Thalidomide Case Study

Words: 394
Pages: 2

Thalidomide was first introduced to the german market in 1957. It was considered a safe Over the Counter for sleep deprivation and insomnia. After the war sleeplessness was common, so thalidomide sales were high matching nearly the sales of aspirin. Thalidomide was marketed to be completely safe for everyone, including pregnant women and children. By 1960 Thalidomide was marketed in 46 countries including Europe, Australia, and Japan. During that time it was discovered that Thalidomide also alleviated hyperemesis gravidarum. Doctors started recommending this non-legend drug to pregnant patients. Thalidomide soon set a worldwide trend for pregnant women to combat many of the symptoms associated with morning sickness This medication soon after came with serious adverse drug reactions. Thalidomide was associated with Phocomelia, a birth defect that interferes with the normal development of babies. Approximately 10,000 children were born with phocomelia. a percentage of the population also experience the effects of peripheral neuritis, that caused tingling or painful sensations in the hands and feet. This led to the ban of thalidomide in most countries in 1961. …show more content…
The proximal (arms and thighs) and distal bones (forearms and legs) of the limb are missing or incomplete. This malformation was seen with thalidomide embryopathy. Phocomelia syndrome malformations can also include the gastrointestinal system, craniofacial abnormalities, skeletal, genitourinary such as renal agenesis, eye abnormalities for example, cloudy corneas, extensive hemangiomas and hypoplastic nasal cartilage. Congenital Malformations are also known to occur in some familial syndromes such as Roberts syndrome, the DK Phocomelia syndrome and a few other rare