What happens to the erythrocyte count of a habitual user of barbiturates?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Telemetry.

What happens to the erythrocyte count of a habitual user of barbiturates?

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I am dying to know what prompted this question.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Haha. Well, it is part of a question that I need to answer for an exam. It is not in my text book, and I have been killing myself trying to find this out! :banghead:

Now I am at the point where I NEED to know, or I will go insane!

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Specializes in Telemetry.

P.S.

Not as interesting or exciting as it may have seemed...:cool:

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Specializes in ICU/ER.
What happens to the erythrocyte count of a habitual user of barbiturates?

I am waiting for Tired MDs response but let me take a guess here they would go down d/t excessive use of barbs has been linked to megaloblastic anemia. I think you treat with folic acid? Something to do with increased D requirements...its been awhile since I read anything about barbs. So I may be way off base here.

so why the question??

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Rats. I was really hoping for something crazy. Oh well.

In answer to your question, megaloblastic anemia is a known side effect of certain bartiuates including phenobarbital.

PS - looks like someone beat me to it, kudos racer!

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Thanks Racing! And thank you too Tired.

Tired...you want something crazy, give it a day or two. The week is still young!

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