thalidomide

Definitions

A drug sold during the late 1950s and early 1960s as a sleeping aid, and to pregnant women as an antiemetic to combat morning sickness and other symptoms, but withdrawn as causing severe birth defects, such as phocomelia; currently used to treat leprosy.

countable, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“I have⟳ tried all the medium and short acting non-barbiturate sedatives since the war (including thalidomide) but they don’t work⟳ and I don’t trust⟳ the newfangled long acting, “safe” analgesics.”

“I can't stand⟳ to see⟳ your thalidomide robot face⟳”

CEFR level