Could Nplate Be Causing My Urinary Tract Infections?

Answer

Thanks so much for contacting us! Nplate (romiplostim injection) is a drug that is used to treat people with ITP (Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura), a condition where the body's immune system attacks and destroys platelets, which are important cells that help the blood to clot.

Nplate, which is generally considered to be a treatment option after other therapies have failed (like corticosteroids and immunoglobulins) works by attaching to a specific receptor (the TPO receptor) on the cells in the bone marrow, which sends a signal in the body to make more platelets.

Nplate Infection Side Effects

I won't go over all the side effects of Nplate here as it seems you're primarily concerned with an increase in bladder infections you've experienced. You can always review the complete side effects list on our drug information pages, or by looking through the package insert for the drug.

Interestingly enough, 'infection' is one of the most commonly reported side effects for Nplate. The following is from the prescribing information for the drug:

You can see that Nplate is commonly associated with the following infections:

• Upper respiratory tract infections
• Ear infections
• Gastroenteritis
• Sinusitis

Urinary tract infections are absent here, and it appears urinary tract infections specifically are quite uncommon. 

Nevertheless, it has been reported in some clinical studies as an infrequent side effect, so you certainly have to consider the possibility that Nplate could be responsible for what you are experiencing.

It is also important to note that Nplate is associated with some other side effects, like muscle pain, neuropathy, and abdominal pain that could feel like bladder pain associated with an infection.

What To Do

Even though urinary tract infections are thought to be uncommon with Nplate (unlike other types of infection), clinical studies suggest it is possible that the medication could be causing your issues.

However, it is also important to note that bladder infections can have many causes, and it's best to consult with your doctor to determine the specific cause of your symptoms. They can evaluate you and perform appropriate testing, such as a urine culture, to confirm if it is a bladder infection and to rule out other possible causes.

You don't mention if you have been treated for a urinary infection in the past, or what antibiotics you have used, and these are important things to know for appropriate guidance.

Treatment for urinary infections can vary greatly depending on whether or not your infection is considered 'complicated', the drugs you have used in the past, and the cause of your infections.

Again, please speak with your doctor so you can be appropriately evaluated and treated.

Final Words

Thanks so much for reaching out and I hope you found this information helpful.