Let’s Talk Thalidomide

A drug that led to birth defects

Thalidomide @Seema

As I talk with my two kids, many story ideas emerge.

Today, my son reminded me of a video I showed him the other day. A man with no hands eating with remarkable skill. I had forgotten all about it amidst the digital things, I consume daily, but he remembered it vividly.

It fueled me talk to them about thalidomide.

You may or may not have heard of this drug, because such things are often swept under the carpet, when they should remain as grim reminders of irresponsible drug use.

Back in the 1960s, thalidomide was introduced with promises of relieving nausea during pregnancy and soothing anxiety.

But soon, thousands of babies were born with severe limb deformities.

This tragedy led to the development of post-marketing surveillance systems in the pharmaceutical industry, to monitor drug safety after approval.

As I was sharing this with my little daughter, she said, “Even if I have nausea, I will never take that medicine.”

I agree. Pregnancy is a hormonal rollercoaster. Many discomforts are bound to come. But most are temporary. And sometimes, when we take medication for one temporary symptom, we unknowingly invite permanent harm.

We must remember: a human being is developing inside. Any chemical — especially during the organogenesis phase, can act as teratogen and interfere with crucial development.

Thalidomide is a known teratogen, with evidence of birth defects. It binds to cereblon, a component of the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, disrupting protein degradation, gene expression, and essential cellular processes. This interference led to limb malformations in the growing babies. A condition ‘phocomelia’.

But it’s not just thalidomide. Other drugs and medical interventions can also have unintended consequences.

I have seen a university student whose arm was never fully formed. It was just a small palms attached to his shoulder. I saw a similar case at an airport.

So, my message is, in this era drowning in chemicals, don’t blindly trust them all. The less you use, the safer it is, for you, and for future generations.

Had you heard of thalidomide?

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