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Toporol Low Platelet Numbers?

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Hi!

Being this is all new to me, I figured I would post instead of being a worry wart.

My platelet count was low in the hospital and climbing slowly - I received a call from my cardiologist today and it is now very low (bloodtest on monday) and at the request of my cardiologist - I am going to see a hemotologist tomorrow for the full gamut. For obvious reasons I cannot stop taking the toporol - so he needs to figure out what is going on and he assured me, the hemotologist would be a huge help to figure this out.

I am scared and a bit nervous... is this normal?

Thank you for your time,

Judi

17 replies

Hi Judi

It's just me again (Christine) . What dose of Toporal do you take? I never heard of platelet counts being low on Toporol, however my blood tests shows that a am a little anemic I know that platelet counts go down on chemotherapy,(went through that twice). I am on the maximum of Toporol XL the docttors will prescribe and that is 150mgs every day. I am also on Lisinipril, Louvastin, aspirin, vitamins and supplements, pepcid , spirolactone, lasix and Wellbutrin XL. I take like 21 pills a day. I also take a Xanax when needed. Of course, not let us forget that we all have to be on antibiotics if we have any dental work done. I'm having dental work done and the regular dentist won't even touch my mouth he is sending me to a Oral Surgeon because I've been taking FOSAMAX for my 8th year. To clue you in fosamax , it is for your bones (osteoporosis) and one of the side affects is necrosis of the jaw.


Good luck tomorrow.

Let us know here on the site what the hemotologist has to say. I think most of us are either on Coreg or Toporal.

Christine
cagoduto@sbcglobal.net

Hi Christine!

Thank you so much for the info.... The doses I was on at the hospital are the same I am on right now... The Endocrine Dr.'s visit is Monday and she said the BetaBlocker may be able to come down a bit (they believe I was in thyroid crisis, leading to heart attack along with family history - yadda yadda...)

I am on:
Toporol 150 mg 2 x daily
Nexium = 1 @ 20mg
Methimazole = 1 @10mg = 3 x's daily
Crestor = 1 @ 5mg
Plavix = 1 @ 75mg
Asprin 325 mg = 1

I am a bit worried - anyone see anything here that would do this? They thyroid Dr. doesn't seem to think it is that... but switched me this evening as a security measure....

Christine... stay in touch!! Thank you so much!

Judi

Wow - you are taking Toprol 150 mg 2 times a day. That sounds high. My heart transplant team (no I didn't have a transplant) said 150 mg. was max for me.

The one pill I absolutely hate is the Lasix 20 mg. once a day. They say it is a low dose but it still makes me run to the bathroom every 5 minutes for 3-4 hrs after I take it. I skip this med especially on days that I am busy going out somewhere. I also take spirolactone which is another diuretic 12.5 mg. They have to watch this because taking the two diuretics my potassium might get too low.

I am going to send you a message under the friends title, please reply.

Christine

cagoduto@sbcglobal.net

Hi I am taking 200 of Toprol Xl twice a day My count has been low but never enough to take me off the toprol. I hope all is well an they can figure it out. Good Luck.

Abigail

From my research and experience, Toporal is a beta blocker and should not thin your blood causing low platlets. It is the coumiden and Plavix that does a number on your platlets. Hope this helps

Thank you so much everyone!!

Flowerfloosey, I know - it is odd, I thought the Toporol because the dosage was "high to me"... BUT I went to the hemotologist yesterday.... I was scared out of my mind, as I am walking up to his office - he is an oncologist as well, I almost fainted right there.... I thought to myself, what is the cardiologist trying to do to me?????????

He said after taking 3 pages of notes on me, there are 2 options that he believes right now are the cause of this:

1) The PTU I was on up until yesterday for the thyroid (my endo switched me as a precation back to meth) - I had to take a VERY high loading dose in the hospital and this is when it all began... (I will know the results of the yesterday-bloodtest today - if we have to do #2)

or

2) Antibodies are causing a reaction, that cause the platelets to drop... which is cured by taking a short course of pred.

What do you think?

Judi

hi christine! the high toporol is due to the belief that i had a thyroid storm that contributed to the attack - i should have been on betas all along for my thyroid - but i had a horrible 1st doctor for encrinology...

Results are in - the low platelet count was due to the PTU thyroid medication... I was 47,000 and am now rising to 127,000 +!

Thank you all for being there for me....
Hugs,
Judi

Hi Chris,

it's me Ellen Is toporal Toprol-XL? What with all the side effects I could scream. Can you hear me?

Ellen

Abigail,

it's me Ellen. You spelled the med differently then it was posted. Infact, it is what I am questioning I take Topral-XL and now I am reading about this side effect. I am going to write this down. I see the cardiologist Wednesday. They had to take me off Cardizem because I wass and still am, but less, retaining water. So it appreas I am going to trade one side effect for another. Isn't this fun?

Ellen

Ellen,

I think there is a slight difference between toporal and toprol XL. T he XL is slow release throughout the day. Do you take this Med too? The only side affect I have is constipation and I don't know if it is the toporal XL or one of the other medications.

Christine
cagoduto@sbcglobal.net

Hi There Chris,

Just have a bit of time. I switched to Topral XL from caridzem this past week because of the vast amount of fluids I was retaining. I am starting at 25 mg because I am such a baby. Seeing the cardio this wednesday to see if there's been any improvement, but quite frankly I have not seen any. It has only been since Wednesday, so maybe by this Wednesday there will be some. If not, I am going to have to go to the shoe store for velcro shoes.

Gotta Run,

Ellen

Hi...I have been on 150mg Toprol XL for quite a few years...prob 10. I used to be on Lopressor but it didnt last throughout the day...Toprol XL is the same beta blocker but an extended release. I take it for IHSS (Idiopathic Hypertrophic SubAortic Stenosis) basically a form of cardiomyopathy. I also take 150 mcg of synthroid daily. I had a severe case of Grave's Disease and then had radiation..so now basically my thyroid used to be the size of a grapefruit (should be the size of a walnut) and is now the size of a small raisin...so it doesnt work too much...was always heavy but put on alot of weight since going from hyper to hypo..I cant say really anything but good about the Toprol XL and aside from any beta blocker making u retain fluid because its purpose is to slow the heart rate so u r not pumping so fast so the fluid stays...I really hate the thyroid since the radiation...my numbers have never ever gone to normal...TSH pretty good but T3 never right...if they increase it anymore I will be back to hyper...my T3 is still around 10...TSH after radiation was around in the 90s...loved trying to peel my eyelids open in the morning since there was no fluid...getting back to the max dose on Toprol XL...when my thyroid was bad they had me on 300 mg /day...300-400 is the max...i think the docs should go more on how you feel than just the numbers

It looks like meth can cause low platelet count too. I see that you have been switched back to it. I just thought that I would include this from Wikepedia.


The chance of side effects from methimazole are about 5%.[citation needed] It is important to monitor any symptoms of fever or sore throat while taking methimazole; this could indicate the development of agranulocytosis, an uncommon but severe side effect resulting from a drop in the white blood cell count (specifically, neutropenia, a deficiency of neutrophils). A complete blood count (CBC) with differential is performed to confirm the suspicion, in which case the drug is discontinued. Administration of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) may increase recovery.

Other side effects include

skin rash
itching
abnormal hair loss
upset stomach
vomiting
loss of taste
abnormal sensations (tingling, prickling, burning, tightness, and pulling)
swelling
joint and muscle pain
drowsiness
dizziness
decreased white blood cells
decreased platelets

I just wanted to say that I have been through a similar, but different story. I was put on a high dose of thyroid medication ( way too high) and pregnenolone that caused my heart attack. It caused a thyroid storm. You were on the opposite end........you had a thryoid storm because of your body producing to much thyroid. Beta blockers keep the T4 from converting into T3 ( the active form of thyroid that your body uses).

I also am seeing a hematologist. The first one was stationed in the Hillman Cancer Center. It was eerie being with all those cancer patients. However, he didn't feel he could handle my case and moved me on to a new hematologist. His office is in his own building, away from all the cancer patients.

The first hematologist was more into oncology rather than hematology. The whole medical group was , as a matter of fact. He said he was going to specialize in GI oncology. (must be where the money is)

Kathi

This just came in my email concerning fosamax. It' s just for your information and not advice.

FOSAMAX ESOPHAGEAL CANCER LAWSUITS
For nearly three years, the Fosamax lawyers at Saiontz, Kirk & Miles, P.A. have been investigating potential lawsuits on behalf of Fosamax users who developed osteonecrosis of the jaw as a side effect of Fosamax.

>>INFORMATION: Fosamax Jaw Lawsuits

Additional research into the possible risk factors for esophageal cancer as a side effect of Fosamax and other oral bisphosphonates is necessary before it can be determined whether individuals who have been diagnosed with tumors while taking the drug may be entitled to compensation as a result of inadequate warnings.

To have a potential Fosamax lawsuit reviewed by an attorney, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

I just want to add that Plavix is well known for decreasing platelet counts - you should add that as a reason why your count is so low

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