Thalidomide drug maker apologizes 50 years later

Victims of the thalidomide birth defects tragedy have rejected the first apology from the German company that invented the drug to combat morning sickness half a century ago.

The Grünenthal Group released a statement on Friday stating that it "regrets" the consequences of the drug, which led to babies being born without limbs during the 1950s and 1960s.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/ ... ug-apology

Think they learned there lesson ? History repeats again.

Depakote Linked to Severe Birth Defects in First Trimester
By Psych Central News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on June 16, 2010 Children born to women who took the epilepsy drug valproic acid (Depakote or Depakene) during the first trimester of pregnancy are much more likely to have serious births defects affecting the brain, heart and limbs, a new study finds.

Researcher Lolkje T.W. de Jong-van den Berg and colleagues at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands found that babies subjected to their mothers’ use of valproic acid during the first trimester were 12.7 times more likely to have spina bifida compared to babies whose mothers did not take the drug. Spina bifida is a birth defect in which the spinal cord and backbone fail to develop or close properly.

http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/06/11 ... 14486.html

Notice how they say "who took the epilepsy drug " instead of bipolar mood stabilzer.

I had a girlfriend who took this depakote way back when before I knew anything about psychiatry. If someone said bipolar back then I would think of north south magnets poles bears ice Santa...we didnt have any kids but did engage in the 'high risk behavour' bipolars are guilty of. If we had a child with birth defects I guess we would have to wait 50 years before an apology . Sorry bout that, we knew but were making lots of money...

"at first, do no harm"

But the apology was dismissed by Thalidomide Agency UK, which represents people affected by the drug in Britain, as "insufficient". The Grünenthal Group needed to "put their money where their mouth is" rather than simply express regret, the charity's head consultant, Freddie Astbury, said.

I forgot to paste in that part.

Next

Paxil Causes Birth Defects
The US FDA is now warning that Paxil, a commonly used antidepressant, causes birth defects in newborn children when their mothers take Paxil during pregnancy.

The Washington Post reveals that Paxil causes heart defects in pregnant mothers unborn children. Yet another reason for pregnant mothers to never take an antidepressant.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 02118.html