Lower Dose of Thalidomide May Be Just as Effective in Multiple Myeloma (6/7/06) In May 2006 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved thalidomide for use in combination with another drug, dexamethasone, to treat newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. The drug appears to affect the blood supply that fuels the growth of tumors and may fight cancer in other ways, as well. Thalidomide has also shown activity against multiple myeloma that has come back or is no longer responding to other therapies. However, many patients discontinue treatment because of the drug’s side effects, which can include blood clots, constipation, tingling in the hands and feet, and drowsiness. The study showed that cutting the daily dose of the drug thalidomide from 400 mg to 100 mg significantly reduced the drug's potentially severe side effects in patients with multiple myeloma that had come back or stopped responding to treatment, and without a significant impact on survival, according to findings presented at the 2006 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Source National Cancer Institute (NCI) Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.