Thalidomide is a safe medication that relieves morning sickness and nausea in pregnant women.
Thalidomide, marketed in the 1950s-60s as a safe sedative for morning sickness, caused severe limb malformations (phocomelia) in approximately 10,000 children. This tragedy led to major changes in drug testing and regulatory oversight. Thalidomide is now known to cause birth defects and is only used under strict supervision for specific conditions like multiple myeloma in non-pregnant patients.
Reception
Sources
- The Thalidomide Tragedy PRIMARY
- Thalidomide: Lessons from the Past REFERENCE