thalidomide

noun

tha·​lid·​o·​mide thə-ˈli-də-ˌmīd  -məd 

: a drug C₁₃H₁₀N₂O₄ that was formerly used as a sedative and is now used as an immunomodulatory agent especially in the treatment of leprosy and multiple myeloma and that is known to cause malformations of infants born to mothers using it during pregnancy

Examples of thalidomide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

See, everybody knew that thalidomide was round and about. —Katie Hafner, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2024

Just how many pregnant people might have thalidomide in their medicine cabinet? —Katie Hafner, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2024

The doctor noted how everyone said thalidomide was remarkably non-toxic. —Katie Hafner, Scientific American, 19 Sep. 2024

Their mothers, on doctors’ orders, had taken thalidomide during pregnancy to stop morning sickness. —Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 30 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

phthalic acid + -id- (from imide) + -o- + imide

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

thalidomide

noun

tha·​lid·​o·​mide thə-ˈlid-ə-ˌmīd  -məd 

: a sedative, hypnotic, and antiemetic drug C₁₃H₁₀N₂O₄ that was formerly used chiefly in Europe during the late 1950s and early 1960s especially to treat morning sickness but was soon withdrawn after being shown to cause serious malformations (as missing or severely shortened arms and legs) in infants born to mothers using it during the first trimester of pregnancy and that is now used as an immunomodulatory agent chiefly in the treatment of cutaneous complications of leprosy and in combination with dexamethasone in the treatment of multiple myeloma