List of drugs to avoid

A while back I remember reading a list of prescription and over the counter drugs to avoid that could lower your platelets. I'm looking for that list again and can't find it. I need to find out what things can be taken for gastritis and acid reflux.

I take Gaviscon (non prescription) and Pantoprazole (prescription) with no problems. Hope this helps a bit.

My hematologist prescribes Zantac, you can get it over the counter also.

dmblank, here is the website I use when I feel particularly cyberchondriacal:

www.ouhsc.edu/platelets/ditp.html
You will need the generic name of the drugs you want to look up, not brand names.

You can google "drug induced thrombocytopenia" for more info, but the OUHSC (Oklahoma University) database is the most extensive.

Note that these are rare reactions. Sandi has suggested taking what you need to take, as reactions vary so much from person to person.

Of course, there are also drugs that lower clotting, like warfarin and aspirin, but these do not necessarily affect platelet counts.

For acid reflux, I find that simethicone (anti-gas) without antacid gives relief without having to resort to proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec. You might want to avoid Pantoprazole (brand names: Protonix, Somac, Pantoloc, Pantozol, Zurcal, Zentro, Pan, Controloc, Tecta)

Just because someone has ITP doesn't mean that they will also get drug-induced throbocytopenia. They are two unrelated things and confusing them or conflating them is in itself confusing.

Far more important to avoid the drugs that affect clotting, but then only when the count is low.

Good point well put, Ann.
Unfortunately, the lists do not distinguish between those drugs which cause a rare immunological reaction and those that have a real tendency to lower platelet counts, and most if not all of the drugs on the lists fall into the first category. Toxic chemicals, certain chemotherapy drugs and heavy alcohol consumption can reduce platelet production by their effects on bone marrow. I do not know what other drugs might have a similar effect.