Hydrea
Hydrea is a medicine that slows down the growth of fast-dividing cells, like cancer cells, and is used to treat chronic leukemia and other blood disorders.
Form
kapseli, kova
Strength
500 mg
Active Ingredient
Hydroxyurea
Manufacturer
Cheplapharm Arzneimittel GmbH
How to Use
Dosage
Take exactly as your doctor has prescribed; the dose is individualized for you.
Method
Swallow the capsules whole.
Important
Your doctor will determine your maximum daily dose based on your individual needs.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Bone marrow not working as well (it usually gets better when treatment stops).
- •Lower numbers of white blood cells (which can make you more prone to infections), platelets (increasing bleeding risk), or red blood cells (anemia, causing headache, tiredness, weakness).
- •Loss of appetite.
- •Pancreas inflammation (especially if also taking certain HIV medicines, which can be deadly).
- •Nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, mouth sores, constipation, stomach upset, general inflammation of mucous membranes.
- •Rash, hair loss, skin inflammation with sores, reddish skin rash (often on face, hands, feet), peeling skin, skin wounds, dark spots on skin and nails, dry skin and nails, skin inflammation with red, scaly patches and possible joint pain.
- •Increased levels of uric acid and creatinine in the blood, difficulty urinating.
- •Reduced sperm production.
- •Fever, chills, weakness, general feeling of being unwell.
- •Skin cancer (with long-term use), confusion, hallucinations, seizures, headache, dizziness, nerve problems in hands and feet, drowsiness.
- •Lung problems and shortness of breath, liver damage (can be deadly with certain HIV meds), increased liver enzymes, reduced bile flow, liver inflammation.
- •Hemolytic anemia (a condition where red blood cells are destroyed faster than the body can make them).
RARE
- •Local tissue death, often with ulcers, due to inflamed blood vessels in the skin (especially with prior or ongoing interferon treatment).
- •Abnormal blood test results and possible kidney problems due to the breakdown of cancer cells (tumor lysis syndrome).
Important Warnings
- Do not take Hydrea if you are allergic to hydroxycarbamide or any other ingredient in this medicine.
- Do not take Hydrea if you have very low numbers of platelets, red blood cells, or white blood cells in your blood.
- Do not take Hydrea if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver problems, or if your bone marrow is not working well.
- If you are elderly, your doctor might need to give you a smaller dose.
Show 9 more warnings
- Tell your doctor if you plan to get vaccinated, have had radiation treatment, or have a lack of folic acid.
- If you have diabetes and use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), Hydrea might cause the device to show blood sugar levels that are too high. Talk to your doctor about this.
- Long-term use of Hydrea can increase the risk of skin cancer and another type of blood cancer (leukemia). Protect your skin from the sun and check your skin regularly during and after treatment.
- It is important to drink plenty of fluids while taking this medicine.
- Do not use Hydrea with live vaccines, as this can increase the risk of side effects.
- This medicine may make you feel sleepy or less alert, affecting your ability to drive or use machines.
- Handle Hydrea capsules carefully. Wash your hands with soap and water after touching them, or use gloves. If a capsule breaks, wash your hands thoroughly with water. Keep Hydrea away from children and pets.
- If you are taking certain HIV medications (like didanosine, stavudine), taking Hydrea at the same time can cause serious problems like pancreas inflammation, liver damage, or nerve problems in your hands and feet.
- Men and women who can have children must use effective birth control during treatment with Hydrea and for a period after stopping the medicine (6 months for women, 3 months for men).