Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficiency Medication

Updated: Jul 19, 2021
  • Author: Srikanth Nagalla, MD, MS, FACP; Chief Editor: Emmanuel C Besa, MD  more...
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Medication

Medication Summary

Pharmacologic therapy is not used in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Treatment of hyperbilirubinemia in G6PD-deficient neonates, when indicated, is with phototherapy and exchange transfusions. [35] Prophylactic oral phenobarbital does not decrease the need for phototherapy or exchange transfusions in G6PD-deficient neonates. [36] The heme analogue tin-mesoporphyrin (SnMP) has been successful in inhibiting bilirubin production in newborns, but remains an experimental agent. [21, 37]