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Thyroid (Expert Forum)
Any doctor here? I got a questions about tapazole and white blood cell.
Answered by
Mark Lupo, M.D. - Thyroid Nodules, Thyroid Cancer, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, Thyroid Ultrasound
Thyroid & Endocrine Center of Florida
Sarasota - FL
Questions in the Thyroid forum are answered by Dr. Mark Lupo. Topics covered include goiter, graves disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, hyperthyroid, hypothyroid, thyroid cancers, thyroiditis, and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).
Any doctor here? I got a questions about tapazole and white blood cell.
by billses, Jul 04, 2006 12:00AM
Hi,
If before take medicine ( tapazole ), white blood cell count is already lower than normal level, should the doctor warn patient about possilbe wbc decrease side-effect ( which could be serious)? or should the doctor give patient some other medicine to help protect wbc?
Your answer is import to me. Thanks!
If before take medicine ( tapazole ), white blood cell count is already lower than normal level, should the doctor warn patient about possilbe wbc decrease side-effect ( which could be serious)? or should the doctor give patient some other medicine to help protect wbc?
Your answer is import to me. Thanks!
Doctor's Answer
by Mark Lupo, M.D., Jul 04, 2006 12:00AM
, Jul 04, 2006 12:00AM
YES; and NO, there is not a med to protect against the decrease caused by tapazole but in the event of severe decrease one can use injections to increase the WBC.
Likely best to avoid tapazole (or PTU) and use RAI or surgery to treat the hyperthyroidism.
Likely best to avoid tapazole (or PTU) and use RAI or surgery to treat the hyperthyroidism.
Thanks for your answer!
The story is, my mum had hyperthyroidism 7 weeks ago, before the doctor gave her Tapazole, she did a WBC baseline test, WBC was 3.5 and Neutrophil# was 1.5, they were both lower than normal level. I don't know whether the doctor reviewed the result or not, she never warned us or took any action to prevent neutropenia from happening. After 6 weeks medicine, my mum developed a very serious side effect, which was neutropenia, the Neutrophil# was 0 last week, we had to go to hospital last week and experienced a lot pressure.
My questions are: Do you think it was the doctor's malpractice? Should the doctor have noticed the low baseline WBC level and taken action to prevent neutropenia from happening by stopping Tapazole or using other medicine?
Thanks a lot!
billses
I cannot comment on "malpractice" as it appears things were monitored and severe neutropenia is simply bad luck in most cases. Hopefully it has resolved and your mom is doing better.
Certainly would avoid PTU and treat the hyperthyroidism with I-131 (or less favorably surgery).