A 35-year-old member asked:
How long can you safely take hydrea (hydroxyurea)?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Robert Kwokanswered
Pediatrics 34 years experience
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.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Aasim Sehbaianswered
Medical Oncology 25 years experience
Hydrea (hydroxyurea) duration: Well if someone needs it for myeloproliferative disorders like essential thrombocytosis or sickle cell patients, they can keep taking it for a long time. There are some side effects attributed to Hydrea (hydroxyurea) that it can lead to leukemia but it is not proven.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Dec 1, 2017
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