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When is hydroxurea usually added to treat polycythemia vera (PV)?

Posted by lwengel @lwengel, Aug 15, 2022

When is hydroxurea usually added to treatment for Polycemia Vera? I am currently on low dose aspirin

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Aug 16, 2022

Weclome @lwengel, as you likely already know, the most common treatment for polychythemia vera (PV) is having frequent blood withdrawals, using a needle in a vein (phlebotomy). This decreases your blood volume and reduces the number of excess blood cells. If phlebotomy alone doesn't help enough, your doctor may suggest medications that can reduce the number of red blood cells in your bloodstream such as hydroxurea.

Fellow PV members like @jerrlin @tlsantin @chadknudson @hope19 @atir @clarissa37 @apr931 @mwear @toriaflo @nicolekapr @juiceinjc and others can share their treatment experiences with you.

In the meantime, you may also appreciate these related discussions:
- Polycythemia Vera: Just been diagnosed https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/polycythemia-vera-1/
- How do You Manage Side Effects Of Hydrea or Hydroxyurea for ET? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/side-effects-of-hydroxyurea-et/

Lwengl, have you recently been diagnosed with PV or have you been managing it for a while now?

REPLY
2 replies
lwengel | @lwengel | Aug 16, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "Weclome @lwengel, as you likely already know, the most common treatment for polychythemia vera (PV) is..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Weclome @lwengel, as you likely already know, the most common treatment for polychythemia vera (PV) is having frequent blood withdrawals, using a needle in a vein (phlebotomy). This decreases your blood volume and reduces the number of excess blood cells. If phlebotomy alone doesn't help enough, your doctor may suggest medications that can reduce the number of red blood cells in your bloodstream such as hydroxurea.

Fellow PV members like @jerrlin @tlsantin @chadknudson @hope19 @atir @clarissa37 @apr931 @mwear @toriaflo @nicolekapr @juiceinjc and others can share their treatment experiences with you.

In the meantime, you may also appreciate these related discussions:
- Polycythemia Vera: Just been diagnosed https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/polycythemia-vera-1/
- How do You Manage Side Effects Of Hydrea or Hydroxyurea for ET? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/side-effects-of-hydroxyurea-et/

Lwengl, have you recently been diagnosed with PV or have you been managing it for a while now?

Jump to this post

Diagnosed officially a year and a half ago - just started low dose aspirin a month ago.

REPLY
jerrlin | @jerrlin | Aug 17, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "Weclome @lwengel, as you likely already know, the most common treatment for polychythemia vera (PV) is..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Weclome @lwengel, as you likely already know, the most common treatment for polychythemia vera (PV) is having frequent blood withdrawals, using a needle in a vein (phlebotomy). This decreases your blood volume and reduces the number of excess blood cells. If phlebotomy alone doesn't help enough, your doctor may suggest medications that can reduce the number of red blood cells in your bloodstream such as hydroxurea.

Fellow PV members like @jerrlin @tlsantin @chadknudson @hope19 @atir @clarissa37 @apr931 @mwear @toriaflo @nicolekapr @juiceinjc and others can share their treatment experiences with you.

In the meantime, you may also appreciate these related discussions:
- Polycythemia Vera: Just been diagnosed https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/polycythemia-vera-1/
- How do You Manage Side Effects Of Hydrea or Hydroxyurea for ET? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/side-effects-of-hydroxyurea-et/

Lwengl, have you recently been diagnosed with PV or have you been managing it for a while now?

Jump to this post

Yes, I was diagnosed in May of 2022 but have had symptoms since 2019. I had a bone marrow biopsy and it confirmed Polycythemia Vera and Jak2 positive. I am on 2 aspirin a day and phlebotomy’s when my count is 45 or more. I can tell when my red cell count rises as I experience more itching, head and earaches and fatigue. Today I am going to start watching my diet and hope it helps with the symptoms. I drink tons of water and stay active. I’m 73 and can’t let the old woman in .

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