Hydroxyurea: what side effects were so bad you had to stop taking it?

@garyr443 The last line of your reply to me was very rude and I quote: “ I appreciate that you are only trying to maintain some caution but you need to actually read what I have written so that you'll know what you are talking about.”

Gary, that works both ways. Apparently you misread my reply that was clearly addressed and directed to @lorieliebrock regarding the cranberry juice for high blood pressure.
Here is the link. If you take a gander, you’ll note that your name isn’t mentioned even one time in my reply: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/1605451/

Having had a bone marrow transplant (BMT) myself at Mayo, I can speak with absolute certainty that there are foods, juices, natural supplements which are to be avoided during treatment. While they may not pose an issue to general population, having a transplant is a rigorous undertaking involving a regimen of drugs that have to work in harmony and level of predictability.

The entire BMT process is challenging and traumatic to the body and organs. So our doctors and team pharmacists, need to know exactly what we’re consuming which could potentially cause a contraindication with the preconditioning chemo and post transplant meds we take during our transplant journey. Even juices, though food, when used for therapeutic purposes can be considered a supplement.
So I’m not going to quibble with you about this.

@garyr443
My RBCs have been low well before HU but they have taken a slight downturn. My Oncologist lowered my HU to 500 mg 3 days a week from 4 but my platelets jumped from 398 to 499 in three week and my RBCs just increased slightly. I want to go back on 4 times a week but they want to wait and see. They don't want me to start iron but I am doing it anyway because I really want to get the RBCs up and the platelets down and I have no real side effects from the HU.
Please keep us informed about the results from the cranberry juice. I would love to get my RBCs up without starting a new medication that might have side effects.

@loribmt my apologies, Lori. Your name is similar to loreliebrock's, so I probably confused you with her. That would explain your reference to a bone marrow transplant, but then, your message was clearly addressed to me. I assure you I am not having any transplants of any kind, let alone bone marrow. My name was certainly at the top of your message, otherwise, how did I receive it?

That said, I am not arguing with you about using cranberry juice during any treatments. I made it clear, in multiple messages, that I would not be using the cranberry juice until after I stopped using the Lisinopril and the Hydroxyurea, for exactly the reasons you gave.

@scienceteacher I recall reading that taking iron supplements is not the way to increase your red cells. You would think it can, and I thought the same thing, myself, but, as it turns out, for some reason, that's not a good idea. If I see what I read about that, I'll share it with you.

@garyr443 The last line of your reply to me was very rude and I quote: “ I appreciate that you are only trying to maintain some caution but you need to actually read what I have written so that you'll know what you are talking about.”

Gary, that works both ways. Apparently you misread my reply that was clearly addressed and directed to @lorieliebrock regarding the cranberry juice for high blood pressure.
Here is the link. If you take a gander, you’ll note that your name isn’t mentioned even one time in my reply: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/1605451/

Having had a bone marrow transplant (BMT) myself at Mayo, I can speak with absolute certainty that there are foods, juices, natural supplements which are to be avoided during treatment. While they may not pose an issue to general population, having a transplant is a rigorous undertaking involving a regimen of drugs that have to work in harmony and level of predictability.

The entire BMT process is challenging and traumatic to the body and organs. So our doctors and team pharmacists, need to know exactly what we’re consuming which could potentially cause a contraindication with the preconditioning chemo and post transplant meds we take during our transplant journey. Even juices, though food, when used for therapeutic purposes can be considered a supplement.
So I’m not going to quibble with you about this.

@loribmt
So if you don't mind saying --the outcome of the BMT?? Best outcome, I hope.

I have had PV now for about a year. I am a 68 year old female. I am JAK2 positive. I am on 81mg of aspirin daily. I began Hydroxyurea 500mg daily about two months ago. On the second day, my face and ears were beet-red. By day four, I got a red pin-dot rash on both arms from the shoulders to my wrists. I had headaches and nausea. The hardest symptom was sores and ulcers in the mouth and throat, along with white patches. It was difficult to swallow. It felt like an extreme case of strep throat. My oncologist prescribed fluconazole and it gave great relief in 3-4 days. My doctor discontinued Hydroxyurea. I am now on Besremi, which is an interferon therapy. Hydroxyurea was not for me. I had to discontinue taking it eighteen days after starting it. I hope your health journey improves and you find the best drug suited to your needs.