In fact, early insight into the biology of G6PD deficiency came from research on hemolysis caused by antimalarial drugs observed only in certain populations14. Some individuals may not be aware of their G6PD status11. G6PD deficiency is an inherited genetic disorder that affects red blood cells (RBCs)3. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Genetic counseling or testing may be available to those who have a family history of the condition. Talk to your provider about your medicines.

What questions should I ask my healthcare provider?

With this condition, too many red blood cells break down and die. Most people with G6PD deficiency don’t have symptoms. Some of the drugs that are mentioned above are prescribed without prior diagnosis for G6PD deficiency with the potential to result in adverse reactions, see case report in31. Below is a list of the different classes of drugs with warnings or contra-indications for G6PD Deficiency The figure below shows the distribution of all the drugs in different therapeutic areas that have either a black box warning or contra-indication for G6PD deficiency. While the actual number of unique compounds from this text search is smaller; different drug forms and producers contribute to the number of search results with “glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency” in the labelling.

• When this process is actively occurring, it is called a hemolytic episode.
• Screening for G6PD is recommended before taking these medications, including testing breastfeeding infants whose mothers take primaquine.
• Doctronic is not a doctor, does not provide medical advice, does not practice medicine, and does not provide patient care.
• The figure below shows the distribution of all the drugs in different therapeutic areas that have either a black box warning or contra-indication for G6PD deficiency.
• A G6PD deficiency diagnosis means different things for different people.
• Other chemicals, such as those in mothballs, can also trigger an episode.

If you have G6PD deficiency, your body produces less of this enzyme, increasing your risk for anemia. G6PD is an enzyme in your body that protects red blood cells from damage. Drugs like primaquine, dapsone, and rasburicase are known triggers. Discover which drugs to avoid and why it matters for your well-being. You should also avoid eating fava beans while breastfeeding if your newborn has a G6PD deficiency. But others experience life-threatening events like a hemolytic crisis when they encounter a trigger.

Understanding Drug Triggers

• Some individuals may not be aware of their G6PD status11.
• G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) is an enzyme that protects your red blood cells from injury.
• This leads to oxidative stress that strains your red blood cells.
• If this leaves you with a low red blood cell count, you develop hemolytic anemia.

G6PD deficiency occurs when a person is missing or does not have enough of an enzyme called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. In the current review we aimed, by thorough search of the medical literature, to collect evidence on which to base decisions either to prohibit or allow the use of various medications in patients with G6PD deficiency. Although drug-induced haemolysis is considered the most common adverse clinical consequence of G6PD deficiency, significant confusion exists regarding which drugs can cause haemolytic anaemia in patients with G6PD deficiency. However, you should know which ones to avoid to protect your red blood cells. If you have G6PD deficiency, you need to avoid certain medications, foods, dyes, and other substances.

Free radicals are usually harmless substances found in all kinds of places, like the environment, fava beans and medicines. G6PD is important because it prevents too many “free radicals” from building up in your red blood cells. Having the variant means that your red blood cells are low on G6PD. Left untreated, infants with severe jaundice can develop brain damage (kernicterus).

Always discuss with a healthcare provider to find suitable alternatives that don’t pose a risk of hemolysis. Several commonly used medications should be avoided by those with G6PD deficiency. G6PD medications These medications increase the risk of red blood cells breaking down, which can lead to serious health problems. Ask your healthcare provider for information to help you manage the impact G6PD deficiency has on your life. This may mean steering clear of fava beans and other triggers. Your healthcare provider can best explain what to expect based on your diagnosis.

What factors trigger hemolytic anemia related to this condition?

G6PD deficiency is a genetic disorder that affects your red blood cells.

Foods to Avoid

In rare case, kidney failure or death may occur following a severe hemolytic event. People with this condition do not display any signs of the disease until their red blood cells are exposed to certain chemicals in food or medicine. This enzyme helps red blood cells work properly.

Individuals with G6PD deficiency must be vigilant about drugs they take to avoid potential complications and life-threatening hemolysis. Some individuals may tolerate certain medications better than others. It is important to note that the severity of the reaction to these drugs can vary among individuals with G6PD deficiency. In this blog, we will discuss multiple drugs that have warnings or contraindications for individuals with G6PD deficiency. Compounds that present a risk to G6PD-deficient individuals include certain foods such as fava beans12, some chemicals such as naphthalene found in moth balls13 and several medicines. The disorder affects about 10%-13% African-American men6,7, and is also common in people from the Mediterranean region, Africa, or Asia8.

This is why your healthcare provider will test your newborn for G6PD deficiency if they suspect they have it. When these symptoms develop fast and are severe, it’s called a hemolytic crisis. G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) is an enzyme that protects your red blood cells from injury. Additionally, research into G6PD deficiency and its interactions with medications continues, and new findings may lead to updates in treatment guidelines.

What to Avoid If You Have G6PD

Then, they’ll tell you what triggers you need to avoid going forward. According to some researchers, eating fava beans is the most common trigger. If this leaves you with a low red blood cell count, you develop hemolytic anemia.

Symptoms and Causes

When this process is actively occurring, it is called a hemolytic episode. Too little G6PD leads to the destruction of red blood cells. Regarding all other medications, our review found no evidence to contravene their use in normal therapeutic doses to G6PD-deficient patients. Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen are safe and are alternatives to aspirin for people with G6PD deficiency. Others only trigger problems in specific types of G6PD deficiency. There are other medications that only cause red cell breakdown if taken in high doses.

Contact your health care provider if you have symptoms of this condition. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common human enzyme defect and one of the most common genetic disorders worldwide, with an estimated 400 million people worldwide carrying a mutation in the G6PD gene that causes deficiency of the enzyme. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have G6PD deficiency and need to take antibiotics or malaria medications, as they can tell you what’s safe. It’s important to consult with healthcare providers to ensure medications are safe before use. If you have G6PD deficiency, certain medications can trigger severe health issues.

Many people with G6PD deficiency likely never know because they don’t have symptoms. For this procedure, the provider removes your baby’s unhealthy blood and replaces it with healthy, donated blood. More severe symptoms require different treatments. Healthcare providers usually start by taking a complete medical history and doing a physical exam. G6PD deficiency is common, affecting between 400 million to 500 million people worldwide.

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You can take care of yourself by recognizing the triggers that increase your risk of hemolytic anemia and avoiding them. If you’re one of the people with this condition, your healthcare provider will help keep your red blood cells at a safe level. It is essential for patients to inform their healthcare providers about their G6PD deficiency, and for healthcare providers to carefully consider the risks and benefits of medications when treating such individuals. For individuals with G6PD deficiency, certain medications can cause oxidative stress leading to hemolytic anemia.

To manage their condition, individuals with G6PD deficiency need to be aware of drugs that can potentially exacerbate their condition. Individuals with G6PD deficiency have a reduced ability to defend RBCs against oxidative stress, resulting in hemolysis (the destruction of red blood cells) when exposed to certain triggers. Michel M. Autoimmune and intravascular hemolytic anemias. If you have G6PD deficiency, you can usually follow a standard diet so long as they avoid fava beans and other trigger foods. Always discuss health information with your healthcare provider.

In most cases, hemolytic episodes go away on their own. Episodes are longer and more severe than in the other types of the disorder. A form of this disorder is common in whites of Mediterranean descent. In the United States, G6PD deficiency is more common among blacks than whites. Other chemicals, such as those in mothballs, can also trigger an episode. This is because the body continues to produce new red blood cells, which have normal G6PD activity.