With 3 500mg-capsules daily, my platelets count hovers around 500,000-600,000. I am also on aspirin, statin, and atenolol regimens. Upset stomach, chest pains and breathing are my main problems. I have been on hydrea for over 20 years. I see my doctor every 3 moths. I stay active and am healthy, otherwise. I still fish and mow my own lawn.
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3 People found this comment helpful
I HAVE BEEN ON THIS MEDICATION FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS. NOT SATISFIED. IT LOWERED MY PLATELETS, BUT I WAS SO TIRED I COULDN'T FUNCTION. I STOPPED TAKING THEM. I HAD HEART PALPATATIONS AND BLURRED VISION.
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Pierrette Heber | 65-74 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
3/11/2023
Condition: Other
Overall rating 2.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
I have MDS/MPN overlap. Hydroxyurea made me very ill. I quit after 3 months. Serious stomach issues. Nausea & dizziness. Fell 3 times. 3 broken ribs, broken hand bone & à hematoma that put me in hospital for 5 days. A month later back in hospital vomiting blood. Never again will I use Hydroxyurea. Prefer to die sooner than live longer in that condition
1
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Deborah | 55-64 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
2/4/2019
Condition: Other
Overall rating 4.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
Primary essential thrombocythemia. Hydra 500 mg daily for month and await lab results of effectiveness. No side effects other than fatigue and dark stools so eat prunes daily.
3
2
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ibsewing2 | 65-74 | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
7/27/2017
Condition: Increased Red Blood Cells
Overall rating 3.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
have polycythemia vera... this has lowered #'s... but food doesn't taste good, get tired, don't feel like doing the things I used to, hair loss ... now it isn't growing.... would like to take something that didn't make me tired and have all these symptoms.
9
2
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Poly | Female | On medication for 5 to less than 10 years | Caregiver
6/22/2017
Condition: Increased Red Blood Cells
Overall rating 3.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
After taking it for six years it has kept the pollycemia vera under control but now she has oral cancer.
4
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Anonymous | 45-54 | Female | On medication for 1 to less than 2 years | Patient
5/4/2016
Condition: Other
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
I've been taking Hydrea for a year and a half. It has kept my platelets at a normal range. I take it at night because it makes me tired but other than that I feel like it is saving my life.
16
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Mitzig | 55-64 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
5/24/2015
Condition: Type of Leukemia - Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
Overall rating 2.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
Im allergic to almost everything, Ive just been on 3 days already short of breath vision is very bad numb vomiting loose bowels pain dry stomach aches I have CMML. Chest pains pins needles called Pharm, call into dr, IF they answer, Don't like this at all.
1
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borou | 75 or over | Male | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
5/3/2015
Condition: Increased Red Blood Cells
Overall rating 3.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
very tired loss of energy consitpation
4
1
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Clemq | 45-54 | Female | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
3/23/2015
Condition: Spontaneous Hemorrhages and Increase in Blood Platelets
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
I began takIng Hydrea two years ago, when first diagnosed with ET. For a long time I really didn't notice much improvement in how I felt, but my Platelets were coming down to the mid 400's from 800. I was diagnosed with Melanoma about eight months ago. I was a little surprised by this diagnosis because Hydrea being a Cancer drug, thought it could have kept this at bay. I am NED and have continued taking the Hydrea until 5weeks ago when I met my new Hematologist. (Previous doctor transferred to the VA). He thought I could stop taking for 4 weeks as my Platelets were 412. Within 2 weeks, I had increased joint pain, the stinging all over pain, dizziness and fatigue. Last week, my platelets were 720, so he put me back on one 500mg. Capsule a day. After even only a few days, I noticed improvement. I have really no side effects except for an occasional mouth sore (blood blister) and thinning of my hair. Well tolerated. Read More Read Less
2
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ralfie 8 | 55-64 | Male | On medication for 6 months to less than 1 year | Patient
1/26/2015
Condition: Other
Overall rating 4.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
I have ET with platelets over 1,500. I started at one pill (500 mg), then moved to 2 and I was just moved to 3 as my count went back up. Side effects are increasing a bit with the increase in the drug. Includes confusion at times, exhaustion and shortage of breath especially in the morning. Other effects not bad so far. My job requires a lot of travel and significant analytical work. I need to nap during the day at least once and I am slower in my work which is frustrating at times. I feel more lethargic generally. Not sure if it is ET or drug. I am glad the drug is working. I have Crohn's disease so potential stomach issues were a concern so I take the drugs at night with ginger ale and soda crackers and that seems to have kept the stomach issues in control. I used anti nausea medication at the beginning but do not need it now.Read More Read Less
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4
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Anonymous | 55-64 | On medication for 1 to less than 2 years | Patient
Anonymous | 65-74 | Male | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
8/6/2014
Condition: Spontaneous Hemorrhages and Increase in Blood Platelets
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
1
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Bob | 55-64 | Male | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
7/8/2014
Condition: Increased Red Blood Cells
Overall rating 4.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
I have too many platelets but since I have the Jak2 gene variant it is called Polycythemia Vera not Thrombocytosis. I have been on Hydroxy Urea for four years. I have been told I have a six week life expectancy if I stop. It dropped my platelet count from 1200 to 375 (keep in mind some places drop the last three zeros in the platelet count) in four months taking 1000 mg. Hydroxy I am now on 500 mg a day and the count has stabilized. I'm sick to the stomach and very tired a lot of the time and I can't handle extremes of heat or cold. Hydroxy Urea isn't fun but for now it's my only option.Read More Read Less
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web md | 65-74 | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
6/14/2014
Condition: Other
Overall rating 3.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
starting to get nauses after 10 days on hydrea
6
2
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bush bunny | 65-74 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
5/2/2014
Condition: Other
Overall rating 3.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
Side effects, I don't feel well and lethargic, silver bracelet turning black, depressed, chronic constipation, hair thinning, and it is lowering platelets in last blood test, 600. Driving a bit impaired. Chills.
13
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Anonymous | 65-74 | On medication for 10 years or more | Patient
3/30/2014
Condition: Increased Red Blood Cells
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
6
3
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dee11 | 55-64 | On medication for 5 to less than 10 years | Patient
12/3/2013
Condition: Increased Red Blood Cells
Overall rating 3.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
8yrs on hydrea and they increased it again.I had to go back to my usual dose the head and eye issues and confusion was at the point i could barley function.,Dealing pv/mf i might have to go to something else.But this drug did hold me and i,m sensitive to many.
4
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dee11 | 55-64 | Female | On medication for 5 to less than 10 years | Patient
12/1/2013
Condition: Increased Red Blood Cells
Overall rating 3.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
8 yrs taking this med for pv/mf have been having severe eye problems and upper gut issues..bloat digestive dis orders.Might need to cut back to figure out what ia causing what,Has anyone experieneced upper stomach swelling and nausea with headache s?
4
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purpletree | 75 or over | Female | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
10/29/2013
Condition: Type of Leukemia - Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
Overall rating 2.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
1
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Lavonne | 65-74 | Female | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
7/15/2013
Condition: Other
Overall rating 4.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
I have been taking hydroxyurea for about 2 years for myleoproliferative disorder. I exhibit most of the usual side effects, such as fatigue, dizziness, dry skin, etc. However, since I began taking it, my perfect teeth have deteriorated. They tend to loosen and fall out, decay, break off and the gums are swollen. I have dental pain most all the time. I do not see this in the listed side effects, but I cannot believe that the hydroxyurea is not the cause of these dental problems, as I had never had dental problems before.Read More Read Less
19
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meeta | 35-44 | Female | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
4/13/2013
Condition: Spontaneous Hemorrhages and Increase in Blood Platelets
Overall rating 4.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
very tired all the time. I am not sure if it is the hydrea or the low iron that i have. Either way it sucks being tired like this, I used to be full of energy. Its sad.
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