Yes, ITP is an autoimmune condition. When you have immune thrombocytopenia, your own immune system attacks the platelets in your body, leaving your platelet counts low.

Platelets are the part of your blood that helps slow and stop bleeding.

Since there's no way to specifically test for ITP, it's a “diagnosis of exclusion.” First, your doctor will try to rule out other causes of low platelets, like an underlying illness you may have or any medications you may be taking. If no other cause is found after a complete medical history is taken and physical exam is done, you'll most likely be diagnosed with ITP.

Wondering what kinds of tests your doctor will run? Here are a few common ones:

• Complete blood count (CBC)—your doctor will draw a sample of blood and use it to measure your number of blood cells, including your platelet counts
• Blood smear—a thin layer of your blood, normally taken as part of or along with a CBC, will be smeared on a glass slide and looked at under a microscope to find out more about the number and shape of your blood cells
• Bone marrow exam—if the other blood tests show that your platelet count is low, your doctor may want to collect a sample of your bone marrow (they'll numb the area beforehand) to make sure it's making enough platelets

After you’ve been diagnosed, if you experience low platelet counts that last less than 3 months, it’s considered “newly diagnosed” ITP. If they last for more than a year, it’s called “chronic” or long-term ITP. Newly diagnosed ITP is more common in children, while chronic ITP mostly affects adult women.

Yes, ITP is a rare disease that affects 9.5 out of every 100,000 adults in the US.

Globally, ITP is thought to affect well over 200,000 people.

Patients with ITP don’t normally have a family history of thrombocytopenia (aka low platelet counts), but if you do, you should let your doctor know so a possible genetic link can be considered.

Your body has a natural signal—a hormone called “thrombopoietin” (TPO)—that tells it to make enough platelets for you.

When your body isn’t producing enough natural TPO to make the platelets you need, your doctor may prescribe a TPO-RA to help lift your platelet count.

If you miss your dose of Doptelet, take it as soon as you remember. Don’t take 2 doses at once to make up for missing the 1. You should take your next dose at your usual time.

If you think you’ve taken more Doptelet than you were prescribed, call your doctor or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Everyone’s treatment goals are different, so it’s important to keep taking Doptelet exactly as your doctor prescribed, based on the treatment plan you agreed on together. If you have questions about how long you’ll be on Doptelet, talk to your doctor or care team—they’re there to help.

Eligible patients who have commercial insurance may pay as little as $0 with the Doptelet Copay Assistance Program. Find out if you’re eligible here.

Doptelet Connect also has dedicated Case Managers who can help research your individual coverage, coordinate with a pharmacy to fill your prescription, and connect you with copay assistance or free product, if needed. Learn more about it here.

Yes. 49 patients living with chronic ITP, like you or someone you care for, were studied in a 6-month clinical trial for Doptelet. Some were taking Doptelet, some weren’t. On Day 8 of the trial, 21 out of the 32 patients taking Doptelet reached at least 50,000 platelets per microliter or more. Those not on Doptelet didn’t reach 50,000 platelets. Beyond that, the patients taking Doptelet were able to keep their platelet counts at 50,000 platelets per microliter or higher for an average of 12 total weeks vs 0 weeks for those not on Doptelet.

No, Doptelet isn’t a steroid. It’s a thrombopoietin receptor agonist (TPO-RA) that can help lift your platelet count.

With Doptelet, you have full food freedom, meaning you can eat any food you want, whenever you want. This includes calcium- and magnesium-rich foods.

Friendly reminder: Doptelet must be taken with food.

Doptelet is the only oral thrombopoietin receptor agonist (TPO-RA) that helps lift your platelet count on your ideal schedule with no food-type restrictions, additional liver monitoring, or injections.

Friendly reminder: Food’s a must when taking your dose of Doptelet, but which kind is up to you. When you start on Doptelet, your doctor will check your platelet count with a weekly blood test. Once you’ve reached your treatment goal, they’ll check it monthly.

The most common side effects of Doptelet are headache, tiredness, bruising, nosebleed, upper respiratory tract infection, joint pain, gum bleeding, purple or red spots on your skin, and runny nose. Doptelet is a thrombopoietin receptor agonist (TPO-RA) and TPO-RAs have been associated with blood clots. Tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms of a blood clot, including: swelling, pain, or tenderness in your legs, shortness of breath, chest pain, fast heartbeat, and stomach (abdominal) pain or tenderness.

Meet Tammy, our Dopteller (aka patient ambassador). You can watch her talk about life after diagnosis, reaching her goals, why Doptelet works for her, and more here.

While everyone’s treatment goal is unique (based on their age, medical history, activity level, etc), for most people keeping a count of 50,000 platelets per microliter or more can help reduce risk.

Talk to your doctor to figure out what your treatment goals should be together.

A normal platelet count in adults ranges from 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood, but for most people keeping a count of 50,000 platelets per microliter or more can help reduce risk.

It’s important to know and remember that the goal of treatment may not be to normalize your platelet counts. Everyone’s platelet count goal is unique, so it’s up to you and your doctor to set and reach your own together.