Title
Super Anahist Tablets
Author
Manufacturer: Warner-Lambert Products Division, Morris Plains, New Jersey
Image
Description
This vintage pharmaceutical set includes both the original glass bottle and cardboard box for Super Anahist Tablets, marketed for symptomatic relief of colds, sinus congestion, and hay fever. The packaging advertises “with decongestant action” in bold red starbursts—a typical mid-century marketing tactic. The product was manufactured by Warner-Lambert, a major player in 20th-century pharmaceuticals later absorbed by Pfizer.
The “new improved formula” boasted a potent combination:
Thonzylamine HCl – antihistamine
Phenyltoloxamine citrate
Phenylpropanolamine HCl – decongestant (now restricted)
Aspirin
Phenacetin – pain reliever, later withdrawn due to kidney toxicity
Caffeine and Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
Dosage instructions caution against operating machinery and advise those with heart disease, thyroid disorders, high blood pressure, or diabetes to consult a physician.
Condition
Box: Structurally intact but exhibits edge wear, mild soiling, and surface scuffing to the front label.
Bottle: Clear glass with full label and original screw-cap. Some discoloration inside the bottle, likely due to age-related tablet degradation.
Gallery
Historical context
Warner-Lambert was known for its aggressive marketing and innovative formulas. Products like Anahist reflect a time before the FDA required full clinical testing for drug combinations. The inclusion of phenacetin and phenylpropanolamine places this product within a now-defunct class of over-the-counter remedies, phased out for safety reasons.
Phenacetin was pulled from the U.S. market in the 1980s due to its link with kidney damage and cancer. Phenylpropanolamine, once common in decongestants and diet aids, was pulled after being linked to increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke in young women.
Curious Facts, Ephemera, and Trivia
he $1.79 price for 40 tablets would be about $18–$20 today, adjusted for inflation.
The product includes three different sympathomimetics or sedative compounds—a cocktail nearly unthinkable by modern standards.
Warner-Lambert’s merger history eventually led it to become part of Pfizer, making this bottle a distant ancestor to today’s industry giant’s OTC lines.
Excerpt
“New improved formula for symptomatic relief of colds, sinus congestion, hay fever.”
Each tablet contains:
Thonzylamine HCl 6.25 mg
Phenyltoloxamine Citrate 6.25 mg
Phenylpropanolamine HCl 12.5 mg
Aspirin
Phenacetin 1½ gr.
Caffeine
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
U.S. Pat. 2,465,865
Why it is in the Cabinet
This entry showcases how mid-century “cure-all” cold tablets often walked the line between medication and chemical overkill. It serves as a cautionary relic of the polypharmacy era and reminds us just how far drug safety regulations have come.
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