My 22-year old son is suffering from schizophrenia. He has taken Abilify for a month and Klonopin for a year and a half. He is now in the hospital and is being treated for immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Could these medications have weakened his immune system and caused this disease? Answered by:Thomas Smith
ITP is a rare and potentially serious condition that has been associated with a number of medications. There are, however, few reports of ITP linked to antipsychotic medications, and none with Abilify.
It is often difficult to clearly establish the cause of ITP and you should work closely with your doctor in making decisions about re-starting medications. If your son continues to take Abilify and Klonopin, it will be important to monitor closely for a re-emergence of the ITP symptoms.
Thomas Smith, MD
Medical Director, NYC Mental Health Care Monitoring Initiative
Thomas E. Smith, MD is Research Scientist in the Division of Mental Health Services and Policy Research at the New York State Psychiatric Institute; Consulting Psychiatrist in the Lieber Center for Schizophrenia Treatment and Research at Columbia University; and Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons. Dr. Smith joined the New York State Psychiatric Institue in 2007 after serving as Medical Director at Hall-Brooke Behavioral Services in Westport, CT for 6 years. Prior to 2001 he was Director of Continuing Care Services at New York-P...
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