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Thalidomide, sold under the brand name Immunoprin, among others, is an immunomodulatory drug and the prototype of the thalidomide class of drugs.
A dark history:
Thalidomide was originally developed and prescribed as a cure for morning sickness in West Germany, but its use was discontinued when it was found to cause birth defects. The United States Food and Drug Administration (F&D) never approved thalidomide for use as a cure for morning sickness.
Medical use
- Multiple myeloma (First-line treatment)
- In combination with dexamethasone or with melphalan and prednisone
- Erythema nodosum leprosum
- Acute episodes
- Maintenance therapy
- Graft versus host disease (second-line treatment)
- Aphthous stomatitis (children) (second-line treatment)
Adverse effects
- Teratogenicity
- Birth defects
- Blood:
- Interfere with the formation of various kinds of new blood cells:
- Risk of infection:
- Neutropenia
- Leukopenia
- Lymphopenia
- Bleeding risk:
- Thrombocytopenia
- Anaemia
- Risk of infection:
- Interfere with the formation of various kinds of new blood cells:
- Nerves:
- Peripheral neuropathy
Contraindications
- Absolute contraindications:
- Breastfeeding or pregnant women
- Relative contraindications:
- Chronic infections like HIV or hepatitis B