A variety of drugs can cause a reduction in platelets, including cytotoxic drugs such as cytarabine, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, vincristine and platinum drugs, anti-infective drugs such as vancomycin, linezolid, rifampicin, quinine and sulphonamides, anti-platelet or anticoagulant drugs such as anagrelide, aspirin, heparin, platelet glycoprotein GP IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists, and other bone marrow inhibitors such as thiazide diuretics, antidepressants, etc.
Regular monitoring of platelet levels is therefore recommended while taking these medications and a decision to adjust the dosage or discontinue the medication if thrombocytopenia is detected should be made under the guidance of a physician.