The Naked Scientists
  • Login
  • Register
  • Podcasts
      • The Naked Scientists
      • eLife
      • Naked Genetics
      • Naked Astronomy
      • In short
      • Naked Neuroscience
      • Ask! The Naked Scientists
      • Question of the Week
      • Archive
      • Video
      • SUBSCRIBE to our Podcasts
  • Articles
      • Science News
      • Features
      • Interviews
      • Answers to Science Questions
  • Get Naked
      • Donate
      • Do an Experiment
      • Science Forum
      • Ask a Question
  • About
      • Meet the team
      • Our Sponsors
      • Site Map
      • Contact us

User menu

  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Help
  • Search
  • Tags
  • Member Map
  • Recent Topics
  • Login
  • Register
  1. Naked Science Forum
  2. Life Sciences
  3. Physiology & Medicine
  4. What is thalidomide?
« previous next »
  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Down

What is thalidomide?

  • 7 Replies
  • 5243 Views
  • 0 Tags

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline paulat (OP)

  • New Theorists
  • Jr. Member
  • *
  • 44
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
What is thalidomide?
« on: 22/01/2004 16:00:31 »
Can someone please tell me about thalidomide. I overheard someone talking about it the other day, and vaguely remember it causing serious problems in the past, but just wondered if anyone could enlighten me please?

PT
« Last Edit: 17/05/2013 23:02:06 by chris »
Logged
 
 



Offline bezoar

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 950
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
Re: Thalidomide
« Reply #1 on: 22/01/2004 22:12:46 »
As I remember, it was given as a tranquilizer during pregnancy, and resulted in the children being born with missing or seriously deformed limbs.  I think there was a big shake up with the FDA after that, and the trials became more stringent before a drug could be relased.  And at that, we still had the Phen-Fen problem.  

I read something a while back that Thalidomide has some use in preventing or reducing the neovascularization that tumors promote, thus, it has a use for cancer treatment.
Logged
 

Offline cuso4

  • Angel Delight
  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • 422
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
Re: Thalidomide
« Reply #2 on: 23/01/2004 12:19:42 »
Thalidomide can exist as a pair of enantiomers. The thalidomide synthesised in industry is a mixture of D and L forms. One form (can't remember which one) can treat morning sicknesses in pregnant women. The other caused deformed babies being born (like bezoar said).

Angel

"The people who will succeed are those who see the invisible and do the impossible."
Logged
Angel
 

Offline paulat (OP)

  • New Theorists
  • Jr. Member
  • *
  • 44
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
Re: Thalidomide
« Reply #3 on: 23/01/2004 12:53:35 »
Thanks.

What Phen-Fen by the way ?

P
Logged
 
 

Offline bezoar

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 950
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
Re: Thalidomide
« Reply #4 on: 24/01/2004 00:07:04 »
Angel, I think I stand corrected.  Thalidomide, I believe, was used to treat morning sickness, and the rash of deformed babies ensued.  Phen-Fen is the combination of two pills taken to treat obesity.  Apparently, both were tested and deemed safe, however, the combination of the two resulted in heart valve damage and, in some cases, pulmonary hypertension.  A high price to pay for lardaceousness.
Logged
 



Offline confusious says

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • 38
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
Re: Thalidomide
« Reply #5 on: 17/05/2013 16:55:07 »
As far as I know, my mother was offered the drug, but thankfully she declined it back in the late 40's /early 50's, it was a drug manufactured by a German drug company for a specific treatment, but was also found whilst in use or during tests, that it stopped the morning sickness in pregnancy, but sadly this was later found out to be a high price to pay because this also had a side effect of creating deformed births.
Logged
 

Offline CliffordK

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 6408
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 15 times
  • Site Moderator
    • View Profile
Re: Thalidomide
« Reply #6 on: 17/05/2013 19:30:00 »
Quote from: cuso4 on 23/01/2004 12:19:42
Thalidomide can exist as a pair of enantiomers. The thalidomide synthesised in industry is a mixture of D and L forms. One form (can't remember which one) can treat morning sicknesses in pregnant women. The other caused deformed babies being born (like bezoar said).

Obviously, the drug will never be tested in pregnant women again.  Apparently in rat studies, one enantiomer was teratogenic.  However, tests in rabbits apparently demonstrated that both enatiomers still had teratogenic effects.

Notes indicate that there is some in-vivo conversion between enatomers, so that even if one was dosed with a single enatomer, eventually one would get some of both in the serum.  Although, it may reduce the serum concentrations of the bad enatomer somewhat.

Morning Sickness occurs during one of the most critical fetal developmental periods.  And, thus the dangers of giving medications during that time period.

There has been research in the use of Thalidomide for other conditions.  In particular, it has been used for the treatment of Leprosy, but other medications may be safer.  It has also been used in the treatment of multiple myeloma, and perhaps other cancer treatments.
Logged
 

Offline chris

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 7947
  • Activity:
    2.5%
  • Thanked: 273 times
  • The Naked Scientist
    • View Profile
    • The Naked Scientists
Re: What is thalidomide?
« Reply #7 on: 17/05/2013 23:05:51 »
We ran an interview on thalidomide the year before last, on the 50th anniversary of its use. I spoke with Neil Vargesson, from Aberdeen, who is working on how the agent works, being as it is a very effective treatment for myeloma, leprosy, other malignancies and even HIV:

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/interviews/interview/1785/

Chris
Logged
I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception - Groucho Marx - https://www.thenakedscientists.com/
 



  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »
Tags:
 

Similar topics (2)

Why did thalidomide cause birth defects?

Started by thedocBoard Physiology & Medicine

Replies: 1
Views: 4309
Last post 30/08/2011 16:27:41
by thedoc
Is there a movie about thalidomide?

Started by TaliaBoard Physiology & Medicine

Replies: 3
Views: 4021
Last post 29/01/2012 15:50:31
by Talia
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...
  • SMF 2.0.15 | SMF © 2017, Simple Machines
    Privacy Policy
    SMFAds for Free Forums
  • Naked Science Forum ©

Page created in 0.152 seconds with 54 queries.

  • Podcasts
  • Articles
  • Get Naked
  • About
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe to newsletter
  • We love feedback

Follow us

cambridge_logo_footer.png

©The Naked Scientists® 2000–2017 | The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith. Information presented on this website is the opinion of the individual contributors and does not reflect the general views of the administrators, editors, moderators, sponsors, Cambridge University or the public at large.