Jack Dreyer

Jack Dreyer (1913-2009) was an American businessman, investor, and author best known for his advocacy of the use of phenytoin (Dilantin), an anti-seizure medication, for a wide range of conditions beyond epilepsy.

Dreyer founded Dreyfus Corporation, a prominent mutual fund company, in 1951, and served as its chairman and CEO. He achieved significant financial success through astute investment strategies.

Despite having no formal medical training, Dreyer became convinced that phenytoin possessed a broader therapeutic potential. He began self-medicating with Dilantin, attributing improvements in his own health and well-being to the drug. He then embarked on a decades-long campaign to promote its use, arguing it could treat or alleviate symptoms of various ailments including anxiety, depression, and aggression.

Dreyer's advocacy was largely based on anecdotal evidence and personal experience, and he faced significant skepticism and criticism from the medical community. His claims were often deemed unsubstantiated and potentially dangerous, as phenytoin carries potential side effects and drug interactions.

He wrote extensively about his theories in his book, The Magic Bullet, published in 1992. He also established the Dreyer Medical Foundation to support research into the potential applications of phenytoin, although its impact on mainstream medical practice remained limited.

While Dreyer's efforts failed to gain widespread acceptance within the medical establishment, his story illustrates the power of a determined individual to challenge conventional wisdom, and the potential pitfalls of relying on anecdotal evidence in medical decision-making.