What drug was used in Europe to treat morning sickness in pregnant women?

• A. Morphine
• B. Thalidomide
• C. Fluoxetine
• D. Zidovudine

Answer: (B)

Thalidomide was once marketed in Europe in the late 1950s as a sedative and antiemetic to treat morning sickness in pregnant women. It seemed helpful at first, but it was later found to cause severe birth defects and fetal abnormalities, affecting thousands of babies. This tragedy exposed how drugs can have dangerous effects on fetal development and spurred sweeping changes in drug regulation, testing, and labeling that happened worldwide. Today thalidomide is used under strict controls for specific conditions, but its history is a crucial reminder of why thorough safety testing, especially for pregnancy, is essential. The other drugs listed do not have a historical link to treating morning sickness.