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What are most common side effects when starting HU (Hydroxyurea)?

Posted by cdurbin @cdurbin, Jan 15, 2024

What are the side effects most experienced when starting the HU? I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to start it on 1/26/24. My hematologist said we would go over the side effects then but I want to know what most have experienced since they would only report what "could" happen & not what DOES happen. Ex. It's a chemo pill- they usually cause hair loss. Does this apply with the dosages that we would need? After reading other posts, it's sounds like maybe 500 mg is the magic number for the HU dosage.

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mumblipeg | @mumblipeg | 1 day ago
In reply to @mw2023 "I started HU with a night dose but after 5 weeks decided to change to a..." + (show)
@mw2023

I started HU with a night dose but after 5 weeks decided to change to a morning dose. This change gave me better sleep, vivid dreams gone, less need for using bathroom, not waking up at 5am, and fatigue doesn't hit until bedtime. It's only been a few days since changing to morning dose but it seems worth the change so far.

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I take Levothyroxine every morning since I have had a complete thyroidectomy. So HU at night works for me. I'm glad it's working for you to change to AM for HU. It's tricky juggling medications. I may need to try taking HU in the morning and Levo. at night....
Best to you!

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1 reply
mw2023 | @mw2023 | 1 day ago
In reply to @mumblipeg "I take Levothyroxine every morning since I have had a complete thyroidectomy. So HU at night..." + (show)
@mumblipeg

I take Levothyroxine every morning since I have had a complete thyroidectomy. So HU at night works for me. I'm glad it's working for you to change to AM for HU. It's tricky juggling medications. I may need to try taking HU in the morning and Levo. at night....
Best to you!

Jump to this post

I also take Synthroid for thyroid every morning around 8:30. I eat a late breakfast and wait until 12:30 to take HU. Have you been told to have 12 hrs between thyroid meds and HU? My sister takes her thyroid meds before bed but she eats an early dinner and likes to eat breakfast immediately and not wait the hour. I guess I might have to rethink my plan also. Main question is how long to wait to take HU after Synthroid? I might have to push it to mid-afternoon. Oncologists don't seem to know this issue so will have to ask endocrinologist.

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1 reply
mjbulte | @mjbulte | 16 hours ago
In reply to @mw2023 "I also take Synthroid for thyroid every morning around 8:30. I eat a late breakfast and..." + (show)
@mw2023

I also take Synthroid for thyroid every morning around 8:30. I eat a late breakfast and wait until 12:30 to take HU. Have you been told to have 12 hrs between thyroid meds and HU? My sister takes her thyroid meds before bed but she eats an early dinner and likes to eat breakfast immediately and not wait the hour. I guess I might have to rethink my plan also. Main question is how long to wait to take HU after Synthroid? I might have to push it to mid-afternoon. Oncologists don't seem to know this issue so will have to ask endocrinologist.

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I started Hydroxyurea 7/05/25 500mg daily. Very mild side effects including short episodes of hot flashes, a tiny hint of nausea a few times, and two episodes of fatigue. After napping a few hours I felt much better following g the fatigue. My dose was just increased to 1,000 mg daily due to increased platelets. A bone marrow biopsy is scheduled three days from now.
I am trying to eat very little processed foods, am drinking a lot of water, and jogging in the pool for an hour every day. Hopefully these efforts may be helping to minimize side effects 🤷‍♀️

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