# What drugs were found to have totally different uses **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 29, 2013, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drugs-were-found-to-have-totally-different-uses/672506 "2013-10-29T00:07:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drugs-were-found-to-have-totally-different-uses/672506/21 "2013-10-29T05:32:15Z")
Just went and read a piece of the Wiki article about Thalidomide being used for leprosy. One detail I couldn’t make head or tail of, through all the jargon: Does it actually help cure or at least slow down the progress of leprosy? Or does it just provide symptomatic relief to help keep the patient more comfortable? I didn’t quite follow that. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drugs-were-found-to-have-totally-different-uses/672506/22 "2013-10-29T05:43:09Z")
Methadone IIRC was developed to wean addicts away from heroin so they would stop using drugs. ---
**Author:** ![horsetech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dec6dc/32.png) [@horsetech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/horsetech)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drugs-were-found-to-have-totally-different-uses/672506/23 "2013-10-29T08:01:03Z")
Several drugs now used to treat pain - especially chronic and neuropathic pain - were developed for other uses: Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant. Cymbalta (duloxetine) is an antidepressant that now is also labeled for some types of neuropathic pain. Amantadine is an antiviral being investigated for pain (more often used for this in veterinary patients than on the human side). ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drugs-were-found-to-have-totally-different-uses/672506/24 "2013-10-29T09:15:27Z")
Aspartame notoriously was developed as part of an anti-ulcer medication, then one of the researchers got some on his fingers, didn’t notice it and licked them later. Saccharine was discovered pretty much the same way, as part of experiments involving toluene (as in the last T of TNT) derivatives. Both are now just “fake sugar”. [QUOTE=thelurkinghorror] Beta blockers and presumably benzodiazepines are also used by shooters to steady their aim, and thus banned in competition. [/QUOTE] In the same vein, the asthma medication Salbutamol is used as a bronchodilatator by some unscrupulous athletes, notably marathon runners and endurance swimmers. Apparently it lets them get a little more mileage out of every breath of air. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drugs-were-found-to-have-totally-different-uses/672506/25 "2013-10-29T13:08:46Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Ranitidine (Zantac) a stomach pill, can apparently be used for hives. Makes sense; the H2 receptor antagonists block a different sort of histamine receptor than the usual antihistamines (H1 receptor antagonists). > [@horsetech](#): > > Amantadine is an antiviral being investigated for pain (more often used for this in veterinary patients than on the human side). It’s also used as an anti-Parkinsonian drug, although it’s not very clear how it works in this capacity. [http://www.webmd.com/parkinsons-disease/amantadine-for-parkinsons-disease](http://www.webmd.com/parkinsons-disease/amantadine-for-parkinsons-disease) ---
**Author:** ![SpeedwayRyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@SpeedwayRyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpeedwayRyan)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drugs-were-found-to-have-totally-different-uses/672506/26 "2013-10-29T13:56:10Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > Methadone IIRC was developed to wean addicts away from heroin so they would stop using drugs. Nope. It was created because Germany had an opiate shortage and wanted to develop a synthetic opiate they could create without having to seek out raw opium, in order to solve the problem. After the war, the patents went to the Allies, and soon a pair of doctors in NYC (Drs. Dole and Nyswander) began studying it as a maintenance drug for opiate addicts, which is now what it is known best for. Of course, it’s also still used for pain as well. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drugs-were-found-to-have-totally-different-uses/672506/27 "2013-10-29T14:08:35Z")
An amusing example of this is bimatoprost ophthalmic solution. It was originally used to treat glaucoma, when users discovered an interesting side-effect … it makes eyelashes grow. Now it is marketed for that indication as a cosmetic drug, under the brand name Latisse®. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drugs-were-found-to-have-totally-different-uses/672506/28 "2013-10-29T14:22:44Z")
Cholestyramine is labelled as a cholesterol drug. I think most prescriptions for it are for gall bladder removal patients / diarrhea dominant IBS / short bowel syndrome / bile salt diarrhea. They probably noted that the most prominent side effect was constipation. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drugs-were-found-to-have-totally-different-uses/672506/29 "2013-10-29T14:35:30Z")
Aspirin is the first answer to the OP that popped into my mind. First used to treat pain, now used to help prevent myocardial infarctions and as a therapy to relieve some of the effects of a stroke. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drugs-were-found-to-have-totally-different-uses/672506/30 "2013-10-29T15:10:39Z")
Hydroxychloroquine, originally used to treat malaria, also can be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drugs-were-found-to-have-totally-different-uses/672506/31 "2013-10-29T15:54:25Z")
> [@horsetech](#): > > Several drugs now used to treat pain - especially chronic and neuropathic pain - were developed for other uses: > Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant. > Cymbalta (duloxetine) is an antidepressant that now is also labeled for some types of neuropathic pain. > Amantadine is an antiviral being investigated for pain (more often used for this in veterinary patients than on the human side). Amantadine is used for Parkinson’s, too. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drugs-were-found-to-have-totally-different-uses/672506/32 "2013-10-29T18:10:57Z")
> [@SpeedwayRyan](#): > > Nope. It was created because Germany had an opiate shortage and wanted to develop a synthetic opiate they could create without having to seek out raw opium, in order to solve the problem. After the war, the patents went to the Allies, and soon a pair of doctors in NYC (Drs. Dole and Nyswander) began studying it as a maintenance drug for opiate addicts, which is now what it is known best for. Of course, it’s also still used for pain as well. It was invented under the Third Reich and at one time was called dolophine. It is another misconception/urban legend that it might’ve been called adolphine and was named after 'dolf Hitler, though. ---
**Author:** ![Cognoscant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Cognoscant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cognoscant)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drugs-were-found-to-have-totally-different-uses/672506/33 "2013-10-29T18:18:25Z")
Botox (botulism toxin) was used for cosmetic surgery. Then some wonderful doctor whose hand I would like to shake wondered, if botox can paralyze nerves which cause facial wrinkling, maybe it could do something about the misfiring nerves which cause chronic migraine. It worked and I am living proof that it does: at one point I was experiencing over 20 days with migraine a month, and now it’s more like 1 every two months. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drugs-were-found-to-have-totally-different-uses/672506/34 "2013-10-29T18:44:21Z")
> [@Cognoscant](#): > > Botox (botulism toxin) was used for cosmetic surgery. Then some wonderful doctor whose hand I would like to shake wondered, if botox can paralyze nerves which cause facial wrinkling, maybe it could do something about the misfiring nerves which cause chronic migraine. It worked and I am living proof that it does: at one point I was experiencing over 20 days with migraine a month, and now it’s more like 1 every two months. They keep finding new medical uses for Botox. It is also indicated for such things as hyperhydrosis and focal spasticity. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drugs-were-found-to-have-totally-different-uses/672506/35 "2013-10-29T19:04:48Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Lamotrigine (brand:Lamictal) is an anticonvulsant also used for bipolar. > > Guanfacine (Tenex) is antihypertension for anxiety, ADHD… Clonidine, another antihypertensive, is also used for ADHD. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drugs-were-found-to-have-totally-different-uses/672506/36 "2013-10-29T19:08:30Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > Methadone IIRC was developed to wean addicts away from heroin so they would stop using drugs. Heroin itself was previously marketed as a cough suppressant. [File:BayerHeroin.png - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BayerHeroin.png) Nowadays, opiates are still considered effective for cough suppression, but Codeine is typically used as Heroin is too addictive. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drugs-were-found-to-have-totally-different-uses/672506/37 "2013-10-29T19:10:59Z")
I’ve always wanted to start a company licensing drugs that passed FDA Level I trials (basic safety) but failed Level II and III trials (efficacy and dosing) for the disease they were developed to treat to see what other illness they would be good for. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drugs-were-found-to-have-totally-different-uses/672506/38 "2013-10-29T19:27:57Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > Clonidine, another antihypertensive, is also used for ADHD. It is, as well as anxiety. I am told it’s pretty similar to guanfacine. It’s often prescribed as a dermal patch to maintain a constant dose. I find it fascinating that loperamide (Immodium), an antidiarrheal, is an opioid. Not nearly as strong and more selective than morphine, of course. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drugs-were-found-to-have-totally-different-uses/672506/39 "2013-10-29T19:41:08Z")
Marijuana used to be used for making sails and rope. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drugs-were-found-to-have-totally-different-uses/672506/40 "2013-10-29T19:59:39Z")
Hemp isn’t marijuana and you know that. The plant is _Cannabis_ sp. George H.W. Bush couldn’t have licked his parachute to get high. Hemp in olden times would’ve been ditchweed-quality at best. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drugs-were-found-to-have-totally-different-uses/672506.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drugs-were-found-to-have-totally-different-uses/672506.md?page=3)