Thalidomide Sedative: A Short History

Thalidomide was first licensed in July 1956, intended as sedative, treats many conditions. Initially it was considered safe for pregnant women. Caused significant developmental issues in babies. 1961: withdrawn after a major scandal. Thalidomide was greatly affected drug testing and approval.

Birth defects if taken during pregnancy

• Can also be transmitted by semen.
• Defects include amelia, phocomelia, facial palsy.
• absense of bones, and heart defects.
• Thromboembolism in combination with other drugs.
• Temporary or permanent nerve damage.

Side effects similar to other tranquilizers

• Neurological: Somnolence, fatigue, weakness, mood alteration.
• Neurological: mild tremors, ataxia, anxiety and confusion.
• Gastrologic complications: constipation to toxic megacolon.
• Cardiovascular: hypertension, bradycardia, and peripheral edema.
• Hematologic: neutropenia, hypochromic anemia, splenomegaly, thrombocytopenia.
• Used to treat leprosy and cancer.

Hypotheses for the mechanism for teratogenicity

• Anti-angiogenesis and oxidative stress models.
• Hypotheses for immunomodularity and anti-inflammatory effects.
• Modulation of tumor necrosis factor alpha.
• Suppression of macrophage involvement of prostaglandin synthesis.

References

Ghobrial, I. M., & Rajkumar, S. V. (2003). Management of thalidomide toxicity. The Journal of Supportive Oncology, 1(3), 194-205.

Ito, T., & Handa, H. (2012). Deciphering the mystery of thalidomide teratogenicity. Congenital Anomalies, 52(1), 1-7.

National Center for Biotechnology Information (2021). PubChem Annotation Record for THALIDOMIDE.

Science Museum (2019). Thalidomide.