thalidomide definition by Wordo

Noun

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withdrawn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

.