I have had thrombocytopenia for the past 3 years. This condition involves blood platelets which have the clotting factor. If too low, excessive bleeding results. The normal range is about 130 to 150. My doctor has been prescribing varying doses of prednisone to control it.
Since there are health risks connected to long-term steroid use, I would like to explore alternative treatments. Has anyone had any success with other acceptable treatments. If so, what are they?
Thanks for your help!

There has been quite a bit of discussion in these forums about ways to increase the platelet count without resorting to platelet transfusions. Go to "Search" in the green menu bar at the top of this page and type in "platelets" or "thrombocytopenia" and you will see what has been submitted. However, many of the "remedies" suggested are unproven, and NoBlood does not recommend them. One drug that does work is Neumega, a synthetic hormone that stimulates precursor cells in the bone marrow to become platelets. Here is a sample of what has been discussed to get you started: http://www.noblood.org/professionals/1954-low-platelet-count.html

What diagnosis have you been given? Surely the cause of your low platelet count needs to be ascertained and addressed, rather than just trying to treat a symptom.

I have lupus/fibromyalgia. I am 11 years post-breast cancer/bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction and 6 months of chemo (cytotoxin, methotrexate and 5FU. My doctor says the thrombocytopenia is autoimmune related. I had a bone marrow biopsy wwhich was negative for leukemia; and the marrow is producing platelets. My spleen is not enlarged so it is assumed that it is not destroying platelets. Thank you for your concern and help.

For those of you with ITP or Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia. My platelet counts are finally normal at 136 after over 3 years of treatment with progressively decreased doses of prednisone. We started at 60 mg daily and are at 5 mg on alternate days with the goal of eliminating it altogether. Lyrica and plaquenil were eventually added to the mix to help lupus and fibromyalgia. I am 11 years post breast cancer so bone marrow biopsy was done and negative for leukemia. Marrow is producing platelets. Spleen has never been enlarged. Doctors think low platelets are connected to this. I hope this is beneficial information to anyone out there.

__________________
Sandy Fluet