# What are some common products that have multiple completely different uses or target consumers? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 12, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-products-that-have-multiple-completely-different-uses-or-target-consumers/546400 "2010-07-12T15:38:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-products-that-have-multiple-completely-different-uses-or-target-consumers/546400/21 "2010-07-12T17:26:08Z")
Hydrogen peroxide. Used in hair bleaching, wound cleaning, as a watering additive for plants, an oxygen supplement for fish, and (industrial) deodorant. Oh, and back massagers, but they’re probably not appropriate for your class. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-products-that-have-multiple-completely-different-uses-or-target-consumers/546400/22 "2010-07-12T17:28:44Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > I’ve heard that needle/surgery tool sterilisation is nothing more than putting them in a specialised pressure cooker though I’m not sure about that. Well, it’s [part of the process](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoclave). Typically, enzymatic cleaning solutions are applied first to ensure there’s no biological matter stuck to them. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-products-that-have-multiple-completely-different-uses-or-target-consumers/546400/23 "2010-07-12T17:54:37Z")
I’m afraid I don’t have any cites, but pharmaceuticals are often prescribed for ‘off label use’. Apparently, some drugs derive the bulk of their revenues for off label use. Let me google it… There, wikipedia has a list: > **[Off-label use](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Off-label_use)** > > Off-label use is the use of pharmaceutical drugs for an unapproved indication or in an unapproved age group, dosage, or route of administration. Both prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs (OTCs) can be used in off-label ways, although most studies of off-label use focus on prescription drugs. > Off-label use is very common and generally legal unless it violates ethical guidelines or safety regulations. The ability to prescribe drugs for uses beyond the officially approved indications is co... Cough syrup is used for drug use. The QB, Jamarcus Russel, just got arrested for possession of cough syrup. I bet laser pointers are sold in office supply stores for presentations and in toy stores as, well, toys. Contact lenses are sold for both vision improvement and for esthetics. I just read a piece about these contacts that make your eyes look bigger. Apparently, Lady Gaga uses them. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-products-that-have-multiple-completely-different-uses-or-target-consumers/546400/24 "2010-07-12T18:00:06Z")
> [@phreesh](#): > > I’m afraid I don’t have any cites, but pharmaceuticals are often prescribed for ‘off label use’. Apparently, some drugs derive the bulk of their revenues for off label use. Let me google it… Viagra’s current main use was originally an off-label use. It was used to treat hypertension, and people noticed that one of the side effects was a very happy Mr.Happy. It didn’t take long for Pfizer to see there was a LOT more profit potential in helping people have sex than in helping people, you know…live. (Although IIRC it was never that _good_ a vasodilator, at least compared to a lot of other drugs out there.) ---
**Author:** ![History\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b19c9b/32.png) [@History\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/History_Geek)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-products-that-have-multiple-completely-different-uses-or-target-consumers/546400/25 "2010-07-12T18:11:15Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > [Bag Balm](http://www.bagbalm.com/index.htm) was formulated for treating dry, cracked udders on milking cows and is also good for soothing dry skin, healing cuts, etc. on all creatures with skin. Sold in both tack stores and drug stores. I was going to mention this product. I’ve used it on fresh tattoos. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-products-that-have-multiple-completely-different-uses-or-target-consumers/546400/26 "2010-07-12T18:19:37Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > The [Wartenberg wheel](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wartenberg_wheel); neurological diagnostic tool, and sex toy. > > I can’t recall what it is/was called, but I recall reading of some kind of hoof toughening treatment for horses that was picked up by women for use on long nails. Actually, that wheel looks somewhat similar to a tracing wheel that’s used in sewing. It’s what I would have guessed, anyway. I use a hair conditioner that was originally developed for horses (Mane’N’Tail). It’s cheap, and it works as well or better than the preparations which are marketed to and for humans. If I could find the shampoo, I’d use it, too, for the same reasons. The next time I go down to Tractor Supply Company I’ll see if they have it in stock. Crazy Glue was first developed for holding surgical wounds together, but now it is marketed for consumer crafts, repairs, and as an adhesive for artificial nails. The fluid absorbing material in modern menstrual pads was originally developed to absorb blood from wounds (mostly battle wounds, at the time), and women thought that having a cheap, absorbent, disposable material was much more attractive than washing old rags. I read a book that was written in the first half of the last century. (Red Threads, Rex Stout, deadly dull) An elemental plot point was that facial tissues were a luxury item to remove makeup, so much so that each customer had “her” own color of tissues. Nowadays, of course, we use them for blowing our noses. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-products-that-have-multiple-completely-different-uses-or-target-consumers/546400/27 "2010-07-12T18:20:06Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > Viagra’s current main use was originally an off-label use. It was used to treat hypertension, and people noticed that one of the side effects was a very happy Mr.Happy. Not quite true. Sildenafil citrate was originally _intended_ to treat angina, but was ineffective in clinical trials. It was never approved for any other use than ED treatment. ---
**Author:** ![brainstall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@brainstall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainstall)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-products-that-have-multiple-completely-different-uses-or-target-consumers/546400/28 "2010-07-12T18:28:33Z")
DMSO - industrial solvent and also has medical uses as an analgesic and as a carrier of other drugs through the skin. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-products-that-have-multiple-completely-different-uses-or-target-consumers/546400/29 "2010-07-12T18:41:19Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Not quite true. Sildenafil citrate was originally _intended_ to treat angina, but was ineffective in clinical trials. It was never approved for any other use than ED treatment. Nitroglycerin is a much more effective vasodilator, but it has the side effect of killing boners. But it’s also great for blowing stuff up. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-products-that-have-multiple-completely-different-uses-or-target-consumers/546400/30 "2010-07-12T18:43:00Z")
How about Q-tips/cotton swabs? I remember one time running out and looking for more at the store—except I didn’t know where to look. The ear aisle? _Is_ there even an ear aisle? I think I finally found some in either the Baby or the Beauty section, which I would normally never think to venture into. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-products-that-have-multiple-completely-different-uses-or-target-consumers/546400.md?page=1)