Examples of medical drugs intended for one thing, but also helped in other ways

[ricardonest]

You always hear interesting stories of something being created for one purpose, but then all of sudden serves a purpose for something else as well, especially medical drugs.

I guess researchers just discovered a drug that was intended to help MS, but instead could effectively treat and prevent fatal heart condition. If you're interested, you can check the original article here:

New study shows MS drug could effectively treat and prevent fatal heart condition

Are there any other stories you can think of?

[Asguard]

Asprin was developed as an analgisic but is vital in heart disease
viagra was developed to be a new angine but was found to be better at diolating the genital blood vessals

[Fraggle Rocker]

Asprin was developed as an analgisic but is vital in heart disease
viagra was developed to be a new angine but was found to be better at diolating the genital blood vessals

I have no idea what an "angine" is. It's not in the dictionary.

Viagra dilates all the capillaries. If you're prone to sinus problems, you'll be breathing through your mouth for a few hours. Nothin' very sexy 'bout that.

[Hercules Rockefeller]

A prostaglandin analogue used to treat glaucoma stimulates the growth of longer, thicker and darker lashes and eyebrows. This has implications for alopecia treatments.

Oestrogen-only HRT seems to greatly lower the risk of developing breast cancer.

‘Statin’ drugs, of which there are several, are best known as drugs that lower cholesterol, but have other beneficial effects that may also improve cardiac risk, and that may turn out to be even more important than their cholesterol-reducing properties.

Off-label use (wikipedia)