G6PD Deficiency: What It Is, How It Affects You, and What Medications to Avoid
When your body doesn’t make enough G6PD deficiency, a genetic condition where red blood cells lack the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase needed to protect them from damage. Also known as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, it affects millions worldwide—especially people of African, Mediterranean, and Southeast Asian descent. Without enough of this enzyme, your red blood cells can burst open under stress, leading to hemolytic anemia, a condition where red blood cells are destroyed faster than the body can replace them. This isn’t something you feel every day, but it can hit hard if you take the wrong medicine, eat fava beans, or get a bad infection.
Many common drugs can trigger a dangerous reaction in people with G6PD deficiency. For example, certain antibiotics like primaquine, a malaria drug known to cause severe hemolysis in G6PD-deficient individuals. Even over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin or some sulfa drugs can be risky. It’s not just medications—favism, a reaction to eating fava beans that can cause acute hemolytic anemia in susceptible people. is a well-documented trigger. The key isn’t fear, it’s awareness. If you know you have G6PD deficiency, you can avoid these triggers and live normally. Many people only find out after a bad reaction to medicine, which is why it’s important to tell every doctor and pharmacist about your condition.
What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t just a list of drugs to avoid—it’s real, practical advice from people who’ve been there. You’ll see how G6PD deficiency interacts with antibiotics like clarithromycin and moxifloxacin, how antihistamines and painkillers can sneak up on you, and what alternatives are safe. There’s no fluff here. Just clear, tested information to help you make smarter choices with your meds, avoid hospital visits, and live without constant worry.
Primaquine vs Other Antimalarials: A Practical Comparison of Alternatives
A detailed side‑by‑side look at Primaquine and its main alternatives, covering mechanisms, dosing, safety, and best‑use scenarios for malaria prevention and treatment.
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