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Oral Nutritional Supplements and Appetite Stimulation Therapy
Published in Michael M. Rothkopf, Jennifer C. Johnson, Optimizing Metabolic Status for the Hospitalized Patient, 2023
Michael M. Rothkopf, Jennifer C. Johnson
The drug re-entered clinical consideration when it was shown to have efficacy for multiple myeloma and leprosy. It was then studied in the management of AWS and cancer cachexia with positive effects. Thalidomide is available under restricted use by special request. It is dosed at 100–300 mg, given daily at bedtime.
Day 1
Published in Bertha Alvarez Manninen, Dialogues on the Ethics of Abortion, 2022
Sherri Finkbine was the host of the kids’ TV show Romper Room. In 1961, Finkbine took medication that contained the chemical thalidomide, which was given to many women as a way of relieving morning sickness. Well, it turns out that thalidomide caused severe birth defects in fetuses. Many babies were born with either shorter arms or legs, which looked like flippers, or sometimes no arms or legs at all.2 Finkbine’s baby was one of them. She scheduled her abortion in Arizona but it was cancelled after Finkbine’s identity was released to the press and the hospital could not get assurance that it wouldn’t be prosecuted. She even received death threats. Finkbine had to travel to Sweden to get her abortion. The thalidomide tragedy pushed abortion back into the limelight in the United States. Now, should Finkbine had to have gone through all that?
Immunomodulatory Therapies
Published in David E. Thurston, Ilona Pysz, Chemistry and Pharmacology of Anticancer Drugs, 2021
Thalidomide is used today mainly for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Although its main pharmacological activity is immunomodulatory, the precise mechanism of action in multiple myeloma has not been fully established. Apart from a direct effect on myeloma cell growth and survival, other suggested mechanisms include an effect on interleukins and interferon-γ, inhibition of cell surface adhesion molecules that help leukocyte migration, changes in the ratio of CD8+ (cytotoxic T cells) to CD4+ (helper T cells) lymphocytes, suppression of the production of TNFα, and a possible effect on angiogenesis. Interestingly, in some circumstances, thalidomide can also exhibit partial immunostimulatory as well as anti-inflammatory effects.
Repurposing fluoxetine to treat lymphocytic leukemia: Apoptosis induction, sigma-1 receptor upregulation, inhibition of IL-2 cytokine production, and autophagy induction
Published in Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets, 2022
Chanichon Chomchoei, James Michael Brimson, Sirikalaya Brimson
One strategy for the fast production of more drugs with reduced cost is repurposing drugs that are already on the market for other conditions and have passed the critical step of phase 1 safety trials [9]. There has been a strong precedent set in the field of drug repurposing, with examples including the use of sildenafil, originally a failed cardiovascular drug that has become the market leader in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Another example of a failed drug being repurposed is the much-maligned thalidomide. Thalidomide was initially used as an anti-emetic in women with morning sickness. However, the later discovery of congenital malformations caused thalidomide to be withdrawn from the market. Thalidomide has subsequently been repurposed for treating Erythema nodosum leprosum and multiple myeloma. Subsequently, Thalidomide is now on the WHO list of essential medicines [10].
Drug repurposing for rheumatoid arthritis: Identification of new drug candidates via bioinformatics and text mining analysis
Published in Autoimmunity, 2022
Ulku Unal, Betul Comertpay, Talip Yasir Demirtas, Esra Gov
Common repurposed drugs, thalidomide, metformin hydrochloride, ME-344, and NV-128 were identified from blood tissue and macrophage cells with RA. Thalidomide is known as a derivative of glutamic acid and is classified as an immunomodulatory agent [84]. Thalidomide has been reported to be used in the treatment of various diseases such as multiple myeloma and erythema nodusum leprosum [85]. The use of thalidomide in the treatment of RA has been investigated in many studies [86–88]. The small molecule metformin hydrochloride is known for its blood glucose-lowering effect and is used in the treatment of type-2 diabetes [89]. The anti-inflammatory effect of metformin has been demonstrated in the treatment of various autoimmune diseases such as metabolic syndrome and multiple sclerosis [90] and RA [91]. ME-344 and NV-128, small molecules belonging to the isoflavone family, have been reported as potential anticancer agents [92,93]. It has also been reported that NV-128 reduces viability in various cancers via a caspase-independent pathway [93]. The effects of ME-344 and NV-128 on RA have not yet been investigated.
Etonogestrel-releasing contraceptive implant in a patient using thalidomide for the treatment of erythema nodosum leprosum: a case report
Published in Gynecological Endocrinology, 2022
Edson Santos Ferreira-Filho, Luis Bahamondes, Daniele Coelho Duarte, Ana Lúcia Monteiro Guimarães, Patrícia Gonçalves de Almeida, José Maria Soares-Júnior, Edmund Chada Baracat, Isabel Cristina Esposito Sorpreso
The use of thalidomide by women of reproductive age had neonatal and perinatal repercussions and caused severe congenital defects in more than 10,000 children between 1957 and 1962. Impairment was primarily seen in the limbs, face, eyes, ears, genital organs, heart, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and spine. Phocomelia remains the most striking deformity brought on by thalidomide as well as the stereotyped image of thalidomide embryopathy. Thalidomide use is carefully monitored through successful strategies for supervising patients to ensure they do not get pregnant during treatment [5]. The Brazilian Ministry of Health states that a thalidomide-based medication may only be prescribed for women of reproductive age after medical evaluation has ruled out pregnancy by a sensitive method and through proof of use of at least 2 (two) effective contraceptive methods for women using thalidomide [6]. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no studies showing an absence of drug interaction between thalidomide and hormonal contraception.