5. Certain medications.
There are certain medications that can disrupt platelet counts. Some medications can affect the bone marrow’s ability to produce these important blood cells, while others can destroy the blood cells after they are produced. Whether the cells are damaged or their production is reduced, these medications can lead to low platelet counts.
There are two different types of thrombocytopenia (low platelet counts) that occur as a result of medications: nonimmune and immune. Medications that interfere with the bone marrow’s ability to produce platelets are referred to as nonimmune thrombocytopenia, while medications that increase the production of antibodies that attack and destroy platelets is known as immune thrombocytopenia.
There are several medications that can cause low platelet counts, including:
- Penicillin
- Furosemide
- Quinine
- Quinidine
- Sulfonamides
- Ranitidine
All medications have side-effects, and some of those side-effects can be dangerous. Thrombocytopenia that is caused by medications can be mild or severe.