| Thalidomide is a drug that was prescribed during
the late 1950s and early 1960s. It was developed as a sleeping pill, but
it was also thought to be useful for easing morning sickness in pregnant
women. Unfortunately, it had not been tested for use in this way.
Birth defects
By 1960, thalidomide was found to damage the development of unborn babies,
especially if it had been taken in the first four to eight weeks of pregnancy.
The drug led to the arms or legs of the babies being very short or incompletely
formed. More than 10,000 babies were affected around the world. As a result
of this disaster, thalidomide was banned.
Thalidomide today
Thalidomide is now used as a treatment for leprosy and bone cancer. Its
use is heavily regulated, however, to prevent a repeat of the problems
it caused in the last century.
[ This page has been adapted from www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science
] |