Is Thalidomide still being used today? What are the risks? What are the benefits?
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Thalidomide is still being used today, mostly in Central America. Although it has been banned by the United States, Canada and the EU, some researchers have found it potentially useful to the medical field. By combining Thalidomide and Dexamethasone, some doctors have been prescribing this a routine treatment to treat inflammatory diseases, HIV mouth and throat ulcers, HIV weight loss, and cancers such as leukemia, myeloma, and myelofibrosis . In the United States, new derivations of Thalidomide are not banned but rather are “black boxed” or given the highest amount of warning by the FDA. Patients prescribed with Thalidomide or a version of it must go through multiple steps and procedures to ensure that they are not any risk that could activate the Thalidomide. For example, female patients would go through mutliple tests to ensure that there is no possibilty she pregnant, and that she does not wish to get pregnant in the future. If a new strain of Thalidomide is possible, the benefits could be substantial. There is constantly a search for treatments of cancers and HIV health issues, and any breakthrough in research could save thousands if not millions of lives. But unfortunately, there is evidence that any negative effects of Thalidomide are still prevalent.
In South America , especially Brazil, many children are born as victims of Thalidomide leading to a second generation of babies with similar deformities of children born with Phocomelia as a result of the 1950 - 1960 Thalidomide Crisis. This has thought to have been a result of mothers being treated for the many illnesses previously mentioned (that are thought to be treated by Thalidomide) and especially Leprosy. Very little precautionary actions are taken by doctors in South America, and many European researchers and United Nation officials are concerned about the alarming rate of children being born with Phocomelia and Roberts Syndrome. Physicians might check to make sure if a patient of theirs is not pregnant, which could save them from the use of Thalidomide but unfortunately this drug has hit the medical Black Market. With this wide illegal distribution, many women are self prescribing Thalidomide. Many investigations into the use, production and distribution of the drug have been condcuted, and many are finding the same difficulties that one might face tracking illicit arms in South America. It is almost impossible to know exactly how much Thalidomide is available and how many people are taking it.
The Swedish Thalidomide Society has been conducting large amounts of research into the use of Thalidomide in South America. By looking at thousands of cases throughout the continent, they were able to find a 100% connection between the drug and Phocomelia according to their research sent to the WHO. With these results, they have contacted the WHO (World Health Organization) with the goal of this drug being illegal worldwide. Previously Thalidomide was not legal according to the UN and the WHO, but in 1985 the ban was lifted for research purposes. Since then, it’s use has yet again spread worldwide.
In South America , especially Brazil, many children are born as victims of Thalidomide leading to a second generation of babies with similar deformities of children born with Phocomelia as a result of the 1950 - 1960 Thalidomide Crisis. This has thought to have been a result of mothers being treated for the many illnesses previously mentioned (that are thought to be treated by Thalidomide) and especially Leprosy. Very little precautionary actions are taken by doctors in South America, and many European researchers and United Nation officials are concerned about the alarming rate of children being born with Phocomelia and Roberts Syndrome. Physicians might check to make sure if a patient of theirs is not pregnant, which could save them from the use of Thalidomide but unfortunately this drug has hit the medical Black Market. With this wide illegal distribution, many women are self prescribing Thalidomide. Many investigations into the use, production and distribution of the drug have been condcuted, and many are finding the same difficulties that one might face tracking illicit arms in South America. It is almost impossible to know exactly how much Thalidomide is available and how many people are taking it.
The Swedish Thalidomide Society has been conducting large amounts of research into the use of Thalidomide in South America. By looking at thousands of cases throughout the continent, they were able to find a 100% connection between the drug and Phocomelia according to their research sent to the WHO. With these results, they have contacted the WHO (World Health Organization) with the goal of this drug being illegal worldwide. Previously Thalidomide was not legal according to the UN and the WHO, but in 1985 the ban was lifted for research purposes. Since then, it’s use has yet again spread worldwide.
Sources
Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Thalidomide: Research Advances in Cancer and Other Conditions."Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 05 June 2013. Web. 16 Oct. 2013. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/thalidomide/HQ01507>.
"Toxicological Sciences." Thalidomide: The Tragedy of Birth Defects and the Effective Treatment of Disease. Oxford University, n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2013. <http://toxsci.oxfordjournals.org/content/122/1/1.full>.
http://www.who.int/lep/research/Thalidomide.pdf
"Thalidomide: Birth Defects in Brazil." Thalidomide: Birth Defects in Brazil. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2013. <http://ffdn.se/web/children-born-i-brazil/>.
“Thalidomide : Still a Threat?”BBC News. BBC, 24 July 2013. Web. 16 Oct. 2013. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-23431077>.
"Toxicological Sciences." Thalidomide: The Tragedy of Birth Defects and the Effective Treatment of Disease. Oxford University, n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2013. <http://toxsci.oxfordjournals.org/content/122/1/1.full>.
http://www.who.int/lep/research/Thalidomide.pdf
"Thalidomide: Birth Defects in Brazil." Thalidomide: Birth Defects in Brazil. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2013. <http://ffdn.se/web/children-born-i-brazil/>.
“Thalidomide : Still a Threat?”BBC News. BBC, 24 July 2013. Web. 16 Oct. 2013. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-23431077>.