by Caleb Bradham, a pharmacist from New Bern, North Carolina.

Originally named “Brad’s Drink,” Bradham advertised the soda as “exhilarating, invigorating and aids digestion.” Brad’s Drink was renamed Pepsi-Cola in 1898.

Developed in 1888 by pharmacist John S. Pemberton, Coca-Cola was advertised as an “Esteemed Brain Tonic and Intellectual Beverage. This celebrated cola initially contained caffeine, “secret” ingredients, and cocaine! Dr. Pepper was invented by Texas pharmacist Charles Alderton, and was originally named after Dr. Charles Kenneth Pepper, his prospective father-in-law.

The name Warfarin was derived from WARF (Wisconsin Research Foundation). The drug Byetta (Exenatide) is derived from saliva of the Gila Monster (a species of venomous lizard native to the southwestern U.S. and northwestern Mexican state of Soncra).

Listerine was named after Joseph Lister who promoted using antiseptics at local hospitals.There were no license requirements for pharmacists in the 1800’s, in which pharmacy technicians did not even yet exist.The first pharmacy to open in the year 1241 is located in Trier, Germany. Lowen Apotheke is still open to this day!

In 1752, the first hospital pharmacy opened in Pennslvania at the United States Hospital.

CVS opened its’ first store, selling health and beauty products in 1963 in the state of Massachusetts. Founded by; Stanley & Sidney Goldstein and Ralph Hoagland.

Surgical dressings gauze and cotton did not always exist. Pressed sawdust was commonly used to cover wounds in American hospitals prior to these inventions.

Maine was the first state to found its’ own state association for pharmacy in 1867, called Maine Pharmaceutical Association. Tying knots was an important skill for modern pharmacists to know. Not only was it a neat skill to learn, it was necessary to know several types to be able to tie down caps, tops and corks to the bottles/vials which held the medicine.

In 1855, Edward Parrish authored the first fully American pharmacy textbook. He was also one of the original founders of the AphA (American Pharmaceutical Association) in 1852. * Known as American Pharmacists Association today, which represents more than 62,000 practicing pharmacist, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

Records known as “Papyrus Ebers” are the earliest recordings of pharmaceutical documentation found in Egypt dating back to 1500 B.C. These records showed information on 800 prescriptions and mentioned 700 medications.