K12 Thalidomide

Embryology - 19 Apr 2024 Expand to Translate
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K12 Professional Development 2016

Teacher Note
50px\|left]] This is currently only a draft designed to help K12 students understand the drug thalidomide. Below are links to more detailed pages that are designed for university level students, that would also be valuable for teacher reference. These collapsible tables are additional information and the pages can also be printed out with these sections collapsed, so students do not see the contents. Links: Thalidomide \| Australian Drug Categories K12 Professional Development 2016 \| K12 Professional Development 2014

What is the history of thalidomide?

Thalidomide is a drug that was introduced on to the market on October 1, 1957 in West Germany as "contergan".

Originally intended to be prescribed as a general "sleeping pill", once its effects on suppressing nausea were identified, it soon became a drug also prescribed to pregnant women to combat the symptoms associated with morning sickness.

Teacher Note
Thalidomide is the "chemical name" of the drug, and like many other drugs released today was known by doctors and patients by its "commercial\| or "trade". This commercial name can also differ between countries, even though the active chemical remains the same. Thalidomide Commercial (trade) names Germany - Contergan UK/Australia - Distaval Here is an example of another chemical drug, ibuprofen (isobutylphenylpropanoic acid) a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used for treating pain, fever, and inflammation. Its trade names in different countries include - Advil, Motrin, and Nurofen. Note this is not as dangerous as thalidomide, but has its own cautions as to its use.

Morning sickness

Around half to two-thirds of all pregnant women will experience nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, typically called "morning sickness". This occurs mainly in the first trimester of pregnancy (the first 3 months) due to pregnancy changes in hormone levels, blood pressure fluctuations, and changes in carbohydrate metabolism.

This feeling unwell can be ongoing (day after day) and may also be severely weakening for the woman. Some women also experience this for a longer period of time.

Therefore drugs which could "suppress" this feeling of nausea were, and still are, in high demand.

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What does thalidomide look like?

Thalidomide molecular structure

What does thalidomide do?

When taken during the first trimester of pregnancy, thalidomide prevented the proper growth of the fetus resulting in horrific birth defects in thousands of children around the world. This is an example for students of inadequate drug testing and a lack of understanding of environmental effects on human development. This is often cited today as a reason to have significant testing of drugs before release and classification of drugs based upon their affects on development.

How do we test drugs today?

How do we classify drugs?

Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, April 19) Embryology K12 Thalidomide. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/K12_Thalidomide

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