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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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circawdm | @circawdm | 3 days ago
In reply to @christina3444 "Hello. I’ve been taking 1000mg daily for over 3 years. My hair has gotten thinner but..." + (show)
@christina3444

Hello. I’ve been taking 1000mg daily for over 3 years. My hair has gotten thinner but I can’t say if it’s the med or just me getting older. I’ve always had horrible fingernails and nothing, nothing has ever really worked to improve them. They have gotten worse with ridges and vertical creaks but again, is it the Hydroxyurea or old age? I can’t say for sure.
I have always had periodic problems with my stomach since childhood and now I still have them. Again, chronic or age related now? I can’t say.
When I began the course I did look up the list of side effects. All in all fatigue is the problem that is, for me, the most challenging and, again, I cannot say for sure that’s due all or in part to the med. I’ve figured out ways around it all and I’m grateful the PV has not progressed and due, I am sure, in no small part to the med. Now, if they only made a pill for old age!

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Great response!! So much of the time what people see as a new symptom has nothing to do with their medications or even their illness - just the fact that they are aging! 🙂 Glad you are doing OK, and put things into perspective. There are much worse things than hair thinking or fingernail ridges, etc.

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