Hidroxiurea (other name Hydrea)

What You Need to Know Before Taking This Medication

Before starting this medicine, it's crucial to inform your healthcare provider about any existing medical conditions you have. This includes:

• Immune system problems: Conditions affecting your body's ability to fight off infections.
• Infection: Especially viral infections like chickenpox, cold sores, or herpes. These can become more severe while taking this medication.
• Kidney disease: Kidney function can be affected by this medicine, so your doctor needs to know if you have any kidney issues.
• Low blood counts: Low levels of white blood cells, platelets, or red blood cells. This medicine can further lower these counts.
• Previous or ongoing radiation therapy: Radiation can increase the risk of certain side effects.
• Allergic reactions: Any unusual or allergic reaction to hydroxyurea, other chemotherapy drugs, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives.
• Pregnancy or trying to get pregnant: This medicine can harm an unborn baby.
• Breast-feeding: It's not safe to breast-feed while taking this medicine.

How to Take This Medicine for Best Results

Take this medication orally with a glass of water. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. Maintain a regular schedule for taking your medicine and do not exceed the prescribed dose. Do not stop taking it unless instructed by your doctor.

Important Safety Information: This medication should only be handled by the person taking it. If someone else needs to handle the bottle or medicine, they should wash their hands thoroughly before and after. Caregivers should wear disposable gloves if they must touch the bottle or medicine. If any powder spills, clean it up with a damp disposable towel and dispose of the towel in a sealed container, such as a plastic bag.

For Children: Consult with your pediatrician before giving this medicine to children, as special care may be necessary.

For Seniors: Patients over 65 years of age may experience a stronger reaction to this medicine and may require a smaller dose.

Overdose: If you suspect an overdose, immediately contact a poison control center or emergency room.

What to Do If You Miss a Dose

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it's less than four hours until your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Drug Interactions: What to Avoid

This medicine can interact with several other medications. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you are taking any of the following:

• Didanosine
• Other chemotherapy agents
• Stavudine
• Tenofovir
• Vaccines

This list is not exhaustive. Provide your healthcare provider with a complete list of all medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, and dietary supplements you use. Also, inform them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs, as these can also interact with your medicine.

Important Precautions While Using This Medicine

This medication can cause you to feel generally unwell, as chemotherapy can affect healthy cells as well as cancer cells. Report any side effects you experience to your doctor. Continue your course of treatment even if you feel ill, unless your doctor tells you to stop. You will need regular blood tests during your treatment to monitor for any potential problems.

Contact your doctor or healthcare professional if you develop a fever, chills, sore throat, or other signs of a cold or flu. Do not attempt to treat yourself, as this medicine weakens your body's ability to fight infections. Try to avoid contact with people who are sick.

This medicine can increase your risk of bruising or bleeding. Contact your doctor if you notice any unusual bleeding.

Be cautious when brushing and flossing your teeth or using a toothpick, as you may be more prone to infection or bleeding. Inform your dentist that you are taking this medicine if you need any dental work done.

Avoid products containing aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, or ketoprofen unless instructed by your doctor. These medicines can mask a fever, making it harder to detect infections.

Do not become pregnant while taking this medicine. Women should inform their doctor if they wish to become pregnant or think they might be pregnant, as there is a risk of serious side effects to the unborn child. Men should inform their doctors if they wish to father a child, as this medicine may lower sperm counts. Consult your healthcare professional or pharmacist for more information. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine.

Potential Side Effects

Side effects to report to your doctor immediately:

• Allergic reactions (skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue)
• Low blood counts (increased risk of infections and bleeding)
• Signs of infection (fever, chills, cough, sore throat, pain or difficulty passing urine)
• Signs of decreased platelets or bleeding (bruising, pinpoint red spots on the skin, black, tarry stools, blood in the urine)
• Signs of decreased red blood cells (unusual weakness or tiredness, fainting spells, lightheadedness)
• Breathing problems
• Burning, redness, or pain at the site of radiation therapy
• Changes in skin color
• Confusion
• Mouth sores
• Pain, tingling, or numbness in the hands or feet
• Seizures
• Skin ulcers
• Trouble passing urine or changes in the amount of urine
• Vomiting

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor if they persist or are bothersome):

• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Red color to the face

Proper Storage of Your Medicine

Keep this medicine out of the reach of children.

Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Keep the container tightly closed. Discard any unused medicine after the expiration date.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I drink alcohol while taking this medicine?

A: Alcohol may interact with this medicine. It's best to consult your doctor or pharmacist about alcohol consumption during your treatment.

Q: What should I do if I experience severe nausea?

A: Contact your doctor or healthcare provider. They may recommend anti-nausea medication to help manage this side effect.

Q: Can I get vaccinated while taking this medicine?

A: Vaccines may not be as effective while you are taking this medicine. Talk to your doctor before getting any vaccines.

Q: Is it safe to buy this medication online?

A: Purchase medications only from reputable online pharmacies. Check for accreditation and ensure the pharmacy requires a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.

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