Bendectin And Birth Defects (Page 10)

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I took this drug in the 1970's while pregnant. Am looking for the side effects to the babies. Drug has been off the market for many years. Not sure on correct spelling. Used for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Thank you for any help you can send me. Sincerely, Dana.

701 Replies (36 Pages)

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181

My son was born in 1974 and I took Debendox he was born with no left arm no left shoulder left lung and Diaphram not formed 3 little fingers hanging of his collarbone also on left side left ear slightly smaller and left eye, It happened all from the waist up, I have lately read a lot of information on the web but the courts wont have it , they say the drug is safe, well i have also read medical evidence to say that it is not,but the chemical company wins in the end , It is funny how they took it of the market before they could be sued ,I read in some script that only 20% of people who took Thalidamide had Malformed babies ,it all has to happened in the first semester, so of course alot of women who took this drug might of not taken it when in the first 9 weeks the legs and arms and internal organs were formed,but that does not mean that they don't have some sort of physiological problems and other problems. Sooner or later they will have to accept that this drug caused a lot of disabilities for our children I just hope I'm alive then and my son gets some compensation for the problems he has in his life.

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182

You know what Wendy, since the day I was told that the only thing different about my moms pregnancies was that with me she was prescribed bendectin, I have had this huge weight ON my shoulders, relief that I now knew the reason but a huge need to be heard and acknowledged as a victim of the lack of foresight and accountability.

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183

I too was perscribed this drug I was 18 and didn't not know any different They said it was an act of Nature Well tell that to my son,I'm sure he will like that one, I live in Australia in queensland and I would like to know how many mothers have malformed children who took this drug.Before it was taken of the market, and also what is the percentage know of malformed babies who mothers didn't take anything Now that would be interesting.

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184

Wendy, You ask an excellent and insightful question. And the answer is that the rate of birth defects and fetal malformations is the same in mothers who took the medication and those who haven't. That is why the lawsuits were unsuccessful. Now on this site an interesting question was raised: what if there is a subset of women with a (genetic) predisposition to an untoward effect from the medication? So, for instance, people born with G6PD deficiency are usually without symptoms, but if they are given certain medications they can have an often severe reaction. The disease is pretty rare, so you could give the medication to a lot of people and it would appear to be safe, but in that subset it does cause a problem. Nothing of that sort has been discovered with bendictin, however. As tragic as these cases are, realize that many children are born daily with birth defects today, just as 30 years ago, and the mothers have not been exposed to bendictin.

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185

As you say. Is that the Same for those who took thalidamide was the birth defect the same as those who did not take it ,Because what I have read they took Thalidamide of the market too before they could have massive claims but there was still a fund with compensation made , I have also have read on the net that there was 42,000 million dollars put aside for people who took Debendox all those years ago , who could claim on that ,and I have read some did claim and get compensation, Why did they set this up, I never heard of it from anybody. If the drug was so safe ,then why the money?I have been doing a lot of research in Medical Records Court Records, and these questions need to be answered, You have told me its the same, what are the % and where did your facts come from .What type of Malformaties are they. I know there are things in life that just happen. With his disabilities and malformed organs I have read a list of disabilities that they say could happen. It will take a Miricale for me to believe that this drug did not do it , so on with the research I will do. Do you have any figuers on how many babies were born with malformations before these drugs came on the market ? I wonder ? I have lots more ?Looking forward to your reply.

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186

Wendy, Here's some info:
1) Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Sep 8;(9):CD000145. - Meta-analysis of 28 studies evaluating efficacy for treatment of vomiting in pregnancy (compare bendictin, Vit B6, accupressure, ginger) "Evidence from observational studies suggests no evidence of teratogenicity from any of these treatments."
2) Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol. 2003 Feb;67(2):88-97. "RESULTS: The temporal trends in prevalence rates for specific birth defects examined from 1970 through 1992 did not show changes that reflected the cessation of Bendectin use over the 1980-84 period. Further, the NVP hospitalization rate doubled when Bendectin use ceased". Answers precisely the question you asked: No difference in birth defect rate since drug was stopped (but hospitalizations for vomiting in pregnancy doubled)
3) Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2002 May;186(5 Suppl Understanding):S262-6. "Bendectin is probably the most studied medication with regard to its reproductive effects, and the studies clearly demonstrate that therapeutic doses of Bendectin have no measurable reproductive risks to the mother or the fetus. In spite of Bendectin's record of safety, numerous nonmeritorious congenital malformation lawsuits were filed and went to trial, and that junk science was presented at these trials. The Bendectin era focused our attention on the area of nonmeritorious litigation and junk science, which could have an effect on any new or less well-studied therapies, because such a high percentage of women are treated for NVP. Because 3% of the offspring will be affected with birth defects, the potential for litigation is immense" Three percent of births are affected by malformation. It's frequent (in fact statistically probable) that a women might have a child with birth defects yet she could have several others and none would have birth defects. Furthermore this article (and others) speak to the deliterious affects of litigation in this case and why the manufacturer withdrew fromt he market.

Thalomide is different. Plenty of evidence of the impact of that drug

Hope this helps, but unfortunately it can't change any of the suffering you've had.



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187

We really need maintain thorough investigation of the reason[s] causing the varying levels and recurrence of nausea in some expectant mothers and the apparent total lack of same in others. There's every chance that many pregnant women's nausea, at whatever level of intensity and/or regularity, was, and still is, misdiagnosed, the incidence of GERD [reflux] being but one example. Women generally, but more particularly first-time mothers, are told that they'll be 'eating for two', or more [if it's twins, triplets etc.], when they've conceived. And many will have heard the message pre-conception. Couple this message with pregnancy cravings, a novelty per se for first-timers, and what's the likely outcome? Only time, and the courses of both events and any medications, inter alia, will reveal all in its inimitable fashion.

As we well know, pregnancy cravings, in some reports, urge the consumption of some quite unusual things, and also perhaps the revulsion of foods that, previously, were deemed quite acceptable in both desire and consumption.

It's deemed to be the work of Mother Nature, but, is 'Morning Sickness' per se genuinely to be considered and completely accepted without question as being a natural condition? We're well aware of the perniciousness of severe nausea in anyone.

Is the existence of the foetus in the womb demanding of the mother that she consume some food[s] that she'd 'normally' never ingest for herself, as it's reported that some mothers can't get enough of odd things like chalk or sand, among myriad other substances etc. And what is the individual history of one particular mother's cravings, for example? When did it begin? What time during -- or even post -- the gestation did the craving[s] intensify, decrease, and cease? Or alter in type of substance in any way, if at all? Was every mother able to satiate her cravings in entirety with the exact desired item[s] and amounts or was she forced to go without, or to begrudgingly accept a near substitute? Is sufficient number, or any at all, of this information being adequately recorded per sound documention? Methinks not!

Now the BIG question. Did these expectant mothers crave Debendox/Bendectin/Diclectin per se? Or were these three individually branded drugs, among perhaps myriad another, just prescribed to cover all or any suspected contingencies likely to arise before the next appointment with the doctor? An ounce of prevention...?

These women obviously desire[d] medical assistance to combat the already-experienced nausea, or even the threat of its likely return, let alone a long-continued recurrence heaven forbid! Now THAT, is natural!

We're maintaining that vigil...!

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188

You still haven't explained where the 42million dollars went, and if you are doing research like me, Take a look at the Birth Defect Research Clinic for Children Inc. Lots of facts and studies done.So I suppose we can all come up with some type of information but who has the most Money to fight all this litigation,The Drug Companies. I too have other children girl when I was16 normal, a boy at 18,malformed took Debendox and a boy at 20 normal the only one it was the middle one ,This is the very first time I have said anything I have never ever ask for any help other than the many times my son has been in hospital , I'm not asking for help now .But I still would like to know how many children were born with birth defects before these drugs were on the market. which I suppose it was before the sixties .

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189

Wendy, I have no idea what the 42 million went for or even where the figure comes from. Litigation is settled all the time because businesses simply look at the bottom line and determine that to settle is less expensive than to fight. If the litigants are truly interested in making change they don't settle, but then they may not have the resources for long drawn out battles that major corporations are always prepared to create. Looking at birth defect rates in the 50's and 60's would be misleading - in the 50's rubella was recognized as a cause of birth defects and major immunization campaigns were started. In the 60's thalidomide was recognized. Lack of folic acid was also recognized as a cause of neural tube defects and food was fortified with folic acid. Don't forget in the 50's and 60's (and even beyond) alcohol and smoking were not discouraged in pregnancy as they are today. One of the studies I listed looked at birth defect rates since bendictin was pulled - no change. The Cochrane Reviews (I listed that one, too) are a highly regarded data analysis that pulls together multiple smaller studies (28 in this case) to try and find trends that may not be demonstrated with smaller numbers. Again, no causal relationship between bendictin and birth defects. This topic has been debated and looked at for a long time in the medical literiture and pretty much accepted as unrelated to birth defects as the data is overwhelming.

I truly am sorry for any suffering you and your family have gone through and I have no ties to the issue, so if you are motivated to keep searching by all means do so. However I keep seeing people write something to the effect of "we need to gather the data and get someone to do the research" and I only mean to point out that the research has been done. It's human nature to want to blame and sometimes it is simply true that there is no blame to be placed. And hanging on to those feelings can be destructive to the soul, so I hope you and others can do the searching without destroying the time you have with your children which is fleeting.

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190

Wendy, join the Facebook group if you haven't done so already. You'll find a lot of support there.

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191

Guilt belongs only to those in the medical supply industry and those with the undeniable knowledge of the effects yet continued to push the poison. The blame game is lame but an ounce of prevention.... STOP THEM at any/ all cost is the attitude I have and luckily, I am insignificant and not as capable of much. I may not disappear forever after speaking out against 'them'

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192

They dont have the resources for long drawn out battles in court? Do you think that my mom would have agreed to take the pills had she known her daughter would be a drop out hooked on heroin at 17? Can they afford to fix the lives that I hold them responsible for destroying before we even had a chance, they made billions and they have done nothing to even acknowledge that we have suffered and that they were wrong. ACCOUNTABLE

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193

Shan, First of all, it's the plantiffs (those who bring the suit) who usually run out of money/resouces against the big companies, not the other way around.
But more importantly, now you're trying to blame heroin addiction and high school drop out on bendictin?!? What's the connection? I must of missed something in this string? Heroin addiction has been around for centuries (before bendictin or even pharmaceutical companies) and continues today (without bendictin)

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194

emtridoc, whilst it's quite possible for many people to become addicted to a drug, whether it be heroin or some other, and also possible to drop out from school for myriad reasons, especially if a person's experiencing physical and/or mental pain, even if only 'thought' teratogenically-derived, let alone in actuality, then it's quite evident that the person[s] so involved will be more likely than not to be suffering. Not forgetting also the fact that many may well suffer in silence. The old 'grin and bear it' brigade. But the implied 'silence' may only mean that no one hears their anguish, unless they, like shan, voice their concerns.

I heard a brief [missed most of it unfortunately] medical news snippet on the radio today that some doctors are advocating the use of analgesics [like paracetamol] instead of just prescribing psychiatric drugs for patients with a suspected or even known mental condition. Just simple plain old 'garden variety' pain [physical] can, if endured for long enough, bring about the opening of its own Pandora's Box. The mental anguish can have its genesis in nothing more, than say, a chronically aching back for example. To only treat the mental pain is putting the cart before the horse, which is said of Volkswagen [and Porshe] c'OZ' they put the engines in the back.

I must make light of one of your sentences emtridoc, as is my wont, and I hope you'll forgive me. I'll endeavour to perform some grammatical surgery that may well have you in stitches [metaphorically], as the string's been kindly provided by your good self.

It involves your sentence in post #195, being, "I must 'of' missed something in this string?". You certainly did! In your 'stringing' together those few words you've missed the fact that it can only ever be either "must have" or "must've", but never 'must of'. I only mention this c'OZ' it can become addictive, with more than a slight possibility of leaving one, [in a word] 'strung-out', on the stringth...err...strength of it!

Kind regards to you all.

I'll resume maintaining that vigil now before it thinks about getting itself into some more mischief!

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195

emtridoc, whilst it's quite possible for many people to become addicted to a drug, whether it be heroin or some other, and also possible to drop out from school for myriad reasons, especially if a person's experiencing physical and/or mental pain, even if only 'thought' teratogenically-derived, let alone in actuality, then it's quite evident that the person[s] so involved will be more likely than not to be suffering. Not forgetting also the fact that many may well suffer in silence. The old 'grin and bear it' brigade. But the implied 'silence' may only mean that no one hears their anguish, unless they, like shan, voice their concerns.

I heard a brief [missed most of it unfortunately] medical news snippet on the radio today that some doctors are advocating the use of analgesics [like paracetamol] instead of just prescribing psychiatric drugs for patients with a suspected or even known mental condition. Just simple plain old 'garden variety' pain [physical] can, if endured for long enough, bring about the opening of its own Pandora's Box. The mental anguish can have its genesis in nothing more, than say, a chronically aching back for example. To only treat the mental pain is putting the cart before the horse, which is said of Volkswagen [and Porshe] c'OZ' they put the engines in the back.

I must make light of one of your sentences emtridoc, as is my wont, and I hope you'll forgive me. I'll endeavour to perform some grammatical surgery that may well have you in stitches [metaphorically], as the string's been kindly provided by your good self.

It involves your sentence in post #195, being, "I must 'of' missed something in this string?". You certainly did! In your 'stringing' together those few words you've missed the fact that it can only ever be either "must have" or "must've", but never 'must of'. I only mention this c'OZ' it can become addictive, with more than a slight possibility of leaving one, [in a word] 'strung-out', on the stringth...err...strength of it!

Kind regards to you all.

I'll resume maintaining that vigil now before it thinks about getting itself into some more mischief!

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196

emtridoc, whilst it's quite possible for many people to become addicted to a drug, whether it be heroin or some other, and also possible to drop out from school for myriad reasons, especially if a person's experiencing physical and/or mental pain, even if only 'thought' teratogenically-derived, let alone in actuality, then it's quite evident that the person[s] so involved will be more likely than not to be suffering. Not forgetting also the fact that many may well suffer in silence. The old 'grin and bear it' brigade. But the implied 'silence' may only mean that no one hears their anguish, unless they, like shan, voice their concerns.

I heard a brief [missed most of it unfortunately] medical news snippet on the radio today that some doctors are advocating the use of analgesics [like paracetamol] instead of just prescribing psychiatric drugs for patients with a suspected or even known mental condition. Just simple plain old 'garden variety' pain [physical] can, if endured for long enough, bring about the opening of its own Pandora's Box. The mental anguish can have its genesis in nothing more, than say, a chronically aching back for example. To only treat the mental pain is putting the cart before the horse, which is said of Volkswagen [and Porshe] c'OZ' they put the engines in the back.

I must make light of one of your sentences emtridoc, as is my wont, and I hope you'll forgive me. I'll endeavour to perform some grammatical surgery that may well have you in stitches [metaphorically], as the string's been kindly provided by your good self.

It involves your sentence in post #195, being, "I must 'of' missed something in this string?". You certainly did! In your 'stringing' together those few words you've missed the fact that it can only ever be either "must have" or "must've", but never 'must of'. I only mention this c'OZ' it can become addictive, with more than a slight possibility of leaving one, [in a word] 'strung-out', on the stringth...err...strength of it!

Kind regards to you all.

I'll resume maintaining that vigil now before it thinks about getting itself into some more mischief!

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197

Something must be amiss with the software c'OZ' I kept getting an "unable to save your reply". Sorry about the multiple posts. A clear and veritable exemplification that if one becomes lax about maintaining that vigil then anything can happen... and it did!

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198

Life is to short to be bitter, I never taught my kids to be bitter, When they were young I use to say, that Lee was born a special child and we have to make sure we look after him, He has a very good position with the Government and is married with 5 normal children, if there is such a thing as normal,My children are very loving and caring and,are very accepting of other people with disabilities, I must say that having Lee has brought a lot of love and kindness in my family, and I would not have life any other way , Life goes on ,and we have to live it,life is what you make it yourself. You are the only one who can change it.So no matter what think of all this , I have 3 loving children 8 loving grandchildren and would not change a thing. Good Luck every body

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199

ILP, The brain is an amazing thing, and picking up your own misspellings and gaffes can be a challenge as your mind makes the correction. So indeed, you got me - in good fun, I know. For if I were to believe I was without foibles I would be fooling only myself.

As for treating true mental disease with APAP, all I can say is that we used to treat pneumonia with a good blood-letting. For a long time, as well, we didn't appreciate the benefit in controlling disease by washing our hand. Science shed some light on these misbeliefs. That's why we do studies. Of course someone has to think that there might be a different way to get the study started. At least these days you don't usually face excommunication for demonstrating that the Earth is not, in fact, the center of the universe!

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200

emtridoc, yes the brain certainly is an amazing thing, but we've only got the human brain with which to analyze itself, sans panspermic assistance which, if one thinks about it, might not be so 'far-fetched' [pun intended] as possibly thought c'OZ' most heretics are usually considered to be 'off the planet' anyway. Shades of: "Physician, heal thyself!"

The entire human body per se is amazing due to the fact that it can, and in actual fact does, in many cases, repair itself without any external assistance. The 'placebo effect' boggles the mind [and body?] somewhat too! 'Magical thinking' does also wh_im'manently 'conjure up' thoughts of the Rosenthal/Pygmalion [and Hawthorne] effect writ large.

Wendy's post #200 evinces the benefits provided in remaining positive (and 'postive'[sic], like shan). Wendy's son Lee was born a special child c'OZ' methinks he's got a special Mum [Mom] like mine was. Good luck to you and yours too Wendy!

emtridoc, you may be interested to know of, if you don't already, 'Muphry's [sic, not Murphy's] Law' [Wiki's good], and expand upon its import somewhat along the lines of other concepts, like medicine and/or science. Or even courts of law, whether they're adjudicating matters involving suspect teratogenic drugs or otherwise. I once heard a female Chief Judge [not Judge Judy] of the District Court scolding two lawyers [prosecutor and defence] regarding the court listings. She wasn't happy with the actual date that they'd agreed on between themselves c'OZ' she felt they were extemely tardy in bringing a particular long-lived case before her to be finalised. So she told them in no uncertain terms that a particular date was to be the day of the hearing, "or watch out!" The trouble was that the date she mentioned and recorded [angrily] happened to be well after [about 2 months later in fact] the date that they had initially proposed, and it was a very timid defence counsel who rose about a full minute later to inform his 'learned' judge of the blunder! He could well have opted to remain silent and use the extra 2 month's time granted [and now on official record] to clear his heavy workload but perhaps he thought that if he didn't tell the judge first then perhaps his colleague may have found some gumption to do so! Oh what a tangled web we weave!

Now where's that vigil shot off to again? Did anyone see which way it went?

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