I am 75 and healthy, still walk the golf courses and enjoy all the activities that I did before my diagnosis of PCV. My platelets run all over the place. 3 months ago my Hemotologist put me on Hydroxyurea 500 mg 7 days a week now I take it 3 times a week. I don’t have any side effects. I like it much better than having a phlebotomy. If you don’t like it, you can always stop taking it.