Paregoric
Paregoric, or camphorated tincture of opium, also known as tinctura opii camphorata, is a traditional patent medicine known for its antidiarrheal, antitussive, and analgesic properties.
According to Goodman and Gilman's 1965 edition, "Paregoric is a 4% opium tincture in which there is also benzoic acid, camphor, and anise oil.
[3]In the very early 18th century, Jakob Le Mort (1650–1718),[4] a professor of chemistry at Leiden University, prepared an elixir for asthma and called it "paregoric".
A formula for paregoric from Dr. Chase's Recipes (1865):[7] Best opium 1/2 dr., dissolve it in about 2 tablespoons of boiling water; then add benzoic acid 1/2 dr.; oil of anise 1/2 a fluid dr.; clarified honey 1 oz.
Dose – For children, 5 to 20 drops, adults, 1 to 2 tea-spoons.The Medical Companion, Or Family Physician, a book from 1827, gave the following recipe: Paregoric Elixir – Take of purified opium, flowers of Benzoin, camphor, and essential oil of annis-seed, each, two drachms; brandy, two pints.
[8]During the twentieth century its use declined as governments regulated its ingredients (opium is a controlled substance in many countries).
[9] The early twentieth century brought increased regulation of all manner of narcotics, including paregoric, as the addictive properties of opium became more widely understood, and "patent medicines came under fire largely because of their mysterious compositions".
[11] In 1906 in Britain and in 1908 in Canada "laws requiring disclosure of ingredients and limitation of narcotic content were instituted".
[10] In the United States, the Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914[12] regulated "opium or coca leaves, or any compound, manufacture, salt, derivative or preparation thereof", but not some medical products containing relatively low concentrations of these substances.
[13] Paregoric was classified as an "Exempt Narcotic", as were other medical products containing small amounts of opium or their derivatives.
[14] Until 1970, paregoric could be purchased in the United States at a pharmacy without a medical prescription, in accordance with federal law.
"[5] Even where legally permissible by law, OTC sale of paregoric was subject to the discretion of individual pharmacists.
For example, one formula for "Camphorated Tincture of Opium (Paregoric Elixir)" attributed to the United States Pharmacoepia of 1863 is: "Macerate 1 drachm each powdered opium and benzoic acid, 1 fluid drachm of anise, 2 ounces clarified honey, and 2 scruples camphor, in 2 pints diluted alcohol for 7 days, and filter through paper.
[citation needed] However, Paregoric was characterized as "a needlessly complex pharmacopeial mixture... of a former day" by a 1966 study.
