Related pages Drug Information Summaries Approval Process for New Cancer Treatments Access to Investigational Drugs: Q & A

This page contains brief information about thalidomide and a collection of links to more information from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Library of Medicine (NLM).

US Brand Name(s):		Synovir
		Thalomid
FDA Approved:		Yes

Thalidomide is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat a painful skin disease related to leprosy. It is also approved to treat multiple myeloma in patients who have just been diagnosed with the disease. It is only available as part of a special program called S.T.E.P.S. Thalidomide is used together with another drug called dexamethasone.

Thalidomide is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.

Patient Information Sheet on Thalidomide - A lay language summary of important information about this drug that may include the following:

• FDA warnings or alerts about this drug,
• what this drug is used for and how it is used,
• what you should tell your doctor before using this drug,
• what you should know about this drug before using it,
• other drugs that may interact with this drug, and
• possible side effects.

Drugs are often studied to find out if they can help treat or prevent conditions other than the ones they are approved for. This FDA patient information sheet applies only to approved uses of the medicine. However, much of the information may also apply to unapproved uses that are being studied.

FDA Approval for Thalidomide - Information from the FDA about the approval of this drug and the clinical trials that led to the approval.

Definition from the NCI Drug Dictionary - Detailed scientific definition and other names for this drug.

Clinical Trial Results: Thalidomide a Beneficial Option for Elderly Multiple Myeloma Patients (02/12/2008) - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Lower Dose of Thalidomide May Be Just as Effective (06/07/2006) - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Thalidomide and Elderly Multiple Myeloma Patients (06/05/2006 ) - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Thalidomide Beneficial for Older Myeloma Patients (03/27/2006) - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Thalidomide Effective in Multiple Myeloma (03/15/2006) - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Clinical Trial Results: Thalidomide and Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma (02/15/2006) - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

MedlinePlus Information on Thalidomide - A lay language summary of important information about this drug that may include the following:

• warnings about this drug,
• what this drug is used for and how it is used,
• what you should tell your doctor before using this drug,
• what you should know about this drug before using it,
• other drugs that may interact with this drug, and
• possible side effects.

Drugs are often studied to find out if they can help treat or prevent conditions other than the ones they are approved for. This NLM patient information sheet applies only to approved uses of the drug. However, much of the information may also apply to unapproved uses that are being studied.

Clinical Trials for Thalidomide - Check for trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry now accepting patients.

Back to Top