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Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: webontheweb on January 29, 2009, 06:25:18 pm

Title: off, bactrim and onto Dapsone very low WBC count
Post by: webontheweb on January 29, 2009, 06:25:18 pm

Hey guys and girls.  Just had a check up.  My White blood cel count has never been above 3.2 in the last 16 months and the Doc has taken me off of Bactrim and put me on Dapsone.  Didn't give it a minutes thought, until I got the script home and see that it is usually used to treat Leprosy!  I thought that I had gotten over FEELING like a leper and having to call out on the street "unclean,  unclean"  but know we know the truth!  I have an appointment with a hematologist next week.  They want to see if there is an underlying cause for the low WBC.  On the good nes, my CD4 is above 200 again! also it is at 20% a good sign, still undetectable viral load.  I have gone from 134 to as high as 222, hovering around 200 for one year.

If there is anyone who has gone through this, could you contact me privately to discuss.  I am not freaking out at all, just want to educate myself before I see the Doctor. 
Thank you , thank you thank you.

Title: Re: off, bactrim and onto Dapsone very low WBC count
Post by: Peter Staley on February 01, 2009, 10:42:38 am

Not sure why your doc switched you from bactrim to dapsone, but they both prevent PCP pneumonia.  Hopefully, once your CD4s get a little higher, you can stop both.

Your numbers are looking great!

FYI -- read our PCP lesson:

http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/PCP_6889.shtml

Title: Re: off, bactrim and onto Dapsone very low WBC count
Post by: BM on February 01, 2009, 02:41:21 pm

I had a white blood cell count of 2 while on Bactrim. Apparently the sulfamethoxazole component can suppress bone marrow, causing a dip in white blood cells. I was changed to Dapsone and my count came back up.

Title: Re: off, bactrim and onto Dapsone very low WBC count
Post by: webontheweb on February 08, 2009, 08:39:19 am

Had an appointment with a Hematologist this week.  She agrees with me that I am allergic to something in the bactrim, if you read up you will see that it is not so uncommon.  So- they gave me bactrim because I started out at a cd4 of 134 to give me protection against PCP, but the Bactrim suppressed my immune system which kept my cd4 below 200 so they kept me on the bactrim for protection.

CRAZY?!?!?!?!?!?!  I think so-  I wish I had read more about Bactrim and side effects sooner. i would have gone off it a long time ago. 

In the week since I stopped Bactrim My WBC # has gone from 2.9 to 3.5.  I FEEL better all over.  Looking for next bloo test to confirm.  When my husband was taken off Bactrim his numbers jumped 150 points in 3 months.  222 to 372.  WOW!

Educate yourselves, boys and girls.  It will pay off.