To recoverYou could comment how Thalidomide was in fact a very effective drug but sadly released as a mixed isomer form when in fact it was only one isomer that was harmful (I believe R was safe and the S isomer harmful causing birth defects) thus heightening the tragedy of it all.
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Marty McFly can't grate cheese without getting angry,
Tue 29 Sep 2009, 19:27,
archived)
SCIENCE!*suitably impressed*
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Crystal Magnet Like a diamond geezer, but better,
Tue 29 Sep 2009, 19:34,
archived)
apparently, the "safe" isomercan be converted in the body to the harmful one : (
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finnbar has officially retired,
Tue 29 Sep 2009, 19:50,
archived)
I didn't think thiscould happen with optical isomerism.
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monkeybananaraffle,
Wed 30 Sep 2009, 17:22,
archived)
I'm afraid it can. I've been doing a little digging.A similar thing happens with ibuprofen.
The non-active isomer gets converted (by an enzyme) to the active one (not the other way around, fortunately - otherwise it would be useless).
In the case of thalidomide, both isomers are active : one isomer suppresses morning sickness, the other causes birth defects.
Unfortunately, the beneficial isomer can be converted in your body to the harmful one, although I'm not sure if the conversion can go the other way.
(The non-active isomer gets converted (by an enzyme) to the active one (not the other way around, fortunately - otherwise it would be useless).
In the case of thalidomide, both isomers are active : one isomer suppresses morning sickness, the other causes birth defects.
Unfortunately, the beneficial isomer can be converted in your body to the harmful one, although I'm not sure if the conversion can go the other way.
finnbar has officially retired,
Wed 30 Sep 2009, 23:20,
archived)
Science^2Well, yes, but the two isomers can convert in-vivo, so although there is a safer form, I'd still not want to risk it.
( Ungersven would support SpankyHanky's patreon,
Fri 2 Oct 2009, 19:27,
archived)