Question 1

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 2

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 3

can you tell me about hydroxyurea 500 mg availability?

Accepted Answer

Available: 500mg oral tab of hydroxyurea is available in US. Is that your question?. The dosing of hydroxyurea, however, should be monitored by a doctor.

Question 4

my dad has to take hydroxyurea. why?

Accepted Answer

Blood disorder: My suspicion is that he has a blood disorder called a myeloproliferative neoplasm.  His bone marrow is probably making too many of one  or more cells.  This medication treats this to prevent any complications of over production.  Hope this helps.

Question 5

is hydroxyurea allowable /applicable for a 1 yr e  beta thallassemia baby?pls advice..

Accepted Answer

Unclear: I dont see any reliable information on using hydroxyurea under the age of 2 for decreasing transfusion needs in beta thalassemia babies.

Question 6

my mom was prescribed mylocel (hydroxyurea).  how does that work?

Accepted Answer

Antimetabolite: Mylocel, or hydroxyurea, is a form of chemotherapy that works to lower blood counts particularly in patients with leukemia such as chronic myelogenous leukemia and myeloproliferative disorders including polycythemia rubra vera and essential thrombocytosis.  Short term side effects may include nausea, hair loss, diarrhea, poor appetite, and nail thickening. Long term effects may include infertility.

Question 7

pls advice about the standard /perfect age to taking hydroxyurea of a e beta thallassemia child?

Accepted Answer

1 month old : Homozygous hemoglobin E disease (genetic; inherited from both parents) gives mild beta thalassemia &amp; anemia &amp; mildly enlarged spleen; probably doesn't need treatment.  Hgb E beta thalassemia disease (E from 1 parent, beta thal from the other): severe incurable disease. Hydroxyurea safe in infants. My guess: start early as possible after 1 mo old. Do discuss this with your pediatric hematologist.

Question 8

hydroxyurea may affect fertility (ability to have children), whether a man or a woman."please advice..

Accepted Answer

Chemotherapy: it is a chemotherapy drug (a mild one, that doesn't have severe side effects, once it has been checked, worries about it lowering blood counts too much are not much).

It does lower sperm quality and that effect can last after it is stopped.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17316339

Question 9

can hydroxyurea prevent priapism?

Accepted Answer

Let  me try: Priapism is a rare condition which causes a persistent, and often painful, penile erection.
An antineoplastic drug (hydroxyurea) may prevent future episodes of priapism for patients with sickle cell disease.

Question 10

can hair relaxers cause a problem if taking hydroxyurea?

Accepted Answer

I do tink so: Drug interactions 
there are no data on concomitant use of Hydroxyurea with other drugs in humans.

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Doctor answers about:

Hydroxyurea

A member asked:

How long can you safely take hydrea (hydroxyurea)?

A member asked:

What is hydrea (hydroxyurea) usually used to treat?

A member asked:

Can you tell me about hydroxyurea 500 mg availability?

A member asked:

My dad has to take hydroxyurea. why?

A member asked:

Is hydroxyurea allowable /applicable for a 1 yr e beta thallassemia baby?pls advice..

A member asked:

My mom was prescribed mylocel (hydroxyurea). how does that work?

A member asked:

Pls advice about the standard /perfect age to taking hydroxyurea of a e beta thallassemia child?

A member asked:

Hydroxyurea may affect fertility (ability to have children), whether a man or a woman."please advice..

A member asked:

Can hydroxyurea prevent priapism?

A member asked:

Can hair relaxers cause a problem if taking hydroxyurea?

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