Examples
|
| hydroxyurea | Droxia, Hydrea |
Hydroxyurea is available as a pill you can swallow. It is
also known as hydroxycarbamide.
Why It Is Used
Hydroxyurea is used to lower blood counts in people who have some kinds of leukemia. It works fast, does not have serious side effects, and allows for a quick recovery if blood counts drop too low.1
How Well It Works
Some leukemias can cause your white
blood cell count to get too high. Hydroxyurea can reduce white blood cell
counts within 1 or 2 days.1
Side Effects
Side effects of hydroxyurea are generally
mild and can include:
- Low blood counts, which may increase the risk
of infection and bleeding.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Loss of
appetite.
- Diarrhea.
- Hoarseness.
- Fever or
chills.
- Mouth sores (stomatitis).
- Blackening of the
fingernails and toenails.
- Skin ulcers (uncommon side
effect).
- Rashes.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug
Reference is not available in all systems.)
What To Think About
Hydroxyurea should be used only
under the supervision of a
medical oncologist or
hematologist. He or she will monitor your blood counts
regularly.
Taking medicine
Medicine is one of the many tools your doctor has to treat a health problem. Taking medicine as your doctor suggests will improve your health and may prevent future problems. If you don't take your medicines properly, you may be putting your health (and perhaps your life) at risk.
There are many reasons why people have trouble taking their medicine. But in most cases, there is something you can do. For suggestions on how to work around common problems, see the topic Taking Medicines as Prescribed.
Pregnancy advice for women and men
If you need to take this medicine, talk to your doctor about how you can prevent pregnancy.
For women: Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant.
For men: Do not use this medicine if you and your partner are planning to get pregnant.
Checkups
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
Hydroxyurea is still an experimental treatment in
children. Long-term effects of the drug on children are not yet known.
Complete the new medication information form (PDF)(What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.
References
Citations
- Reichard KK, et al. (2009). Chronic myeloid leukemia. In JP Greer et al., eds., Wintrobe's Clinical Hematology, 12th ed., vol. 2, pp. 2006–2030. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Brian Leber, MDCM, FRCPC - Hematology |
|---|
| Last Revised | December 17, 2010 |
|---|
Reichard KK, et al. (2009). Chronic myeloid leukemia. In JP Greer et al., eds., Wintrobe's Clinical Hematology, 12th ed., vol. 2, pp. 2006–2030. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.