Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is a G6PD Deficiency?What to AvoidWhat to Choose
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is a G6PD Deficiency?
What to Avoid
What to Choose
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase(G6PD) deficiencyis a genetic condition that can be passed down from parents to their children. It’s a type ofhemolytic anemia, meaning oxygen-carrying red blood cells break down too fast (calledhemolysis), leading to a lack of red blood cells.
Most people with G6PD deficiency don’t have problems most of the time, but there are certain medications, foods, and substances that increase the rate of red blood cell breakdown and trigger anemia.
This article lists common things you should avoid if you have this blood disorder.
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G6PD is an important enzyme (protein) in your body that protects your red blood cells from damage. However, if you have G6PD deficiency, your body makes a smaller amount of G6PD, which can lead toanemia.
Those with G6PD Deficiency need to avoid certain medications, foods, dyes, and other substances.
G6PD Deficiency Drugs to Avoid
Having G6PD deficiency doesn’t mean you can’t take any medications. Still, you should know common medications to avoid to prevent damage to your red blood cells.
Certain types of antibiotics can cause red blood cells to break down and need to be avoided:
These medications can also carry risks and need to be avoided:
Screening for G6PD is recommended before taking these medications. This includes testing breastfeeding infants whose mothers take primaquine.
Aspirin is also in many over-the-counter medicines, including:
This is not a complete list of items you should avoid if you have G6PD deficiency. There are other medications that only cause red cell breakdown if taken in high doses. Others only trigger problems in specific types of G6PD deficiency.
G6PD Deficiency Foods to Avoid
Foods to avoid may include:
Other Substances to Avoid
There are some other substances that carry risks for those with G6PD deficiency:
If you have G6PD deficiency, you can usually follow a standard diet so long as they avoid fava beans and other trigger foods.
Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen don’t cause issues with G6PD and are alternatives to aspirin.
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.
Summary
G6PD is an inherited form of hemolytic anemia that can cause damage to your red blood cells. There are some medications and foods you should avoid if you have this condition.
Certain antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-malarial medications can trigger red blood cell breakdown. Likewise, fava beans have a similar reaction and are best to avoid as well.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.Nemours KidsHealth.G6PD deficiency.Akande M, Audino AN, Tobias JD.Rasburicase-induced hemolytic anemia in an adolescent with unknown glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2017;22(6):471–475. doi:10.5863/1551-6776-22.6.471Feghaly J, Al Hout AR, Mercieca Balbi M.Aspirin safety in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.BMJ Case Rep. 2017;2017:bcr2017220483. doi:10.1136/bcr-2017-220483Raupp P, Hassan JA, Varughese M, Kristiansson B.Henna causes life threatening haemolysis in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.Arch Dis Child. 2001;85(5):411–412. doi:10.1136/adc.85.5.411
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.Nemours KidsHealth.G6PD deficiency.Akande M, Audino AN, Tobias JD.Rasburicase-induced hemolytic anemia in an adolescent with unknown glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2017;22(6):471–475. doi:10.5863/1551-6776-22.6.471Feghaly J, Al Hout AR, Mercieca Balbi M.Aspirin safety in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.BMJ Case Rep. 2017;2017:bcr2017220483. doi:10.1136/bcr-2017-220483Raupp P, Hassan JA, Varughese M, Kristiansson B.Henna causes life threatening haemolysis in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.Arch Dis Child. 2001;85(5):411–412. doi:10.1136/adc.85.5.411
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.Nemours KidsHealth.G6PD deficiency.Akande M, Audino AN, Tobias JD.Rasburicase-induced hemolytic anemia in an adolescent with unknown glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2017;22(6):471–475. doi:10.5863/1551-6776-22.6.471Feghaly J, Al Hout AR, Mercieca Balbi M.Aspirin safety in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.BMJ Case Rep. 2017;2017:bcr2017220483. doi:10.1136/bcr-2017-220483Raupp P, Hassan JA, Varughese M, Kristiansson B.Henna causes life threatening haemolysis in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.Arch Dis Child. 2001;85(5):411–412. doi:10.1136/adc.85.5.411
MedlinePlus.Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.
Nemours KidsHealth.G6PD deficiency.
Akande M, Audino AN, Tobias JD.Rasburicase-induced hemolytic anemia in an adolescent with unknown glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2017;22(6):471–475. doi:10.5863/1551-6776-22.6.471
Feghaly J, Al Hout AR, Mercieca Balbi M.Aspirin safety in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.BMJ Case Rep. 2017;2017:bcr2017220483. doi:10.1136/bcr-2017-220483
Raupp P, Hassan JA, Varughese M, Kristiansson B.Henna causes life threatening haemolysis in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.Arch Dis Child. 2001;85(5):411–412. doi:10.1136/adc.85.5.411
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