White Blood Cell And Platelet Changes Due To Medications

White Blood Cell And Platelet Changes Due To Medications

White cells

The white blood cells in our blood stream are the cells we depend on to detect infection and to fight it, as well as fighting a number of other illnesses.  

MIANSERIN (Tolvon) has a rare side effect of causing a marked drop in white blood cell numbers in a small number of people.  This can manifest itself in an unusually severe infection or an infection that takes a long time to heal up.  If you develop an infection and you are taking the antidepressant Mianserin, it is a useful precaution to have your doctor order a check on your white cell count.  This is a very simple and inexpensive laboratory test.  In infection, your white cell count should be raised, indicating your body is producing more white cells to fight the infection.  In rare cases, people on Mianserin will be found to have an abnormally low white cell count and will have to stop the medication.

LITHIUM actually causes an increase in white cell numbers as a perfectly normal side effect of this medication.  There is no cause for concern and it should be noted that this is a normal finding in people on Lithium.  Accordingly, if your doctor does find an increase in white cells (particularly white cells known as Neutrophils), you may have to remind him that you are taking Lithium, as doctors cannot be expected to remember every detail in the fine print medical literature.

CLOZAPINE (Clozaril) is a medication used to control severe psychotic symptoms, is dramatically effective in resistant cases but has the possibility of causing potentially fatal bone marrow changes.  These changes can be detected before they become life threatening if the patient has regular white cell counts, as a reduction in white cell count is the first warning of the bone marrow changes beginning.  Any patient taking Clozapine must have regular white cell counts and indeed in most countries in the world, doctors and pharmacists are forbidden to continue the supply of Clozapine to a patient, until the results of regular white cell counts are available.

Almost any medication used in psychiatry and in many other branches of medicine, can occasionally cause concerning drops in white cell count or in platelet count.

Platelets

Platelets are numerous tiny cells floating in our blood stream, which automatically close over the innumerable tiny leaks that develop in our blood vessels and help in the clotting process, which stops us bleeding after an injury or a cut.  Some medications used in psychiatry, particularly anticonvulsants to stabilise mood swings, can cause a drop in platelet numbers.  The usual evidence of low platelets is very easy bruising or the appearance of spontaneous bruises.  This may alert you to request a platelet count from your doctor to ensure that all is well.

This information is intended to improve your knowledge of the treatment you are receiving.  Any further points can be discussed at your next consultation with your doctor.

Important Disclaimer:  This site is medical information only and is not to be taken as diagnosis, advice or treatment, which can only be decided by your own doctor.