Back in the 1950s and '60s, pregnant women used thalidomide to treat morning sickness. Before scientists discovered the danger, as many as 12,000 children worldwide were born deformed, some with missing arms or legs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration won praise for keeping the drug out of the United States. Now, the agency is actually encouraging the medical community to take another look at the controversial drug, and an FDA advisory panel is considering whether to recommend thalidomide for FDA approval. Before she started taking it, huge mouth ulcers left her barely able to eat.
Some doctors also support the drug's introduction.
In addition to keeping aids patients from drastically losing weight, thalidomide's anti-inflammatory qualities might be useful for a variety of diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, to lupus, or even organ rejection after transplant. Up to 1,000 AIDS patients are taking thalidomide in research studies. Others are getting the drug illegally through underground sources. The AIDS community is pushing the FDA to rule quickly on thalidomide's merits. Nevertheless, many are concerned about whether women who are of childbearing age can take thalidomide safely.