G6PD Deficiency: What It Is, Why It Matters, and What Drugs to Avoid

When your body lacks enough G6PD deficiency, a genetic condition where red blood cells can’t handle oxidative stress due to low levels of the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme. Also known as G6PD enzyme deficiency, it affects over 400 million people worldwide — especially those of African, Mediterranean, or Southeast Asian descent. This isn’t just a lab result. It’s a real, life-changing condition that can turn common medicines, foods, and even infections into triggers for sudden, dangerous breakdown of your red blood cells.

People with G6PD deficiency are at risk for hemolytic anemia, a condition where red blood cells are destroyed faster than the body can replace them — often after taking certain drugs or eating fava beans (a reaction called favism, a severe form of hemolytic anemia triggered by eating fava beans in G6PD-deficient individuals). You might not know you have it until you take an antibiotic like sulfamethoxazole, a painkiller like aspirin, or even a malaria drug like primaquine. These aren’t rare cases — they’re textbook triggers. And if you’re unaware, you could end up in the hospital with dark urine, extreme fatigue, or jaundice.

The good news? You don’t need to live in fear. Knowing what to avoid makes all the difference. Many of the posts here focus on medication safety — like how metronidazole can cause serious side effects, or why statins might need extra monitoring. Those same principles apply to G6PD deficiency. It’s not about avoiding all drugs — it’s about knowing which ones are risky and how to talk to your pharmacist before you take anything. You’ll find real stories here about people who learned the hard way, and others who stayed safe because they asked the right questions.

This collection isn’t just about G6PD deficiency. It’s about how one hidden genetic factor connects to everything from antibiotic safety to drug pricing, from brain fog caused by medications to how generics can sometimes be safer than brands. If you or someone you know has G6PD deficiency, you’re not alone — and you don’t have to guess what’s safe. The answers are here, written plainly, backed by real cases, and focused on what actually matters: keeping you healthy, one pill at a time.