Question 1

what is hydrea (hydroxyurea) usually used to treat?

Accepted Answer

Tumors: Hydrea (hydroxyurea) has been used to treat certain cancers such as melanoma, chronic myelocytic leukemia, and some head and neck tumors.  It has also been used in patients with sickle cell anemia.

Question 2

i have (et) how high can platelets get before you recommend meds like hydrea (hydroxyurea)?

Accepted Answer

ET: When deciding whether to recommend hydrea, (hydroxyurea) the md takes into account patient's age, underlying cardiovascular risk factors, ; prior history of blood clots. The number of platelets is irrelevant if a patient is otherwise healthy. I have plenty of patients with platelet counts around 1 million. Look for an article from blood journal called "how i treat essential thrombocythemia" for a good summary.

Question 3

how long can you safely take hydrea (hydroxyurea)?

Accepted Answer

Risks vs. Benefits: Hydroxyurea is used to treat sickle cell anemia and some leukemias (blood cancers). As will most medications, there is no official time limit. A medicine that is helpful, is doing a good job, has no equal alternative, and thus is needed, can be used until it is no longer needed. The doctor can explain the risks of "not treating" and of drug side effects, versus the benefits of using hydroxyurea.

Question 4

could hydrea (hydroxyurea) possibly help children with sickle cell disease?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Hydre increases a type of hemoglobin called fetal hemoglobin in sicle cell patients and this prevents the sickle cells from breaking up easily. Hydrea (hydroxyurea) can reduce need for transfusions and patients may have less pain crises, chest sydrome and other complications.

Question 5

can homeopathy bring additional benefits to thalassemic patients on hydrea (hydroxyurea)?

Accepted Answer

No: Truly homeopathic "medications" are made by repeated dilutions, so that the ingredient is not really in the medication anymore (just the "essence" of it remains). That means there is no active ingredient left to cause any benefit. However, that also implies that the homeopathic "medicine" should be pretty harmless, unless some other non-homeopathic ingredients were added.

Question 6

what can i do to alleviate fatigue from essential thrombocythemia and hydrea (hydroxyurea)?

Accepted Answer

Discuss it with Dr: Fatigue is subjective? Age? How much fatigued ? What is your hemoglobin (red cell), white cell and platelet counts? Hydroxyurea is used to reduce the platelet number and might reduce as a side effect the hemoglobin and/or the white cells. There are newer mediations which might be used. Go and discuss the problem with your oncologist, who knows you better than me!  do not hesitate to go and ask.

Question 7

im diagnosed with lymphoma, myeloma and myelofibrosis.lymphoma is treated. myeloma shows no signs hemoglobin is down to 101 and thrombocytes 430. taking hydrea tabs six/week. my doctor says there is no treatment for myelofibrosis is that correct?

Accepted Answer

: Myelofibrosis is a difficult condition to cure for the long term, but there are treatmens that provide varying degrees of benefit. One such treatment, Hydrea you are already taking. This will keep your blood counts near normal.
There are also 2-3 FDA approved drugs which are to be used in case Hydrea is not doing a good job of controlling your blood counts. We would also like to know your WBC coun

Question 8

im 76 years im diagnosed with lymphoma, myeloma and myelofibrosis.lymphoma is myeloma shows no signs hemoglobin is down to 101 and thrombocytes 430. taking hydrea tabs six/week. my doctor says there is no treatment for myelofibrosis is that correct?

Accepted Answer

: I am not sure why you stated lymphoma is myeloma or it's a typo; those 2 diseases are different.
Most effective treatment for myelofibrosis is bone marrow transplant if you are eligible. You are currently treated with Hydrea which we call symptom-directed therapy.

Question 9

i am on hydrea (hydroxyurea).  i have an increase wbc, pain across my lower back, fatigue, occa. sharp pain in my abdomen, nausea, and chills.  is this an emergency?

Accepted Answer

Possibly: Risk stratification in et is primarily based upon factors that influence the occurrence of thrombotic, rather than hemorrhagic, complications.

Question 10

how can i tell if i have hives or a drug allergy?

Accepted Answer

Subtle: hives can occur as part of an allergy syndrome.  people with chronic hives or who have an inborn low threshold for hives have difficulty differentiating simple hives from drug allergy.  If the drug reaction is IgE-mediated, or occurs via a similar pathway without IgE, then one would expect additional symptoms other than hives (breathing problem, dizzy, nausea, swelling, headache, etc)

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Doctor answers about:

Hydrea allergy drugs

A member asked:

What is hydrea (hydroxyurea) usually used to treat?

A member asked:

I have (et) how high can platelets get before you recommend meds like hydrea (hydroxyurea)?

A member asked:

How long can you safely take hydrea (hydroxyurea)?

A member asked:

Could hydrea (hydroxyurea) possibly help children with sickle cell disease?

A member asked:

Can homeopathy bring additional benefits to thalassemic patients on hydrea (hydroxyurea)?

A member asked:

What can i do to alleviate fatigue from essential thrombocythemia and hydrea (hydroxyurea)?

A member asked:

Im diagnosed with lymphoma, myeloma and myelofibrosis.lymphoma is treated. myeloma shows no signs hemoglobin is down to 101 and thrombocytes 430. taking hydrea tabs six/week. my doctor says there is no treatment for myelofibrosis is that correct?

A member asked:

Im 76 years im diagnosed with lymphoma, myeloma and myelofibrosis.lymphoma is myeloma shows no signs hemoglobin is down to 101 and thrombocytes 430. taking hydrea tabs six/week. my doctor says there is no treatment for myelofibrosis is that correct?

A member asked:

I am on hydrea (hydroxyurea). i have an increase wbc, pain across my lower back, fatigue, occa. sharp pain in my abdomen, nausea, and chills. is this an emergency?

A member asked:

How can i tell if i have hives or a drug allergy?

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