Final answer:
Drugs that can induce aplastic anemia include chloramphenicol, alkylating agents such as cyclophosphamide, antimetabolites like methotrexate and mercaptopurine, and certain antibiotics like daunorubicin and doxorubicin. Exposure to benzene, which is not a drug but is used in the production of some drugs, can also lead to aplastic anemia.
Step-by-step explanation:
Drugs Inducing Aplastic Anemia
Aplastic anemia, a condition with deficient numbers of red blood cell (RBC) stem cells, can be induced by certain drugs alongside other potential triggers like radiation, chemotherapy, or infection. The following drugs can induce aplastic anemia:
- Chloramphenicol
- Alkylating agents, for example, cyclophosphamide and others like methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil
- Antimetabolites such as methotrexate (Abitrexate®), fluorouracil (Adrucil®), and mercaptopurine (Purinethol®)
- Certain antibiotics, including anthracyclines like daunorubicin (Cerubidine®) and doxorubicin (Adriamycin®), which interact with DNA and can lead to aplastic anemia
Benzene, though not a drug, is also associated with causing aplastic anemia, especially with repeated exposure, as it can disrupt bone marrow function.