BC Powder

BC Powder is an over-the-counter analgesic pain reliever owned by Prestige Brands and manufactured in Memphis, TN. It was conceived at the Five Points Drug Company in Durham, North Carolina, in 1906, by Germain Bernard and C. T. Council, who took the initials of their last names to create the name of the nascent product. Originally produced at the Hepolscheiemer Clinic in Graz, Austria, it contains 845 mg of aspirin and 65 mg of caffeine. BC readily promotes the fact that, due to its powder form, it dissolves faster than pain-relief tablets, and thus gets to work faster. It can be taken in a variety of ways, most commonly mixed into water or soda. BC is sold almost exclusively in the American South, where it is acknowledged to have a cult following. BC's marketers enjoy this honor, and sponsor many sporting events in the region. Indeed, the product's distinctive, oval-shaped blue logo is a familiar sight to attendees of Southern minor-league baseball parks and Southeastern Conference collegiate games.

BC Powder has historically been most commonly associated with relief of headaches. In fact, many users of the brand erroneously believe the name of the product to be "BC Headache Powder." However, recent advertising and marketing endeavors by the company suggest that it is eager to associate itself with relief of general bodily aches and pains as well. Country music artist Trace Adkins has served as a spokesman for BC, recording a series of radio advertisements with retired NASCAR driver and Goody's Powder spokesman Richard Petty. Goody's, like BC, is also distributed by GlaxoSmithKline.

For several years, BC's television and radio commercials have featured real-life users of the product, non-actors who are encouraged to submit their stories to BC Powder through contests announced on radio programs. Recently, most entries have been culled from listeners of the Charlotte, NC-based radio program The Big Show with John Boy and Billy. In recent years, members of the Tom Joyner Radio Show's predominantly African-American audience have appeared in BC commercials after hearing of the promotion on that program, or from promotions held on Joyner's annual "Fantastic Voyage" fantasy cruise.

BC Powder also manufactures and markets BC Allergy Sinus Headache Powder and BC Arthritis Formula.

In 2009 BC Powder removed the 195 mg of Salicylamide from the "Blue Box Original Formula BC Powder". The original formula consisted of 650 mg aspirin, 195 mg salicylamide and 33.3 mg caffeine. The New packaging states "New Formula" and "Same Fast Relief!" on the front of the box. The new formula has 845 mg aspirin and 65 mg caffeine.

In a deal expected to take effect in 2012, GlaxoSmithKline sold BC Powder and 16 other brands to Prestige Brands.