Do not use unless a qualified clinician determines the benefit outweighs the risk and monitoring is in place.
- Why it matters
- Strongly oxidizing drug; can cause severe, sometimes fatal hemolysis and methemoglobinemia. FDA contraindicated in G6PD deficiency.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Dark urine, jaundice, shortness of breath, bluish skin within hours of infusion.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Is there an alternative for tumor lysis prevention (e.g., allopurinol)?
Do not use unless a qualified clinician determines the benefit outweighs the risk and monitoring is in place.
- Why it matters
- Same oxidative mechanism as rasburicase. Contraindicated in G6PD deficiency.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Hemolysis and methemoglobinemia within hours.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Can we use allopurinol or febuxostat for gout instead?
Do not use unless a qualified clinician determines the benefit outweighs the risk and monitoring is in place.
- Why it matters
- Antimalarial that causes dose-dependent hemolysis. Standard doses can be severe in Class I–II deficiency.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Dark urine, jaundice, anemia 1–3 days after dose.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Can I use atovaquone-proguanil or doxycycline for malaria instead? Should I be screened first?
Do not use unless a qualified clinician determines the benefit outweighs the risk and monitoring is in place.
- Why it matters
- Single-dose antimalarial. FDA requires G6PD testing before use due to severe hemolysis risk.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Prolonged hemolysis due to long drug half-life.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Have I had quantitative G6PD testing? Is there a safer option?
Do not use unless a qualified clinician determines the benefit outweighs the risk and monitoring is in place.
- Why it matters
- Causes dose-dependent hemolysis and methemoglobinemia even in mild deficiency at therapeutic doses.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Bluish lips or skin, dark urine, fatigue, shortness of breath.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Is there a non-sulfone alternative for my condition?
Do not use unless a qualified clinician determines the benefit outweighs the risk and monitoring is in place.
- Why it matters
- Paradoxically worsens methemoglobinemia and causes hemolysis in G6PD deficiency.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Worsening cyanosis, dark urine, shortness of breath — seek emergency care.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- What alternative treatment will you use for methemoglobinemia given my G6PD status?
Do not use unless a qualified clinician determines the benefit outweighs the risk and monitoring is in place.
- Why it matters
- Common UTI antibiotic consistently reported to cause hemolysis in G6PD deficiency.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Dark urine, fatigue, jaundice within days of starting.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Can I have fosfomycin or a cephalosporin for my UTI instead?
Sulfamethoxazole / TMP-SMX
Medication
Do not use unless a qualified clinician determines the benefit outweighs the risk and monitoring is in place.
- Why it matters
- Sulfonamide antibiotic (brands include Bactrim and Septra) with well-documented hemolysis risk in G6PD deficiency.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Hemolysis 1–3 days after starting.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Can you prescribe a non-sulfa antibiotic (e.g., amoxicillin, doxycycline, cephalexin)?
Phenazopyridine (Pyridium)
Medication
Do not use unless a qualified clinician determines the benefit outweighs the risk and monitoring is in place.
- Why it matters
- Urinary analgesic that causes methemoglobinemia and hemolysis.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Bluish skin, dark urine, weakness.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Is there a safer way to manage UTI bladder pain?
Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (Fansidar)
Medication
Do not use unless a qualified clinician determines the benefit outweighs the risk and monitoring is in place.
- Why it matters
- Antimalarial combination with documented hemolysis risk.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Hemolysis within 24–72 hours.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Can I use a non-sulfa malaria prevention drug?
Do not use unless a qualified clinician determines the benefit outweighs the risk and monitoring is in place.
- Why it matters
- Older quinolone antibiotic with well-documented hemolysis in G6PD deficiency. On the WHO and BNF avoid lists.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Dark urine, jaundice within 1–3 days of starting.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Can a different antibiotic class be used instead?
Toluidine blue (surgical/dental staining)
Medication
Evidence of harm: Moderate
Do not use unless a qualified clinician determines the benefit outweighs the risk and monitoring is in place.
- Why it matters
- Same oxidant class as methylene blue; can trigger hemolysis even at the small doses used for tissue staining.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Hemolysis and methemoglobinemia within hours.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Will any blue dye be used during my procedure? Please confirm it is not toluidine or methylene blue.
Vitamin K3 (menadione/menadiol — older synthetic forms)
Medication
Do not use unless a qualified clinician determines the benefit outweighs the risk and monitoring is in place.
- Why it matters
- Synthetic menadione can cause hemolysis, especially in newborns. Modern vitamin K1 (phytonadione) used in standard newborn care is safe.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Neonatal jaundice and hemolysis if old formulations are used.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Please confirm any vitamin K given is phytonadione (K1), not menadione.
Sulfasalazine
Medication
Evidence of harm: Moderate
Use only after discussing your G6PD status, dose, and monitoring plan with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Sulfa drug; risk is dose-related. Often tolerated at low doses but monitor closely.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Anemia symptoms within days of dose increase.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Should we start at a low dose and check my CBC and reticulocyte count?
Ciprofloxacin and other fluoroquinolones
Medication
Use only after discussing your G6PD status, dose, and monitoring plan with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Listed as risky on older lists; clinical evidence is mixed and mostly from older case reports. Often used safely with monitoring.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Watch for dark urine, fatigue, jaundice.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Is a non-quinolone antibiotic available for my infection?
Aspirin (high dose)
Medication
Evidence of harm: Moderate
Use only after discussing your G6PD status, dose, and monitoring plan with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Hemolysis reported mostly at very high doses (>1 g/day) or in severe (Class I) variants. Standard low-dose aspirin (81 mg) is generally tolerated.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Symptoms only at high doses: pallor, dark urine, fatigue.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Is the dose I'm taking safe given my G6PD status?
Chloroquine / hydroxychloroquine
Medication
Use only after discussing your G6PD status, dose, and monitoring plan with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Historically listed as risky; modern reviews suggest standard antimalarial and rheumatologic doses are usually tolerated in non-severe (Class III) deficiency. Severe (Class I–II) variants warrant closer monitoring.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Hemolysis is uncommon at standard doses; watch for dark urine, fatigue, jaundice.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- What CBC monitoring do I need on this drug, and is my G6PD class known?
Quinine / quinidine
Medication
Evidence of harm: Moderate
Use only after discussing your G6PD status, dose, and monitoring plan with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Reported triggers especially at high antimalarial doses. Tonic water exposure is not a meaningful risk.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Hemolysis at therapeutic doses.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Is there a safer antimalarial or antiarrhythmic?
Isoniazid (INH)
Medication
Use only after discussing your G6PD status, dose, and monitoring plan with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Occasionally reported as a trigger; usually tolerated for TB treatment.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Watch for fatigue, jaundice during TB therapy.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- What is the routine TB monitoring schedule for me?
Glibenclamide / glyburide
Medication
Use only after discussing your G6PD status, dose, and monitoring plan with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Sulfonylurea; case reports of hemolysis. Other diabetes drugs are often preferred.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Anemia symptoms with new dose.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Is metformin or another non-sulfonylurea better for me?
Acetaminophen (paracetamol)
Medication
Evidence of harm: Moderate
This item appears on some internet lists, but current evidence does not clearly support routine avoidance at normal exposure levels.
- Why it matters
- Often listed online as risky, but high-quality studies do not show meaningful hemolysis at recommended therapeutic doses. Generally the preferred analgesic and fever reducer in G6PD deficiency. Overdose can still cause hemolysis (and liver injury) — stay within label dosing.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Routine medication monitoring at therapeutic doses.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- What is the right dose for me or my child, and what is the daily maximum?
Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs
Medication
Evidence of harm: Moderate
This item appears on some internet lists, but current evidence does not clearly support routine avoidance at normal exposure levels.
- Why it matters
- Old lists include NSAIDs, but systematic reviews find no consistent hemolysis signal at standard doses.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Routine NSAID side effects only.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Is short-course NSAID use okay for me?
Penicillins and cephalosporins
Medication
Generally considered safe when used appropriately, but individual needs may vary — confirm with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Standard antibiotics with no meaningful G6PD hemolysis signal in modern reviews. Not appropriate if you have a known penicillin or cephalosporin allergy — tell your clinician.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Standard antibiotic side effects only.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Confirm there are no sulfa or nitrofurantoin components in my prescription, and that I'm not allergic to this class.
Azithromycin, doxycycline
Medication
Generally considered safe when used appropriately, but individual needs may vary — confirm with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Generally considered safe alternatives to sulfa drugs for many infections from a G6PD standpoint. Note: doxycycline has age (typically avoided in young children) and pregnancy restrictions unrelated to G6PD — confirm with your clinician.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Standard side effects only.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Is this a good substitute for a sulfa antibiotic given my age and other conditions?
Routine vaccines
Medication
Generally considered safe when used appropriately, but individual needs may vary — confirm with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Routine childhood and adult vaccinations are safe and recommended. Infections that vaccines prevent are themselves common hemolysis triggers.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Standard post-vaccine soreness or low fever.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Are we up to date on recommended vaccines?
Fava beans (broad / windsor / horse / bell / English dwarf / fever / haba / tick / pigeon / silkworm bean, Vicia faba)
Food
Do not use unless a qualified clinician determines the benefit outweighs the risk and monitoring is in place.
- Why it matters
- Contain vicine and convicine, which create strong oxidative stress in red blood cells. Cause classic 'favism.' Sold under many names — fava, broad, windsor, horse, bell, English dwarf, fever, haba, tick, pigeon, and silkworm bean all refer to Vicia faba.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Dark urine, jaundice, fatigue, fever within 24–48 hours of eating.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Are there hidden fava ingredients in this food (bean flours, mixed-bean dishes, products labeled with any of the alternate names)?
Fava bean pollen (inhaled near flowering plants)
Food
Use only after discussing your G6PD status, dose, and monitoring plan with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Rare reports of hemolysis from inhalation in highly sensitive individuals (Class I variants).
- Symptoms to monitor
- Same as eating fava beans.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Should I avoid being near flowering fava fields if I'm severely deficient?
Bitter gourd melon (Momordica charantia)
Food
Do not use unless a qualified clinician determines the benefit outweighs the risk and monitoring is in place.
- Why it matters
- Contains vicine-like compounds; case reports of hemolysis in G6PD deficiency, particularly from the seeds and concentrated extracts. Listed as a food to avoid by the G6PD Deficiency Foundation.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Dark urine, jaundice, fatigue within 24–48 hours.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Confirm I should avoid bitter gourd melon in all forms (fresh, juiced, supplements).
Chinese herbal preparations (traditional formulas)
Food
Evidence of harm: Moderate
Do not use unless a qualified clinician determines the benefit outweighs the risk and monitoring is in place.
- Why it matters
- Several traditional Chinese herbal ingredients (e.g., chuen-lin / huang lian, niu-huang, certain pearl powders and animal-derived components) have caused severe neonatal hemolysis in G6PD deficiency. Many proprietary formulas do not list G6PD warnings.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Dark urine, jaundice, pallor, fatigue — especially severe in newborns.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Can you confirm none of the ingredients in this Chinese herbal formula are G6PD triggers?
Tonic water (quinine)
Food
This item appears on some internet lists, but current evidence does not clearly support routine avoidance at normal exposure levels.
- Why it matters
- Quinine in tonic water is far below medical antimalarial doses. No reliable evidence that tonic water triggers hemolysis.
- Symptoms to monitor
- None expected at normal intake.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Is occasional tonic water okay?
Highly processed foods (salad dressings, canned soups, hot dogs, sausages, deli meats, pre-made sauces, snacks fried in soybean oil)
Food
Use only after discussing your G6PD status, dose, and monitoring plan with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- May contain soy, soybean oil, artificial dyes, preservatives, and hidden legume- or bean-derived ingredients that some G6PD-deficient individuals report tolerating poorly. Limit when possible and read ingredient labels.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Variable — usually none, but track if symptoms appear after a particular food.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Help me read labels for soy, soybean oil, artificial dyes, and bean-derived ingredients.
Beans and legumes (soy, peanuts, lentils, chickpeas — non-fava)
Food
Evidence of harm: Moderate
Use only after discussing your G6PD status, dose, and monitoring plan with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Not classic favism triggers, but the G6PD Deficiency Foundation advises caution because some individuals report symptoms with soy and other legumes. Most people tolerate them; introduce carefully and watch for personal reactions.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Usually none; track any dark urine, fatigue, or jaundice after a specific legume.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Should I trial soy and other legumes one at a time to see how I tolerate them?
Soy and soy-based foods (tofu, soy milk, soy protein isolate)
Food
Use only after discussing your G6PD status, dose, and monitoring plan with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Listed as a caution food by the G6PD Deficiency Foundation. Concentrated soy protein (isolates, powders) is the most commonly reported form to limit; small culinary amounts are usually tolerated.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Usually none; monitor after concentrated soy products.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Is occasional soy in cooking okay, even if I avoid soy protein powders?
Blueberries (and products with artificial blue dyes)
Food
Use only after discussing your G6PD status, dose, and monitoring plan with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Contain salicylic acid, and many blueberry-flavored products use artificial blue dyes. The G6PD Deficiency Foundation lists blueberries as a caution food for these reasons.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Usually none; track if symptoms follow heavy intake.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Should I limit blueberries or just artificially dyed blue products?
Plant-based protein powders and meat substitutes (pea / soy protein blends)
Food
Use only after discussing your G6PD status, dose, and monitoring plan with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Concentrated plant-protein blends (especially pea + soy isolates) deliver legume-derived proteins at much higher doses than whole-food eating. The G6PD Deficiency Foundation advises caution.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Usually none; monitor with regular use.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Are there animal-protein or rice-protein alternatives I can use instead?
High-concentration vitamin C (ascorbic acid supplements, fortified drinks)
Food
Evidence of harm: Moderate
Use only after discussing your G6PD status, dose, and monitoring plan with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Normal dietary vitamin C from whole fruit is safe. The G6PD Deficiency Foundation advises caution with high-concentration ascorbic acid (large oral doses, fortified drinks, supplements) because of the same oxidative-stress concerns documented with high-dose IV vitamin C.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Dark urine, jaundice, fatigue if hemolysis occurs.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Is my multivitamin dose of vitamin C safe? Avoid mega-dose vitamin C supplements?
Dietary supplements (herbal, antioxidant, and multi-ingredient blends)
Food
Use only after discussing your G6PD status, dose, and monitoring plan with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Supplements often combine concentrated herbs, antioxidants, and high-dose vitamins. The G6PD Deficiency Foundation advises caution and label review before starting any new supplement.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Variable depending on ingredients.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Can you check this supplement's full ingredient list for G6PD triggers?
Balanced diet — dark leafy greens, fruits and vegetables, lean meat and poultry, eggs, fish, whole grains
Food
Generally considered safe when used appropriately, but individual needs may vary — confirm with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Whole foods — dark leafy greens, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats and poultry, eggs, fish, and whole grains — are safe and supportive in G6PD deficiency. No special diet is needed beyond avoiding fava beans and the listed cautions.
- Symptoms to monitor
- —
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Any specific nutrients I should focus on?
Generally Considered SafeGenerally considered safe when used appropriately, but individual needs may vary — confirm with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Helps protect kidneys during any hemolytic event.
- Symptoms to monitor
- —
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- How much fluid is right for me daily?
Henna (especially on newborn skin)
Herb/Supplement
Do not use unless a qualified clinician determines the benefit outweighs the risk and monitoring is in place.
- Why it matters
- Lawsone (the active dye) is oxidizing. Severe hemolysis reported in G6PD-deficient infants after skin application.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Jaundice and pallor in infants within 24–48 hours.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Confirm no henna or 'natural dye' is being used on my baby's skin.
High-dose intravenous vitamin C (pharmacologic doses, typically ≥15 g IV)
Herb/Supplement
Do not use unless a qualified clinician determines the benefit outweighs the risk and monitoring is in place.
- Why it matters
- Pharmacologic IV doses (commonly 15–100 g, e.g., in oncology or 'wellness' infusions) can cause severe, sometimes fatal hemolysis and acute kidney injury. Standard hospital doses (1–2 g IV) have not been clearly linked to hemolysis but should still be cleared with your clinician.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Dark urine, jaundice, back/flank pain within hours — seek emergency care.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Has G6PD been confirmed before any high-dose IV vitamin C infusion? What is the planned dose?
Oral vitamin C (normal supplement doses, up to ~500 mg/day)
Herb/Supplement
Evidence of harm: Moderate
This item appears on some internet lists, but current evidence does not clearly support routine avoidance at normal exposure levels.
- Why it matters
- Standard oral doses are generally considered safe; the problem is specifically high-dose IV infusions.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Routine only.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Is my supplement dose within the safe oral range?
Alpha-lipoic acid (high dose)
Herb/Supplement
Use only after discussing your G6PD status, dose, and monitoring plan with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Case reports of hemolysis with high-dose use.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Anemia symptoms after dose increases.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Is this supplement necessary for me?
Berberine (goldenseal, Coptis, Berberis)
Herb/Supplement
Evidence of harm: Moderate
Use only after discussing your G6PD status, dose, and monitoring plan with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Berberine displaces bilirubin from albumin and is linked to neonatal jaundice risk. Avoid in infants and pregnancy.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Jaundice, especially in neonates.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Are any of my supplements berberine-based?
N-acetylcysteine (NAC)
Herb/Supplement
Evidence of harm: Moderate
This item appears on some internet lists, but current evidence does not clearly support routine avoidance at normal exposure levels.
- Why it matters
- Sometimes listed as risky; actually used safely (and as an antioxidant) in many G6PD patients.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Routine only.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Is NAC fine at my dose?
- Source
- PubMed reviews.
Folic acid
Herb/Supplement
Generally considered safe when used appropriately, but individual needs may vary — confirm with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Helpful for red blood cell production, especially during or after a hemolytic episode.
- Symptoms to monitor
- —
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Do I need a folate supplement?
Vitamin E (normal doses)
Herb/Supplement
Generally considered safe when used appropriately, but individual needs may vary — confirm with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Antioxidant; small studies suggest a potential supportive role. Use normal doses, not megadoses.
- Symptoms to monitor
- —
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- What is a reasonable daily vitamin E dose?
Mothballs / naphthalene (clothing, closets, diapers)
Treatment
Do not use unless a qualified clinician determines the benefit outweighs the risk and monitoring is in place.
- Why it matters
- Potent trigger. Even storing baby clothes with mothballs has caused severe hemolysis in G6PD-deficient infants.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Hemolysis within 24–48 hours of exposure.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Is my home, daycare, or relative's home free of mothballs?
Camphor balms, oils, vapor rubs (on skin or nostrils)
Treatment
Evidence of harm: Moderate
Use only after discussing your G6PD status, dose, and monitoring plan with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Reports of hemolysis, especially in infants. Avoid camphor products in young children with G6PD deficiency.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Hemolysis and separate camphor toxicity (seizures in children).
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Are there camphor-free alternatives for cough or muscle pain?
Topical methylene blue (umbilical or wound dyes — historical)
Treatment
Do not use unless a qualified clinician determines the benefit outweighs the risk and monitoring is in place.
- Why it matters
- Can be absorbed through skin and trigger hemolysis.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Hemolysis.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Confirm no methylene blue is used in any procedure or dressing.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)
Treatment
Use only after discussing your G6PD status, dose, and monitoring plan with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- High oxygen exposure increases oxidative stress; a small number of case reports describe hemolysis in G6PD-deficient patients. Discuss with hematology before HBOT.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Dark urine, fatigue, jaundice during or after therapy.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Has hematology cleared me for HBOT, and what monitoring will be done during sessions?
Acute infection or illness (fever, sepsis, viral illness)
Treatment
Use only after discussing your G6PD status, dose, and monitoring plan with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Infection is the single most common trigger of hemolysis in G6PD deficiency — more common than food or medication. Always tell the clinician treating an infection that you have G6PD deficiency so they avoid sulfa drugs, nitrofurantoin, and other triggers.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Dark/cola-colored urine, jaundice, pallor, or extreme fatigue during an illness — seek urgent medical care.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Given my G6PD deficiency, which antibiotic or antiviral is safest for this infection?
Routine surgery and anesthesia
Treatment
Generally considered safe when used appropriately, but individual needs may vary — confirm with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Most modern anesthetics are safe. Inform the anesthesia team — they will avoid drugs like prilocaine and large doses of benzocaine that can cause methemoglobinemia.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Routine surgical monitoring.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- Will the anesthesia team avoid prilocaine, large-dose benzocaine, and methylene blue?
- Source
- AAGBI; anesthesia reviews.
Blood transfusion (during severe hemolysis)
Treatment
Generally considered safe when used appropriately, but individual needs may vary — confirm with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Lifesaving in severe hemolytic anemia. Standard donor blood is appropriate.
- Symptoms to monitor
- —
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- What hemoglobin level would trigger a transfusion for me?
- Source
- Hematology guidelines.
Phototherapy for neonatal jaundice
Treatment
Generally considered safe when used appropriately, but individual needs may vary — confirm with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- First-line treatment for jaundice in G6PD-deficient newborns. Safe and effective.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Close bilirubin monitoring.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- What bilirubin level requires phototherapy for my baby?
Exchange transfusion (severe neonatal jaundice)
Treatment
Generally considered safe when used appropriately, but individual needs may vary — confirm with your clinician or pharmacist.
- Why it matters
- Used when bilirubin is very high or rising fast despite phototherapy.
- Symptoms to monitor
- Standard NICU monitoring.
- What to ask your doctor / pharmacist
- At what bilirubin level would my baby need exchange transfusion?