Which drug is associated with thrombocytopenia?

Which drug is associated with thrombocytopenia?

• A. Quetiapine
• B. Risperidone
• C. Clozapine
• D. Ziprasidone

Answer: (C)

Thrombocytopenia signals bone marrow suppression from a drug. Among the antipsychotics listed, clozapine has the strongest association with hematologic cytopenias, including neutropenia and agranulocytosis, and it can also cause decreases in platelets leading to thrombocytopenia. Because of this risk, patients on clozapine require regular blood monitoring (CBC with differential, including ANC) to catch drops in blood counts early and adjust treatment as needed. The other drugs—quetiapine, risperidone, and ziprasidone—are less commonly linked to cytopenias and are not typically associated with thrombocytopenia. So the drug most associated with thrombocytopenia is clozapine.

Thrombocytopenia signals bone marrow suppression from a drug. Among the antipsychotics listed, clozapine has the strongest association with hematologic cytopenias, including neutropenia and agranulocytosis, and it can also cause decreases in platelets leading to thrombocytopenia. Because of this risk, patients on clozapine require regular blood monitoring (CBC with differential, including ANC) to catch drops in blood counts early and adjust treatment as needed. The other drugs—quetiapine, risperidone, and ziprasidone—are less commonly linked to cytopenias and are not typically associated with thrombocytopenia. So the drug most associated with thrombocytopenia is clozapine.