What is the difference between R and S thalidomide?
Thalidomide exists in two mirror-image forms: it is a racemic mixture of (R)- and (S)-enantiomers. The (R)-enantiomer, shown in the figure, has sedative effects, whereas the (S)-isomer is teratogenic. Under biological conditions, the isomers interconvert, so separating the isomers before use is ineffective.
What was thalidomide for and why was it banned?
The drug was prescribed for a range of conditions including pneumonia, colds and flu and for relieving the symptom of nausea often experienced in early pregnancy. One country that did not approve thalidomide for marketing and distribution was the USA, where it was rejected by the Food and Drug Administration.
What does a thalidomide do?
This medication is used to treat or prevent certain skin conditions related to Hansen’s disease, once known as leprosy (erythema nodosum leprosum). Thalidomide is also used to treat a certain type of cancer (multiple myeloma). It works in Hansen’s disease by reducing swelling and redness (inflammation).
How do enantiomers Interconvert?
When enantiomers separated by chromatography or capillary electrophoresis undergo interconversion reaction (enantiomerization) during the separation, it leads to a typical detection pattern: two individual peaks of the separated enantiomers are connected with a plateau consisting of a mixture of both separated …
Is thalidomide used today?
In the 1950s and 1960s, thalidomide was used to treat morning sickness during pregnancy. But it was found to cause disabilities in the babies born to those taking the drug. Now, decades later, thalidomide (Thalomid) is being used to treat a skin condition and cancer.
Is thalidomide a pill?
Thalidomide was a widely used drug in the late 1950s and early 1960s for the treatment of nausea in pregnant women. It became apparent in the 1960s that thalidomide treatment resulted in severe birth defects in thousands of children.