What drugs cause low platelets?
Medications that can cause low platelets include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), furosemide (diuretic), chemotherapy drugs, penicillin, quinine, sulfonamides, statins, linezolid (a type of antibacterial), and other types of antibiotics. When low platelet counts arise from drug use, it is known as drug-induced thrombocytopenia. 12.
What medications can lower platelets?
Medications. Certain medications can reduce the number of platelets in your blood. Sometimes a drug confuses the immune system and causes it to destroy platelets. Examples include heparin, quinine, sulfa-containing antibiotics and anticonvulsants.
What do you need to know about living with low platelets?
Managing Low Platelets
- Avoid medications that contain aspirin, anti-inflammatories (like ibuprofen), or blood thinners, unless your healthcare professional recommends otherwise. ...
- Use an electric razor to shave, which may result in fewer nicks and cuts.
- Use extra care when working with sharp objects such as knives or scissors, so as not to accidentally cut yourself.
What foods lower blood platelets?
These include:
- Alcohol: Wine, liquor, and regular or nonalcoholic beer can lower platelet counts. ...
- Refined grains, sugar, and foods or drinks with added sugar: These may cause fatigue and reduce platelet count. ...
- Some fruits, vegetables, and spices: Quercetin and rutin are antioxidants found in some fruits, vegetables, and spices that can reduce blood clotting. ...
What causes low platelet count?
Nutritional deficiencies: As with anemia, iron deficiency or vitamin deficiencies (B12, folate) can lead to low platelet counts, since the body doesn't have the basic nutrients to create them. Viral infections: Certain viral infections such as hepatitis C or HIV may result in decreased production of platelets.
What happens if your platelet count is low?
Call your doctor if any of the following issues increase in frequency, severity, or become worrisome to you: 5 . Pain in your joints, particularly large joints like the knees and hips.
Why does my thrombocytopenia increase during pregnancy?
Pregnancy: Gestational thrombocytopenia is a fairly common condition during the third trimester due to increased blood dilution, as blood volume continues to increase and platelet counts fail to increase at the same rate.
How to stop bleeding from low platelet count?
If you begin bleeding, follow these steps and contact your care provider: Have a seat or lie down. Try to remain calm. Apply pressure to the wound if you can see it. Apply an ice pack to the site to slow the bleeding.
What causes thrombocytopenia?
Autoimmune conditions: Diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis may cause immune thrombocytopenia as the immune system starts to attack itself, destroying platelets in the process. Bacterial blood infections: Bacteremia, or a bacterial infection affecting the blood, may destroy platelets.
Why do clots clump together?
They are specifically designed for clotting; they clump together to prevent bleeding. If you have low platelets in your blood, known as thrombocytopenia, your ability to form clots and stop bleeding may be impaired.
How to stop platelet destruction?
Autoimmune conditions can be treated with drugs that suppress your immune system. This will help stop the destruction of platelets.
Why are platelets low?
The level of platelets is usually low as a result of two main factors. Either an underlying medical condition is causing the reduced level, or an individual is taking a medication or substance that serves to reduce platelet count.
What is low platelet count?
A low platelet count is a blood disorder that has a long list of possible causes . It is also known as thrombocytopenia. Reduced platelet content in the blood is not always a serious problem. However, the condition affects the ability of the blood to clot, and wounds can bleed severely with this condition. This can have serious complications in some ...
What is ITP in medical terms?
ITP refers to idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. It is also known as immune thrombocytopenia. The name of the condition relates to bleeding-induced rashes that occur as a result of a low platelet count. Idiopathic means that the cause is not known. In ITP, the immune system attacks platelets.
What causes low platelets?
Platelets are the component in blood that enables it to clot. Medicines, poisonous substances, heavy alcohol drinking, and even drinks with quinine in them, such as tonic water, can cause low platelet counts. Quinine is also found in tablets for leg cramps. If a doctor finds one of these substances to be the cause of a low platelet count, ...
How long do platelets stay in the blood?
Platelets are not invisible to the naked eye. The bone marrow produces them, and they travel in the blood for an average of 10 days before being destroyed.
What are the causes of thrombocytopenia?
Poisons that can cause thrombocytopenia include pesticides, arsenic, and benzene. The following are antiplatelet or anti-clotting drugs that reduce the platelet count: glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, including abciximab, eptifibatide, and tirofiban. heparin.
What is the protein that holds a clot together?
Activated platelets also release sticky proteins to help form the clot. A protein known as fibrin forms a mesh of threads that holds the plug together.
What is low platelet count?
Low Platelet Count (Bleeding) Platelets are blood cells called thrombocytes and help your blood clot, so you stop bleeding. Low platelet count is also called thrombocytopenia. When your platelet levels are lower than normal, your blood isn’t able to clot as it should, putting you at a higher risk for excessive bleeding.
Why is my platelet count low?
Your platelet count may be low if the body is not making enough platelets, losing platelets, or platelets are being destroyed. In patients with cancer, low platelet count may be caused by:
Why do you need a platelet transfusion?
A platelet transfusion might be needed in some patients with cancer who have a low platelet count. Platelets may be given to prevent bleeding when the platelet count is very low, or they may be given if a patient has some unusual bleeding to help stop it.
How to stop bleeding from mouth?
If your mouth is bleeding, rinse it a few times with ice water.
Is it safe to give platelets?
Before platelets are given, the donor is carefully matched to the patient and the platelets are screened so they are safe. But, receiving a platelet transfusion has some risks: Transfusion reaction: This happens when the patient’s immune system attacks proteins on the foreign blood cells.
What Does Low Platelets Mean?
Thrombocytopenia is a medical term that is used to describe low platelet count. A low platelet count could be as a result of various factors. The patient could have a medical disorder that affects the immune system, leukemia or it could also be brought about by certain medications. Most cases of thrombocytopenia are mild but other cases could be fatal, especially when the patient has a dangerously low platelet count. This is because abnormally low platelets could cause internal bleeding.
What causes low platelets?
Excessive consumption of alcohol, chemotherapy and toxic chemicals could also reduce the production of platelets. 2. Platelets Trapping in the Spleen. Sometimes, the spleen could be responsible for the low platelet count.
What Are the Symptoms and Complications of Low Platelets?
There various tell-tale signs that indicate a low platelet count. These include superficial bleeding that appears like a rash. This is usually evident in the legs. You could also experience profuse bleeding even with minor cuts or easily bruise which indicates that your blood does not clot as it should. Abnormal menstruation is also a sign of low platelets and another major sign would be frequent nose bleeds and bleeding gums. Blood in the stool or urine is never a good sign and could indicate insufficient platelets.
How is Low Platelets Treated?
Mild thrombocytopenia could heal in its own. A good example is pregnancy which could bring about low platelets. In such cases, the platelet count could improve when the woman gives birth. Mild cases do not necessarily require treatment.
Why do platelets break down?
This could be due to pregnancy or ITP also known as Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura which is a condition where the immune system attacks the platelets.
Why does my platelet count drop?
Other causes could be bacterial infections, hemolytic uremic syndrome which is a rare condition that leads to the destruction of red blood and brings about a sudden decrease in the platelet count. Certain medications may cause a decrease the number of platelets in the blood.
What to do if your platelets are low?
If the cause of the low platelets is ITP, the spleen could be removed surgically. The doctor may treat the condition with medications that suppress the immune system so as to prevent antibodies from attacking the platelets. 3. Home Remedies.
Why is my platelet count low?
A low platelet count can make it difficult for the blood to clot, putting a person at risk of excessive bleeding. The cause may be due to an inherited tendency to not produce enough platelets, but the cause may also be unknown. In other cases, it is due to an underlying medical condition.
What is it called when you have a high platelet count?
When the reason is unknown, it is called primary, or essential, thrombocytosis. When excess platelets are due to an infection or other condition, it is called secondary thrombocytosis.
What to expect from a platelet count?
Platelet count blood test. What to expect. Platelet count is high. Platelet count is low. Takeaway. A platelet blood count is a blood test that measures the average number of platelets in the blood. Platelets help the blood heal wounds and prevent excessive bleeding.
What is the risk of spontaneous bleeding?
Higher risk of spontaneous bleeding. If the blood platelet count falls below 20,000 per mcL, a person can begin bleeding spontaneously. People who experience spontaneous bleeding may require a blood transfusion. Low platelet count increases the risk of death in people who have recently experienced a traumatic injury.
What drugs lower platelets?
Medication: Drugs, such as aspirin, H2-blockers, quinidine, antibiotics containing sulfa, and some diuretics may lower platelet count. Cancer: Cancer that has spread to the bone marrow can harm the body’s ability to make new platelets.
Does platelet count decrease with age?
Platelet count also tends to decline with age#N#Trusted Source#N#. A platelet count that is lower than it once was, or that is on the lower end of normal, may not be a cause for concern in an older adult—especially if there are no other symptoms.
Can bacterial infection reduce platelet count?
Infection: A bacterial infection, especially the blood infection sepsis, can reduce platelet count.
What does low platelet count mean?
Low platelets in your blood is a common sign of prolonged bleeding and for other diseases, got to know what makes platelets count to be low and what does it mean for you to have low count of platelets in blood test.#N#First to know, platelets means “tiny plates” which is running all the time through our blood stream, the main target of platelets is to seal the leaks after injuries.#N#Each man and woman must have a number of platelets inside bloodstream ranging from 150,000 to 450,000 cells per cumm, to know the specific range for your age, please go to Normal Platelet Count by Age#N#The platelets count below 140,000 cells/cumm is considered to be low and called “thrombocytopenia” in medical terms.#N#Platelet Blood Test#N#Is a test done in a medical laboratory to show the count and morphology of platelets,#N#the short code is “PLT”, and another name is “Thrombocyte Count”.#N#In a lab report you may a letter beside the result like that:#N#N: means Normal results, L: means low platelets, H, means elevated count,#N#The best time for platelet test when you recognize prolonged unknown bleeding.#N#Test for platelet count dosn’t require to fast before doing the test.#N#The waiting time to receive results is 20 minutes to 30 minutes.#N#The cost varies from lab to lab, however “CBC with differential and platelet count Blood Test” may cost up to USD $45.#N#CPT code: 85049, see the full article at LabCorp.
Why are my platelets low?
The most common cause of low platelet count is Pregnancy, Anaemia, or Leukemia. Here is each reason of low platelets with other blood test results in order to simply understand platelets low count.
How to increase blood platelets?
With some foods and supplements rich in Vitamin A, Folate, and Vitamin K the bone marrow can restore the normal platelet count after mild decrease, for instance the Papaya, Pomegranate, Pumpkin, Wheatgrass, as well as Milk will help body platelets to multiply and show higher in the test.
How to treat low platelet count?
Other treatments for severe low count of platelets: The commonest treatment for extreme low blood platelets under 5,000 is to have red blood cells or platelet transfusions. Changing medications that are causing a low platelet count. Stop alcohol and abuse drugs help the body restore natural count of platelets.
Why are platelets low during pregnancy?
Low platelets count in Pregnancy : pregnant woman consume nutrients more than the normal female, thus the body uses more vitamins and proteins inside cells to enrich fetus, the reasons behind high destruction of platelets and platelets to be low during pregnancy, but it’s mild and improves after delivery of baby.
What are the symptoms of low platelets?
if your one of these persons you may have low platelets and should take a blood test to reassure: 1 A child under 13 years old. 2 Old man with kidney function failure. 3 A girl which is pregnant. 4 A person eating unhealthy foods. 5 A boy complain from blood infections.
What disease can enlarge the spleen?
The platelets made inside bone marrow and face their fate in the spleen, a number of diseases can enlarge our spleen: A child with Infection mononucleosis will suffer from spleen enlargement “splenomegaly” and show such blood count results: Total leukocyte count “TLC” 17,000,
What does it mean when your platelet count is low?
If so, there’s a chance you have a low platelet count. Having a low platelet count — a condition called “thrombocytopenia” — is a problem with normal blood clotting and bruising that results from having low levels of thrombocytes , colorless blood cells produced by bone marrow. Thrombocytes are responsible for helping form blood clots in ...
Why is it important to protect yourself from low platelet count?
For people who already have been diagnosed with low platelet counts, avoiding injuries and infections is important, since both can worsen autoimmune reactions, spleen enlargement and trigger excessive bleeding.
How to raise platelet count?
Once a diagnosis has been made, you can use the recommendations below to help raise your blood platelet counts, manage symptoms and prevent complications from developing: 1. Improve Your Diet. Vitamin B12 or folate (vitamin B9) deficiency can both cause mild to moderate low platelet counts.
Why do platelets get trapped in the spleen?
Enlarged spleen: The spleen helps fight infections and clean the blood, so illnesses that cause an enlarged spleen can cause too many platelets to become trapped inside while the body tries to fight off bacteria or a virus. In healthy people, around one-third of the body’s platelets are held in the spleen, but conditions like liver disease / cirrhosis prevent scarring, which keep platelets harbored inside.
What is the role of thromocytes in blood clots?
Thrombocytes are responsible for helping form blood clots in the arteries/veins and stopping bleeding. A low platelet count puts someone at a higher risk for internal bleeding or other blood clotting and blood vessel-related problems — and unfortunately can sometimes really take a toll on quality of life.
What is the best treatment for low platelet count?
Medications and treatments used to stabilize severely low platelet counts can include platelet transfusions, splenectomy (surgery to remove the spleen), corticosteroids or immunoglobulins, which block effects of the immune system. ( 1)
What vitamins help with low platelet count?
Aside from vitamin B 12 and folate described above to help prevent deficiencies, and anti-inflammatories for controlling pain, there’s evidence that people with low platelet counts can also benefit from taking or consuming more of the following: ( 4)
