thalidomide

Noun. (pharmaceutical drug) (RS)-2-(2,6-di oxo piperidin-3-yl)-1H-isoindole-1,3(2H)di one — C₁₃H₁₀N₂O₄ — A drug that was sold during the late 1950s and 1960s as a sleeping aid, and to pregnant women as an antiemetic to combat morning sickness and other symptoms, but was withdrawn after being proven to cause severe birth defects, such as phocomelia; currently used to treat leprosy.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.