Hydroxyurea (Systemic)
Brand Names : Hydrea, Droxia
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will
do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For hydroxyurea, the
following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to hydroxyurea.
Pregnancy - Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you intend
to have children. There is a chance that this medicine may cause birth defects
if either the male or female is taking it at the time of conception or if
it is taken during pregnancy. Studies have shown that hydroxyurea causes birth
defects in animals. In addition, many cancer medicines may cause sterility.
Although sterility seems to be only temporary with this medicine, the possibility
should be kept in mind. Be sure that you have discussed this with your doctor before taking this
medicine. It is best to use some kind of birth control while you are taking
hydroxyurea. Tell your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant
while taking hydroxyurea.
Breast-feeding - Hydroxyurea passes into human breast milk. Tell
your doctor if you are breast-feeding or if you intend to breast-feed during
treatment with this medicine. Because hydroxyurea may cause serious side effects,
breast-feeding is not recommended while you are taking it.
Children - Side effects may be likely to occur in children,
who may be more sensitive to the effects of hydroxyurea.
Older adults - Side effects may be more likely to occur in the elderly,
who may be more sensitive to the effects of hydroxyurea.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking
hydroxyurea, it is especially important that your health care professional
know if you are taking any of the following:
-
Amphotericin B by injection (e.g., Fungizone) or
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Antithyroid agents (medicine for overactive thyroid) or
-
Azathioprine (e.g., Imuran) or
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Chloramphenicol (e.g., Chloromycetin) or
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Colchicine or
-
Cyclophosphamide (e.g., Cytoxan) or
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Flucytosine (e.g., Ancobon) or
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Ganciclovir (e.g., Cytovene) or
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Interferon (e.g., Intron A, Roferon-A) or
-
Mercaptopurine (e.g., Purinethol) or
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Methotrexate (e.g., Rheumatrex) or
-
Plicamycin (e.g., Mithracin) or
-
Zidovudine (e.g., AZT, Retrovir) or
-
If you have ever been treated with x-rays or other cancer medicines - Hydroxyurea
may increase the effects of these medicines or radiation therapy on the blood
-
Probenecid (e.g., Benemid) or
-
Sulfinpyrazone (e.g., Anturane) - Hydroxyurea may increase the
amount of uric acid in the blood. Since these medicines are used to lower
uric acid levels, they may not be as effective in patients taking hydroxyurea
-
Abacavir (e.g., ABC, Ziagen) or
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Abacavir/Lamivudine/Zidovudine (e.g., Trizivir) or
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Amprenavir (e.g., Agenerase) or
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Delavirdine (e.g., Rescriptor) or
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Didanosine (e.g., ddI, Videx) or
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Efavirenz (e.g., Sustiva) or
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Indinavir (e.g., Crixivan) or
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Lamivudine (e.g., 3TC, Epivir) or
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Lamivudine/Zidovudine (e.g., Combivir) or
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Lopinavir/Ritonavir (e.g., Kaletra) or
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Nelfinavir (e.g., Viracept) or
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Nevirapine (e.g., Viramune) or
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Ritonavir (e.g., Norvir) or
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Saquinavir (e.g., Fortovase) or
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Saquinavir mesylate (e.g., Invirase) or
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Stavudine (e.g. D4T, Zerit) or
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Zalcitabine (e.g., ddC, HIVID) or
-
Zidovudine (e.g., AZT, Retrovir, ZDV) - Hydroxyurea may increase
the effects of these medicines on the liver, pancreas, and nerves
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of hydroxyurea. Make sure you tell your doctor
if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Anemia or
-
Leukopenia or
-
Neutropenia or
-
Thrombocytopenia - May worsen and affect the decision to continue
therapy
-
Chickenpox (including recent exposure) or
-
Herpes zoster (shingles) - Risk of severe disease affecting other
parts of the body
-
Gout or
-
Kidney stones - Hydroxyurea may increase levels of uric acid
in the body, which can cause gout or kidney stones
-
Infection (especially AIDS or HIV) - Hydroxyurea may decrease
your body's ability to fight infection or cause serious liver, pancreas, or
peripheral nerve reactions with certain specific HIV treatments
-
Kidney disease - Effects may be increased because of slower removal
of hydroxyurea from the body
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