top of page

Day 10 of Our 31 Day Series of How Medicine Got It Wrong

Staff Writer

The "Safe and Effective" History of Thalidomide and the Thalidomide Babies

Thalidomide is a medication that was originally developed in the late 1950s by the German pharmaceutical company Chemie Grünenthal GmbH. It was marketed as a sedative and hypnotic drug and was prescribed to treat insomnia, anxiety, and morning sickness in pregnant women.


Initially, thalidomide was seen as a miracle drug, as it was effective in treating a range of conditions and had few side effects. However, in the early 1960s, reports began to emerge of babies being born with severe birth defects, such as limb abnormalities, deafness, blindness, and heart defects. It was soon discovered that these birth defects were directly linked to the use of thalidomide during pregnancy.


The exact mechanism by which thalidomide causes birth defects are not completely understood, but it is believed to be related to its ability to interfere with the development of blood vessels and other structures in the developing embryo.


The discovery of the link between thalidomide and birth defects led to a worldwide scandal, and the drug was pulled from the market in many countries. In the United States, the FDA never approved thalidomide for sale, in large part because of the efforts of Frances Oldham Kelsey, an FDA reviewer who refused to approve the drug due to insufficient evidence of its safety.


In the years since the thalidomide scandal, efforts have been made to provide compensation and support to the thousands of people who were affected by the drug. Thalidomide has also been rediscovered as a treatment for certain types of cancer and inflammatory diseases, but its use is heavily regulated to prevent a recurrence of the birth defects that were seen in the 1960s.


Watch the Video On One of Our Channels


References

1,137 views0 comments

Comments


Copy of AFLN Telegram Advocate Network 1200 x 1200.png

AMERICAN FRONTLINE NURSES

PO Box 2187 Elko, Nevada 89803

American Frontline Nurses is a Nevada nonprofit corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Identification Number (EIN): 87-4046139

501c3.jpg
download (2).png
2024-top-rated-awards-badge-embed.png

Disclaimer: This website does not provide medical advice.

This information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this website for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new healthcare regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

Total Site Visitors

Since May 2023

© 2025

by American Frontline Nurses

bottom of page