INDICATIONS
Hydroxyurea is utilized to deal with skin cancer (melanoma), a cancer with the white blood cells called chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML), and metastatic cancer (cancer which has spread) from the ovaries. This medicine can also be given as well as radiation strategy to head and neck cancer (primary squamous cell cancer).
Hydroxyurea is additionally used in adult patients with sickle cell anemia to avoid painful episodes and lower the need for blood transfusions. It works by making the red blood cells more flexible.
INSTRUCTIONS
Before you start treatment with hydroxyurea, you and the doctor should mention the nice this medicine will perform plus the perils of making use of it.
Take this medicine the same manner directed from your doctor. Do not use really it, avoid the use of it often, and avoid the use of it for a longer time than your physician ordered.
This medicine includes a patient information insert. Read and refer to the instructions within the insert carefully. Ask your medical professional when you have any queries.
Hydroxyurea must be handled carefully and people who usually are not taking this medicine needs to be careful to avoid touching it. To decrease the possibility of touching the medicine:
Wear disposable gloves when handling hydroxyurea or bottles containing hydroxyurea.
Wash your hands before connection with the bottle or capsules.
If powder from the capsule is spilled, you must wipe it immediately with a damp disposable towel and discard it in a closed container, such as a plastic bag.
You should keep medicine away from children and pets.
You should contact your medical professional for instructions on the way to dump capsules which are past the expiration date.
If you miss a dose on this medicine, go on it immediately. However, when it is almost time for your upcoming dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
DOSAGE
The dose of this medicine vary for several patients. Follow a medical expert's orders or perhaps the directions about the label. The following information includes only the average doses with this medicine. If your dose differs from the others, don't change it unless your medical professional notifys you to do this.
The level of medicine that you just take depends on the strength in the medicine. Also, the amount of doses you are taking every day, the time allowed between doses, along with the time period you're taking the medicine depend around the condition that you can are employing the medicine.
For oral dosage form (capsules):
For cancer in the head and neck, ovaries, or skin:
For chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML):
For sickle cell anemia:
STORAGE
Store the medicine inside a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.
Keep out of the reach of youngsters.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine will no longer needed.
Ask your healthcare professional how you should get rid of any medicine you don't use.
Along having its needed effects, medicines might cause some negative effects. Although not many of these unwanted side effects may occur, if they occur they may need medical assistance.
Check with a medical expert immediately if any in the following negative effects occur:
More common
Less common
Rare
Incidence not known
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following the signs of overdose occur:
Some side effects may occur very often don't need medical help. These unwanted effects might have to go away during treatment as the body adjusts on the medicine. Also, your health care professional just might share with you ways to stop or reduce a few of these negative effects. Check with your health care professional if any from the following side effects continue or are bothersome or in case you have any queries about them:
More common:
Less common:
Other unwanted side effects not listed can also appear in some patients. If you notice every other effects, check together with your medical practioner.
Call a medical expert for medical health advice about unwanted side effects.
It is very important that a medical expert look at the progress at regular visits to make sure that this drugs are functional. Blood tests are usually necesary to evaluate for unwanted effects.
Make sure a medical expert knows in case you are pregnant before you use this medicine. Using this medicine while you are pregnant may damage your developing fetus. If you think you've got become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your medical professional without delay.
While you're undergoing treatment with hydroxyurea, and when you stop using it, tend not to have any immunizations (vaccines) without your doctor's approval. Hydroxyurea may lower your body's resistance and there is the opportunity you might get chlamydia the vaccine is meant in order to avoid. In addition, other persons living in your household shouldn't get live vaccines (eg, nasal flu vaccine, measles, mumps, or rubella) nevertheless there is the opportunity they can pass chlamydia on you. Also, avoid persons who may have had a live vaccine. Do not get close to them and do not stay within the same room with them for too long. If you cannot take these precautions, you ought to consider wearing a protective breathing filter that covers the nose and mouth.
Hydroxyurea can temporarily lower the volume of white blood cells inside your blood, increasing the danger of getting contamination. It can also lower the number of platelets, which are needed for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, there are certain precautions you are able to take, particularly when your blood count is low, to relieve potential risk of infection or bleeding:
Using this medicine for some time may increase your likelihood of developing cancer in the blood (leukemia). Talk to a medical expert when you have concerns about it risk.
This medicine could cause temporary loss in hair in most people. After treatment has finished, normal hair growth should return, even though the new hair can be a slightly different color or texture.
Do not take other medicines unless they are discussed with a medical expert. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
Airmail: 2-3 business weeks
EMS: 3-8 business days