I, too, was really nervous to start Hydrea because of the possible listed side effects and the fact that I’ll be taking it the rest of my life. I started taking Hydrea on March 4, 2025. As of this week my platelets are back in the normal range. I’ve been taking 1000 mg 3 days a week and 500 mg 4 days. I was especially worried about hair loss. As of now, I have no side effects from the drug for which I am very thankful. While some of my other blood numbers are off because of the Hydrea, white blood cell count is holding steady in normal range. I value this forum for insights on managing ET and I wish you good luck with your treatment.