Nervine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nervine was a patent medicine tonic with sedative effects introduced in 1884 by Dr. Miles Medical Company (later Miles Laboratories which was absorbed into Bayer).[1][2][3] The name is a cognate of 'Nerve', and the implication was that the material worked to calm nervousness.
The original form of Nervine was in a liquid form containing bromide, sold in a glass bottle with the label "Dr. Miles' Restorative Nervine". Later versions of Nervine replaced the bromide, which is dangerous if consumed in high quantities, with an antihistamine.[3] This was because in 1976, the FDA had removed bromides from over-the-counter medications.[4]
One form of Nervine was formulated with the primary active ingredients sodium bromide, ammonium bromide, and potassium bromide, combined with sodium bicarbonate and citric acid in an effervescent tablet.[4]