Adverse effects by frequency:
Note that teratogenicity is not discussed here as it is not considered a side effect. For information regarding birth defects, see thalidomide.
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
Somnolence (drowsiness; ~40%) Edema (~60%) Hypotension (low blood pressure) Headache Haematuria (blood in the urine) Arthralgia (joint pain) Myalgia (muscle aches) Increased bilirubin Neutropenia (~30%) Leucopenia (~15-40%) Lymphopenia Constipation Peripheral neuropathy† Dizziness Paraesthesia Dysaesthesia
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
Pulmonary embolism Vomiting Dry mouth Toxic skin eruption Dry skin Rash Urticaria (hives) Pyrexia (fever) Asthenia Interstitial lung disease Heart failure Depression Pneumonia
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people) Shortness of breath Tremor
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
Increased appetite Bradycardia (low heart rate) Tachycardia (high heart rate) Cardiac arrhythmia Malaise Deep vein thrombosis
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
Thrombocytopenia Anaemia Hypothyroidism Reduced libido Confusion Seizures Orthostatic hypotension Thromboembolic events Bronchospasm Intestinal obstruction Pruritus (itchiness) Stevens–Johnson syndrome Toxic epidermal necrolysis Facial oedema Photosensitivity (light sensitivity) Menstruation abnormalities
† Peripheral neuropathy may be irreversible and usually results from chronic (usually a matter of months) exposure to thalidomide.
References