Medicines Tensival tablets and Distaval tablets, 1958-1962

Medicines Tensival tablets and Distaval tablets, 1958-1962. Two containers of 25 Tensival tablets (left and rear centre), which contain hydrochlorothiazide (Direma) and thalidomide; a container of 12 x 100 mg Distaval Forte (right), which also contains thalidomide; and (foreground), a third container with tablets each containing 100 mg of thalidomide. All are made by the Distillers Co Ltd. Thalidomide was developed in West Germany in the mid-1950s and was initially used as a sedative and an antiemetic until the discovery that it caused severe foetal malformations. Subsequently it was used it is used in treating leprosy, HIV infection and some cancers under strictly controlled conditions.; ; ©SSPL/Science Museum