Thalidomide

Thalidomide was a very effective drug to enjoy a deep sleep. It was also used to fight nausea in pregnant women. We realized that the drug caused peripheral neuritis. Furthermore, thalidomide caused deformities in fetuses, even death. Children born with blindness, deafness and especially phocomelia*.

Thousands of babies were born severely disabled following the absorption of thalidomide by the mother during pregnancy.

Thalidomide appeared on the market in West Germany in 1957. The product is then offered in several countries under different names. In 1961, Germany withdrew the product from the market. Canada withdraws it a year later.

In most countries, several class actions against pharmaceutical companies have come to fruition. Generally, victims have been compensated by a disability pension. In Canada, the compensation has been made case by case basis with the obligation not to disclose the amount of the agreement, thus the victims have not all received the same pension for disability cases identical. Thanks to the efforts of The War Amputations of Canada in 1991, Canada has provided small amounts of money to victims of thalidomide.

Today it is used for the treatment of leprosy. In France, it is used to prolong life in severe cases of cancer. The product is marketed under the name of synovia. Stringent measures are taken to ensure that no pregnant woman should take the drug.

24 avril 2010

The text above is for information purposes only. Only a doctor can diagnose a disease. No treatment (medication or scheme) should be undertaken without consulting a health professional.