Title: Thalidomide
1Thalidomide
2Thalidomide the sleeping pill
3- Thalidomide was first synthesized in West Germany
in 1953 by Chemie Grünenthal. - It was hailed as a "wonder drug" that provided a
"safe, sound sleep".
4- However the drug was also found to cure morning
sickness in pregnant women
5Nausea vomiting in pregnancy NVP 1st trimester
...(1/3)
6Foetal development -
- The first few weeks are a key period any
problems now will accumulate in the future
7Nausea vomiting in pregnancy NVP 1st trimester
(1/3)
- When do you think most women would be inclined to
take this drug?
8Side effects
- unfortunately molecules of the thalidomide
chemical crossed the placenta and disrupt the
growth patterns of the growing foetus
9Effect catastrophic deformations of the baby
best seen as limb abnormalities.
10if this was you how would your life be
different?
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13Why did this happen?
- Simple - the drug was not trialled or tested for
this use on pregnant women
14Thalidomide today
- Initially the drug was banned internationally for
the treatment of morning sickness - But it has now been reintroduced as a treatment
for leprosy
15Leprosy bacterial infection of the skin and
nerves endings
- Affects the hands, feet and features of the face.
16Leprosy
17Make key notes on what we have discussed on this
drug
- Initial use
- What it discovered to help
- Side effects of untested use
- What is it now used for
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