Drugs which may aggravate or exacerbate

CMT and HNPP

The following drugs and chemicals are proven to cause neuropathy and should be avoided by CMT patients unless no alternative exists.
1. Drugs used in the treatment of cancer:
Vincristine/vinblastine
Cis-platinum/carbo-platinum
Taxol, Suramin
Misomidazole
2. Drugs used to treat infections (including tuberculosis)
Isoniazid
Ethionamide
Metrinidazole (Flagyl - for trichomonas infection, commonly used in medicine for vaginal bacterial infections and yeast infections or topically for acne and orally as an antibiotic by some dentists and doctors.)
Nitrofurantoin (Furadantin,
Macrobid, Macrodantin) - urinary tract infections - alert doctor
Chloramphenical
ddC, ddl* (used in the treatment of HIV infection)
3. Drugs used in cardiac conditions
Amiodarone
Perhexiline (Pexid)
4. Other drugs and chemicals
Alcohol
Glues and solvents* (often used recreationally)
Daspone (used in leprosy, AIDS and some skin diseases)
Disulfiram (Anabuse) - (used by alcoholics)
Gold (used to treat rheumatoid arthritis)
Pyridoxine or vitamin B6
Thalidomide* (used in AIDS patients)
Phenytoin* (used in treatment of epilepsy)
*new to the list
For many other drugs and chemicals, it has been suggested that there may be toxic effects on peripheral nerves. However, there is no good evidence that they can cause neuropathy in humans or that they can exacerbate neuropathy in CMT patients. These include adriamycin (used in cancer treatment), lithium (used in psychiatric illness and occasionally in headache), nitrous oxide (used as an anesthetic), penicillamine (used in rheumatoid arthritis) and many others. It is prudent for a CMT patient to avoid these drugs whenever possible. You should ask your pharmacist to look up any drug that is prescribed for you to see if there may be toxic effects on nerves. There are almost always alternatives.
Gareth J. Parry, Neurologist, Auckland Hospital, Professor of Neurology, University of Minnesota