"Tim" posted the following in Questions for Dr. Eskapa:

I started the Sinclair method a few months ago. Due to the black box warning on naltrexone, my doctor had me take monthly blood tests. A couple months ago my blood showed borderline low platelets, right below "normal." As a followup this month, I took another blood test, and apparently the condition has gotten worse.

Has anyone else experienced this/how common is that? I note that only one patient showed this symptom in the original research, how about in followup studies? If naltrexone is found to be causing the thrombocytopenia, what alternatives exist that are legal in the US?


I moved this thread from the questions for Eskapa thread since members posted responses. I meant to delete the responses only from the copy I left on Eskapa's thread and leave them here in General Discussion. Apparently I deleted both. I don't need to use the mod tools much and used the "ghost thread" to copy which I now know doesn't work that way.

I'm doubly distressed because I did not like what was posted but had no intention to censor. If anyone would care to re-post here I may voice my disagreement but I won't delete it.

Meanwhile, the Dear Dr Eskapa thread remains for Eskapa to respond, unless you are a member who recognizes a question that has been addressed in the past.

And as I said in my own post that I deleted, medical advice is best sought from an MD.

I missed any reply that had occurred prior to the thread issue. Can those who had stuff to say, even negative things, please respond? I'm not one whose feelings get hurt easily.

Nothing was really said Tim. I think ortho said something like alcohol can cause that and those platelet numbers can go up and down very quickly (correct me if I'm wrong).

You might email Dr. Eskapa through the email system in this forum. He responds to those when he gets time. That is an option, however as Lena said, he'd probably just direct you to ask your MD.

I think ortho also mentioned that B12 deficiency in alcoholics is quite common, to which I replied that I supplement with B Complex (strong) daily, as we were always given it in rehab, so it might not be a bad idea generally (though no idea if it's related to/will help with your condition).

All the best

eight

And, it was suggested that you quit drinking until this was resolved, to which someone replied that it is unwise to quit cold turkey unless medically supervised. That's the best I can recall. Again, Tim, sorry to delete the responses.

Hi Tim,

I am NOT a medical professional in any way, shape or form. And I get anxious even when I point out something that I think may be relevant (it's my OCD). However, I'm going to take the plunge and suggest that you may want to take a look at the following Opizone Summary of Product Characteristics:

http://www.opizone.co.uk/leaflets/opi-s ... -08-06.pdf

Under clause 4.8 (undesirable effects), there is a reference (in 'Very rare') to 'Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpurea'. Now, I don't know what is meant by 'Idopathic' or 'purpurea', but the word 'thrombocytopenic' caught my attention.

As already pointed out, please seek medical advice.

V.