Hydroxyurea

Ovarian Neoplasms, Thrombocythemia, Essential, Anemia, Sickle Cell + 4 more
Treatment
2 FDA approvals
17 Active Studies for Hydroxyurea

What is Hydroxyurea

HydroxyureaThe Generic name of this drug
Treatment SummaryAn antineoplastic agent is a medication used to treat cancer by blocking the DNA synthesis process. It does this by stopping the production of ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase.
Hydroxyureais the brand name
image of different drug pills on a surface
Hydroxyurea Overview & Background
Brand Name
Generic Name
First FDA Approval
How many FDA approvals?
Hydroxyurea
Hydroxyurea
1998
25

Approved as Treatment by the FDA

Hydroxyurea, also known as Hydroxyurea, is approved by the FDA for 2 uses which include inoperable Ovarian cancer and Ovarian Neoplasms .
inoperable Ovarian cancer
Ovarian Neoplasms

Effectiveness

How Hydroxyurea Affects PatientsHydroxyurea and cisplatin have a stronger effect when taken together than when taken alone, both in a lab setting and in tests with certain lung cancer models. The most effective combination was when hydroxyurea was taken four hours before cisplatin.
How Hydroxyurea works in the bodyHydroxyurea works by stopping cells from reproducing. It does this by stopping the enzyme that helps create DNA. Hydroxyurea also has a second effect in sickle cell anemia, where it increases the amount of fetal hemoglobin in the blood. This reduces painful vaso-occlusive crises. The increase in fetal hemoglobin is caused by hydroxyurea's ability to activate a certain enzyme.

When to interrupt dosage

The amount of Hydroxyurea is contingent upon the diagnosed disorder, including Myeloid Leukemia, Hypereosinophilic Syndrome (HES) and Thrombocythemia, Essential. The dosage shifts as per the method of delivery featured in the table beneath.
Condition
Dosage
Administration
Thrombocythemia, Essential
500.0 mg, , 1000.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 200.0 mg, 300.0 mg, 400.0 mg, 100.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution, Solution - Oral
Sickle Cell Crisis
500.0 mg, , 1000.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 200.0 mg, 300.0 mg, 400.0 mg, 100.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution, Solution - Oral
Polycythemia Vera
500.0 mg, , 1000.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 200.0 mg, 300.0 mg, 400.0 mg, 100.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution, Solution - Oral
Hypereosinophilic Syndrome
500.0 mg, , 1000.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 200.0 mg, 300.0 mg, 400.0 mg, 100.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution, Solution - Oral
Ovarian Neoplasms
500.0 mg, , 1000.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 200.0 mg, 300.0 mg, 400.0 mg, 100.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution, Solution - Oral
Anemia, Sickle Cell
500.0 mg, , 1000.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 200.0 mg, 300.0 mg, 400.0 mg, 100.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution, Solution - Oral
Meningioma
500.0 mg, , 1000.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 200.0 mg, 300.0 mg, 400.0 mg, 100.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution, Solution - Oral

Warnings

There are 20 known major drug interactions with Hydroxyurea.
Common Hydroxyurea Drug Interactions
Drug Name
Risk Level
Description
2-Methoxyethanol
Major
The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Hydroxyurea is combined with 2-Methoxyethanol.
9-(N-methyl-L-isoleucine)-cyclosporin A
Major
The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Hydroxyurea is combined with 9-(N-methyl-L-isoleucine)-cyclosporin A.
Abatacept
Major
The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Hydroxyurea is combined with Abatacept.
Abetimus
Major
The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Hydroxyurea is combined with Abetimus.
Acteoside
Major
The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Hydroxyurea is combined with Acteoside.
Hydroxyurea Toxicity & Overdose RiskHydroxyurea is toxic to mice and rats in doses of 7330 mg/kg and 5760 mg/kg respectively. Test animals have experienced teratogenic effects, reproductive effects, and mutagenic effects. A small number of exposed human pregnancies have not had any adverse effects on the newborns, however mutagenic effects have been observed in humans.
image of a doctor in a lab doing drug, clinical research

Hydroxyurea Novel Uses: Which Conditions Have a Clinical Trial Featuring Hydroxyurea?

63 active studies are analyzing the potential of Hydroxyurea to mitigate Myeloid Leukemia, Polycythemia Vera (PV) and inoperable Ovarian cancer.
Condition
Clinical Trials
Trial Phases
Thrombocythemia, Essential
14 Actively Recruiting
Phase 2, Phase 1, Phase 3
Sickle Cell Crisis
2 Actively Recruiting
Phase 2, Not Applicable
Anemia, Sickle Cell
1 Actively Recruiting
Not Applicable
Ovarian Neoplasms
0 Actively Recruiting
Hypereosinophilic Syndrome
0 Actively Recruiting
Polycythemia Vera
0 Actively Recruiting
Meningioma
0 Actively Recruiting

Hydroxyurea Reviews: What are patients saying about Hydroxyurea?

4.7Patient Review
2/26/2013
Hydroxyurea for Increased Red Blood Cells
4.7Patient Review
5/9/2015
Hydroxyurea for Having Several Acute Conditions with Sickle-Cell Disease
This medication has helped me to significantly reduce the frequency and intensity of my panic attacks.
4.3Patient Review
1/8/2017
Hydroxyurea for Increased Red Blood Cells
The pills help, but the nausea is unfortunately a common side-effect.
4Patient Review
8/21/2014
Hydroxyurea for Spontaneous Hemorrhages and Increase in Blood Platelets
I was diagnosed with myelofibrosis in 2002, and I've been taking Hydrea on and off since then. In the past two years, I've been taking it continuously at a dose of 2000 mg per day to keep my platelet count under control. However, I've been having problems with skin rashes and cervical dysplasia that my doctors say may be caused by the Hydrea. While it does keep my platelets in check, it also lowers my red blood cell count, which makes me anemic.
3.7Patient Review
10/7/2017
Hydroxyurea for Increased Red Blood Cells
I've been taking hydroxyurea on-and-off since 1990 when I was first diagnosed with polycythemia vera and thrombocythemia. Unfortunately, I developed multiple sclerosis in 1996. A hematologist told me that this drug can cause scarring of the bone marrow over time; which would explain my recent problems with itching skin and burning/swelling feet.
View All Reviews
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Patient Q&A Section about hydroxyurea

These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.

How does hydroxyurea work?

"Hydroxyurea makes your hemoglobin level go up, which in turn makes your red blood cells bigger. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that is affected by this medication."

Answered by AI

What is the drug hydroxyurea used for?

"Hydroxyurea is used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia, a cancer of the white blood cells. It may also be given with radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. Hydroxyurea works by interfering with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed by the body."

Answered by AI

What is the most common side effect of hydroxyurea?

"dizziness. headache.

The most common side effects of hydroxyurea are: stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, and headache."

Answered by AI

Is hydroxyurea a chemotherapy?

"The drug hydroxyurea (hydroxycarbamate, Hydrea) can help some patients with CMML live longer. It comes in the form of a capsule that is taken orally once a day. Hydroxyurea can normalize the number of white blood cells and monocytes, and may also help shrink an enlarged spleen."

Answered by AI

Clinical Trials for Hydroxyurea

Have you considered Hydroxyurea clinical trials? We made a collection of clinical trials featuring Hydroxyurea, we think they might fit your search criteria.
Have you considered Hydroxyurea clinical trials? We made a collection of clinical trials featuring Hydroxyurea, we think they might fit your search criteria.
Have you considered Hydroxyurea clinical trials? We made a collection of clinical trials featuring Hydroxyurea, we think they might fit your search criteria.
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