what is Thalidomide?

Answer 1

A sedative they were still giving pregnant women in the 1960s that they later realized caused birth defects like flippers instead of hands. It's now used in the treatment of leprosy.

Here's wiki:

Thalidomide is a sedative, hypnotic, and anti-inflammatory medication. It was sold from 1957 to 1961 in almost fifty countries under at least forty names, including Distaval, Talimol, Nibrol, Sedimide, Quietoplex, Contergan, Neurosedyn, and Softenon. Thalidomide was chiefly sold and prescribed during the late 1950s and 1960s to pregnant women, as an antiemetic to combat morning sickness and as an aid to help them sleep. Unfortunately, inadequate tests were performed to assess the drug's safety, with catastrophic results for the children of women who had taken thalidomide during their pregnancies.

From 1956 to 1962, approximately 10,000 children were born with severe malformities, including phocomelia (flipper like hands), because their mothers had taken thalidomide during pregnancy.[1]

Answer 2

Back in the late 1950's and early 1960's Thalidomide was approved in Europe as a pill to treat morning sickness in pregnant women. The US FDA was conservative and did not approve the drug. In the course of about six years, 10,000 children were born with deformities. It was pulled off the market, but researchers still investigated the product. Patients with leprosy were found to benefit from the product and it received FDA approval in 1998 for this indication. It was found to have some efficacy in treating Multiple Myeloma in 1999 and in 2006 received FDA approval for this indication. Celegene markets the product as Thalomid.

Answer 3

What Is Thalidomide

Answer 4

was once used to control morning sickness in preganat omen and led to some serious birth defects ( really bad. tiny arms, arms from weird spots on body, missing parts etc) Now its used for a few things, most recently in cancer patients and as a antiinflamatory, although women who take it must not become preganant. Most doctors will make a woman take 2 forms of birth control and be on it for a while before giving thalidomide. Its bad stuff for preganat women....

Answer 5

It is a cancer drug. Its suppose to work really well on people with Multiple Myeloma. My dad has it and takes Thalidomide.

Answer 6

It was marketed in the U.S. in the 1950's and early 1960's..
It used as a sleeping pill, also to treat morning sickness during pregnancy. It was removed because of the severe
deformities he did to babies before birth.
In the U.S. it has been approved to treat the painful disfiguring sores associated with leprosy and to prevent/control the return of these skin sores.
It is also known to treat patients with aids and cancer.

Answer 7

A crystalline, slightly water-soluble solid, C13H10N2O4, formerly used as a sedative: if taken during pregnancy, it may cause severe abnormalities in the limbs of the fetus.

A sedative and hypnotic drug, C13H10N2O4, withdrawn from general use after it was found to cause severe birth defects when taken during pregnancy. It is sometimes prescribed to treat leprosy.

Answer 8

It is a sedative that was prescribed in the 60's, especially to pregnant women to combat morning sickness and had some very unfortunate side-effects including birth defects. check the source cited for more information.