Paregoric 101185 225415602 2008-07-13T15:51:33Z Kairaiseiken 7446243 /* Literature */ corrected Kōbō link '''Paregoric''', or [[camphor]]ated [[tincture]] of [[opium]], also known as ''tinctura opii camphorata'', is a [[medication]] known for its [[antidiarrheal]], [[antitussive]], and [[analgesic]] properties. It was a household remedy in the 18th and 19th centuries, when it was widely used to calm fretful children. In the 20th century its use declined as governments regulated it. (In the United States, paregoric can still be found in the [[United States Pharmacopeia|pharmacopeia]], but it is a [[Schedule III]] drug under the [[Controlled Substances Act]].) The principal active ingredient is [[morphine]] (0.4 mg/mL) (approximately 2 mg per [[teaspoon]]). Other ingredients are [[benzoic acid]], [[camphor]] and [[anise oil]]. The main effect of this preparation is to increase the muscular tone of the intestine, and also to inhibit normal [[peristalsis]]. Its main medicinal use is to control [[fulminant]] [[diarrhea]]. It is also an [[antitussive]] (cough suppressant). Problems with its use include [[opiate dependency]] and analgesia which can mask symptoms of diseases that need treatment. Paregoric is sometimes confused with [[laudanum]], because their chemical names are similar: camphorated tincture of opium (paregoric) vs. tincture of opium (laudanum). However, laudanum contains 10 milligrams of morphine per milliliter, 25 times more than paregoric. Confusion between the two drugs has led to overdose and deaths in several patients. Thus the term "paregoric" should be used instead of "camphorated opium tincture," since the latter may be confused with laudanum. [[Image:Paregoric.jpeg|right|thumb|Bottle of Paregoric with Synonyms]] ==In popular culture== Paregoric is mentioned in the following works: ===Literature=== *[[Nelson Algren]]'s short story "The Captain Has Bad Dreams" *many works by [[William S. Burroughs]], including ''[[The Yage Letters]]'', ''[[Junky]]'', ''[[Queer]]'' and ''[[Naked Lunch]]''. *[[Robin Cook (novelist)|Robin Cook]]'s ''[[Harmful Intent (novel)|Harmful Intent]]'' (1990) *[[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]]'s ''[[The Adventure of the Three Gables]]'' *[[Richard Fariña]]'s ''[[Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me]]'' *[[James T. Farrell]]'s ''[[Studs Lonigan]]'' *[[William Golding]]'s ''[[Rites of Passage]]'' ([[laudanum]] is also mentioned in the book) *[[Homer Hickham]]'s ''The Coalwood Way'' (the user in the story is ironically named "Poppy") *[[Rick Moody]]'s novel ''[[The Ice Storm]]'' *[[John Steinbeck]]'s ''[[East of Eden]]'' *[[Eudora Welty]]'s short story "June Recital" from ''The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty'' (1980) *[[Kōbō Abe]]'s ''[[The Box Man]]'' *The "anonymous" work ''[[Go Ask Alice]]'' *[[Ken Kesey]]'s ''[[Sometimes a Great Notion (novel)|Sometimes a Great Notion]]'' ===Stage play=== *[[Alice Childress]]'s play ''Wedding Band'' (as the reason for the lover's sudden illness) ===Television=== *''[[Little House on the Prairie]]'', in the episodes "A Matter of Faith" and "To Live with Fear" *''[[M*A*S*H (TV series)|M*A*S*H]]'', in the episodes "The Yalu Brick Road" and briefly in "Sticky Wicket". ===Music=== *''Paregoric'' by Black River Circus: the music video for this song shows vintage photos of smoke pollution in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], and describes the [[antitussive]] effects of the medication ("Paregoric let my lungs breath deep"). {{Opioids}} {{Antidiarrheals, intestinal anti-inflammatory/anti-infective agents}} [[Category:Antidiarrhoeals]] [[Category:Opioids]] [[fr:Élixir parégorique]] [[es:Paregórico]]