hydroxyurea (HU)

What is hydroxyurea?

Hydroxyurea is a medicine that increases the amount of fetal hemoglobin in red blood cells. Fetal hemoglobin helps to keep the red blood cells from sickling.

HU is not a cure for sickle cell disease, but it can help with complications, including:

 
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Anemia

 
 
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pain that affects your quality of life

 
 
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the need for a blood transfusion

 
 
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REDUCE ACUTE CHEST SYNDROME BY HALF

 
 
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long hospital stays

 
 
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SIDE EFFECTS

Most people don’t have any side effects from hydroxyurea.

Common side effects include:

◦ Feeling sick to your stomach and throwing up

◦ Increased risk of infection

◦ Mouth sores

◦ Constipation

◦ Diarrhea

◦ Rash

◦ Some hair loss

Rare side effects include:

◦ Infection because of low white blood cells ◦ Bleeding because of low platelets

◦ Lower sperm count in men that may affect fertility

◦ Slow wound healing or worsening of leg ulcers.

 
 
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Once you start taking hydroxyurea, it may take up to 3 months for you to notice an effect.

It works best if you take it EVERY day.

 
 
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NOTE: Hydroxyurea can be harmful to your fetus.

Stop taking hydroxyurea as soon as you realize you are pregnant and contact your provider.

 
 
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Hydroxyurea therapy checklist for you and your health care provider

For you and your health care provider

 

Who should consider taking hydroxyurea: Talk about taking hydroxyurea if:
🄯 You have sickle cell anemia (type SS or sickle beta thalassemia zero)

🄯 You have pain or other sickle cell complications that affect your quality of life or your ability to do your daily activities.

Testing your blood:

🄯 Talk about testing your blood counts regularly to monitor your body’s response and to watch for side effects. response and to watch for side effects.

If you are female:

🄯 Talk about being on birth control if you are taking hydroxyurea.
🄯 Talk about breastfeeding (hydroxyurea may be harmful if passed to your baby through your breast milk).

If you are male:

🄯 Talk about using birth control if you are taking hydroxyurea. Hydroxyurea can lower your sperm count and may make it hard for you to have babies. We do not know yet if treatment with hydroxyurea will keep your sperm count low.

Other things to know:

🄯 If you are taking hydroxyurea but still have acute sickle cell pain or other problems with your sickle cell disease, talk about seeing a hematologist if you don’t already see one.

🄯 If you stop taking hydroxyurea because of side effects, pregnancy, or breastfeeding, talk about other ways to prevent sickle cell complications.

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SECTION OVERVIEW

  • With daily use, hydroxyurea may help lessen many of the complications of sickle cell disease.

  • Evidence shows that hydroxyurea lowers the rate of death in children and adults taking the drug when compared to children and adults who do not take hydroxyurea.

  • Regular follow up with your healthcare provider is important to monitor your response and to watch for side effects.

  • Women who are pregnant should stop their hydroxyurea and talk with their healthcare provider.