Thalidomide

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Thalidomide
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Thalidomide the sleeping pill
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• Thalidomide was first synthesized in West Germany
  in 1953 by Chemie Grünenthal.
• It was hailed as a "wonder drug" that provided a
  "safe, sound sleep".

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• However the drug was also found to cure morning
  sickness in pregnant women

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Nausea vomiting in pregnancy NVP 1st trimester
...(1/3)
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Foetal development -

• The first few weeks are a key period any
  problems now will accumulate in the future

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Nausea vomiting in pregnancy NVP 1st trimester
(1/3)

• When do you think most women would be inclined to
  take this drug?

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Side effects

• unfortunately molecules of the thalidomide
  chemical crossed the placenta and disrupt the
  growth patterns of the growing foetus

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Effect catastrophic deformations of the baby
best seen as limb abnormalities.
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if this was you how would your life be
different?
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Why did this happen?

• Simple - the drug was not trialled or tested for
  this use on pregnant women

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Thalidomide today

• Initially the drug was banned internationally for
  the treatment of morning sickness
• But it has now been reintroduced as a treatment
  for leprosy

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Leprosy bacterial infection of the skin and
nerves endings

• Affects the hands, feet and features of the face.

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Leprosy
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Make key notes on what we have discussed on this
drug

• Initial use
• What it discovered to help
• Side effects of untested use
• What is it now used for

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