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My hematologist just prescribed 500 mg of Hydrea every other day for me. My bone marrow biopsy showed that I had JAK2 and called it a gene mutation. All other lab work and ultrasound was good. I’m really worried because I’ve heard such scary things about side effects.
I’m 75 years old and I’m fairly good shape. is that
Replies to "My hematologist just prescribed 500 mg of Hydrea every other day for me. My bone marrow..."
The drug Hydrea/hydroxyurea has been around and used for about 45 years. It is generally well tolerated in patients compared to other chemo drugs and treatments. Many people (myself included, and I am 75 with other health issues) have next to no or no side effects if they learn when to take it. To try and avoid any stomach upsets I take my daily pill after lunch or dinner. No problems after 3 months or so on it.
To make my disease (I am JAK2 mutation ET with platelets as high as 800) easier to work on and less likely to flare, I stick to a Mediterranean Diet. It is widely recommended by cancer doctors and other doctors who deal with people who have a chronic disease that is made worse by inflammation in the body. I cut out sugar and alcohol. No fried foods or "fast food." I eat fish or some chicken versus red meat, low-fat dairy, veggies, and fruits. I keep my weight normal and exercise daily in ways I can easily do it. I get 7-8 hours of sleep each night. I do things that keep my stress level low.
I attribute my lack of side effects and overall health improvement to the above factors and lifestyle changes. For every "scary thing" you read about side effects from hydroxyurea, you can find people of all ages who have been on it for 5-10-20 years without any significant or no side effects. 🙂
Please go into it with a positive attitude. The stress from worry about it can create all kinds of physical symptoms unrelated to the pill you started to take! If you have any side effects, tell your doctor. Rarely does someone have to discontinue it, and many times, any side effects one gets early get better as their body gets used to it.
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While some people do have problems with Hydrea (also called HU), many of us do not.
For me, HU not just lowered my platelet count, it gave me back my energy. I take 1000 mg five days a week, 500 mg 2 days a week. I haven't had the slightest problem.
I do credit my oncologist for starting me on a very low dose at first -- originally, just 500 mg a week. That made adjusting to the medication easy.
Others on this forum have taken HU for decades! Whatever you're wondering about, you can get an answer here.