Which medication is associated with an increased risk of aplastic anemia?

The medication associated with an increased risk of aplastic anemia is Carbamazepine. Aplastic anemia is a serious condition where the body fails to produce sufficient blood cells, leading to a variety of complications such as increased risk of infection and bleeding.

Carbamazepine is known to cause bone marrow suppression in some patients, which can lead to aplastic anemia. It is thought to induce this condition through immunological mechanisms or direct toxicity to hematopoietic stem cells within the bone marrow. The incidence of aplastic anemia related to carbamazepine usage is relatively low, but the potential risk makes it crucial for healthcare providers to monitor patients closely, especially in patients on long-term therapy.

Other medications listed, while they have their own side effects, do not have a significant association with aplastic anemia. Oxcarbazepine and Phenytoin, for example, can lead to other hematological concerns but are not primarily linked to aplastic anemia. Amiodarone, primarily used for arrhythmias, has a different profile of potential adverse effects that do not prominently include bone marrow suppression leading to aplastic anemia.