Hydroxyurea

Drug Status in USA : Approved
Drug Status in Canada : Approved

pronunciation

pronounced as (hye drox'' ee ure ee' a)

Why is this medication prescribed?

Hydroxyurea (Hydrea) is used alone or with other medications or radiation therapy to treat a certain type of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML; a type of cancer of the white blood cells) and certain types of head and neck cancer (including cancer of the mouth, cheek, tongue, throat, tonsils, and sinuses). Hydroxyurea (Droxia) is used to reduce the frequency of painful crises and reduce the need for blood transfusions in patients with sickle cell anemia (an inherited blood disorder in which the red blood cells are abnormally shaped

  • shaped like a sickle
and cannot bring enough oxygen to all parts of the body). Hydroxyurea is in a class of medications called antimetabolites. Hydroxyurea treats cancer by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells in your body. Hydroxyurea treats sickle cell anemia by helping to prevent formation of sickle-shaped red blood cells.


How should this medicine be used?

Hydroxyurea comes as a capsule to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day. When hydroxyurea is used to treat certain types of cancer, it may be taken once every third day. Take hydroxyurea at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take hydroxyurea exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Your doctor may need to delay your treatment or adjust your dose of hydroxyurea depending on your response to treatment and any side effects that you may experience. Talk to your doctor about how you are feeling during your treatment. Do not stop taking hydroxyurea without talking to your doctor.

Your doctor will probably tell you to take another medication, folic acid (a vitamin), to decrease some of the side effects of this medication. Take this medication exactly as directed.

Swallow the capsules whole; do not split, chew, or crush them.

You should wear rubber or latex gloves when you handle the capsules so that your skin does not come into contact with the capsules. Wash your hands with soap and water before and after you touch the bottle or capsules. If hydroxyurea gets into your eyes, immediately flush your eyes with water for at least 15 minutes. If the powder from a capsule spills, wipe it up immediately with a damp disposable towel. Then place the towel in a closed container, such as a plastic bag and throw it away in a trash can that is out of the reach of children and pets.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.


What are the precautions to be followed?

Before taking hydroxyurea,
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to hydroxyurea, any other medications, or any of the inactive ingredients in hydroxyurea capsules. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: certain medications for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) such as didanosine (Videx) and stavudine (Zerit) and interferon (Actimmune, Avonex, Betaseron, Infergen, Intron A, others).. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
  • tell your doctor if you have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS); if you are being treated with or have ever been treated with radiation therapy or cancer chemotherapy; hemodialysis; or if you have or have ever had kidney or liver disease.
  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. You should not become pregnant or breast-feed while you are taking hydroxyurea. If you are a female, you should use effective birth control while taking hydroxyurea and for 30 days after treatment. If you are a male, you and your female partner should use effective birth control while taking hydroxyurea and for 1 year after stopping your treatment. Talk to your doctor about birth control methods that you can use during and after your treatment. If you become pregnant while taking hydroxyurea, call your doctor immediately. Hydroxyurea may harm the fetus.

What are possible side effects of this medication ?

Hydroxyurea may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
nauseavomitingdiarrhealoss of appetiteweight gainsores in the mouth and throatconstipationrashpale skindizzinessheadachehair lossdarkening of skin and nailsSome side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:
excessive tiredness or weaknessfast heartbeatshortness of breathongoing pain that begins in the stomach area, but may spread to the backpain, itching, redness, swelling, blisters, or sores on the skinpain in the upper right part of the stomachyellowing of the skin or eyesflu-like symptomsnumbness, burning, or tingling in the hands or feetdifficult or painful urinationseizures

Hydroxyurea may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.


How to store the medication and dispose it of after its use later?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children and pets. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program.


Drug Category/Class

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors
  • Antisickling Agents
  • Antineoplastic and Immunomodulating Agents
  • CYP2D6 Inducers
  • CYP2D6 Inducers (strong)
  • Other antineoplastic agents
Prescribed For management of melanoma, resistant chronic myelocytic leukemia, and recurrent, metastatic, or inoperable carcinoma of the ovary and Sickle-cell ...
Weight :76.0547
Structure Hydroxyurea
Generic Drug Hydroxyurea prescribed For management of melanoma, resistant chronic myelocytic leukemia, and recurrent, metastatic, or inoperable carcinoma of the ovary and Sickle-cell ...
Formula

CH4N2O2

Hydroxyurea has 13 Brands listed


Cytodrox (500 mg) (Aronex Life Sciences)Droxiget
Durea (500 mg)Gindrea (400 mg)
Hydab (500 mg)Hydran (500 mg)
Hydrea (500 mg)Hydrogem (500 mg)
Hydrox L (500 mg)Hytas (500 mg)
Mylostat (500 mg)Oxyres (500 mg)
Readrox (500 mg)

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