Some drugs have the power to change the way we live.  All of the drugs on this list had a immense impact on the evolution of medicine and the evolution of mankind.

1. Penicillin

Penicillin has been dubbed the “miracle drug” because of its ability to cure people from once fatal bacterial infections. The drug uses antibiotics to kill or stop the growth of germs.   World War II accelerated the urgency of Penicillin’s development and the demand for mass quantities of the drug.

2. Insulin

Insulin is important to all people, not just those with diabetes. When insulin levels are not balanced in the human body, low blood sugar can cause a number of reactions including headaches, uncontrollable weight gain, and lack of focus. Before the discovery of insulin, diabetes was an even more dangerous condition that could be fatal. Insulin was the first hormone therapy.

3. Smallpox Vaccine

Smallpox is one of the most deadly diseases in the history of mankind. The smallpox vaccine discovery is so significant because it is the only human disease to have been eradicated by vaccine.

4. Ether

First synthesized in 1540, ether came on to the scene as a powerful surgical anesthetic. Ether’s numbing ability allowed for more complex surgical procedures. It paved the way for more modern drugs of its kind.

5. Morphine

Morphine has been used as a painkiller throughout human history. It laid the groundwork for modern pain management.

6. Aspirin

Aspirin is fundamental in the treatment of simple pain. Doctors have recommended the drug for over 100 years since its creation. Aspirin is a drug that directly contributes to improving people’s quality of life.

7. AZT

AZT was developed to prolong the life of patients suffering from the effects of AIDS. AZT is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI). It was the first of its kind when the FDA approved it in 1987.

8. Birth Control Pills

Birth control pills put women in control of their own reproductive systems. The advent of birth control pills changed society by regulating the exponentially increasing human population.

9. Prozac

Prozac was developed as an antidepressant also known by its class, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). Though the effectiveness of Prozac in the treatment of mild to moderate depression is debated, the drug has advanced the study of SSRIs in the treatment of mental health disorders.