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What are most common side effects when starting HU (Hydroxyurea)?
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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Thank you for the response. I already naturally have lots of hair fall. It also tends to fall more when I'm under stress or losing weight.
I definitely don't want to add to it, lol. When I looked the HU up online hair loss is one of the effects that could happen. I was curious how often it actually happens & to what extent.
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1 ReactionWhen I first started taking HU I had taken it 500 MG 9 days in a row. It brought my platelets down to the normal range but I felt awful. I had so much fatigue and bone pain. They then started me on the 500 MG 3 times per week MWF. I am ok with that dosage. I will have a tired day once in a while and bones aching/hurting especially my shins. My platelets are creeping back up so he may change my dosage . I have lost some hair but not bad, It is NOT coming out by the handfuls. My Dr said that was not one of the side effects. I told him it may not be but mine was not coming out before HU. I was diagnosed in August of 23. I have requested a second opinion with the Mayo Clinic. Praying for the best for you!!
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2 ReactionsYour doctor will decide your HU dosage.
Four mo ago my platelet count was 1.1 million.
I take 500 mg daily HU and my platelet count is 600k.
It’s still going down and I feel better than 4 mo ago.
The worst of the side effects - because we read everything before seeing the doc - was later explained is for other diseases with 8,500mg daily!
Everyone reacts differently but my side effects lasted a few weeks.
I have slight hair loss, stomach ok, just fatigue. I’ve had long Covid so I can’t always attribute symptoms….
Make a list of questions to discuss with your doc. My list gets shorter with each visit!
I have Essential Thrombocythemia. Started with 3 pills weekly of hydroxyurea, and now at once a day as my platelets were not going down enough. I was told to take in the am with my other meds and vitamins. Gave me diarrhea. I decided on my own to take hydroxyurea in the evening after dinner. Fewer tummy problems. Other than softer stools, not much of an adjustment. I have started to have very vivid dreams, often pretty weird ones, that linger and stay with me after waking. But nothing really frightening. Other than that, so far so good.
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