Hydrea's side effects?

Ever feel like this when you start taking
some new medication that your doctor
hasn't clearly explained to you?

This question comes up a lot on our Facebook page and on cancer discussion groups: "I just started taking hydroxyurea (Hydrea). Is it normal to ...?"

My mother is a cardiac patient who has had open-heart surgery, persistent atrial fibrillation, and a host of complications. I will spare you my rant on doctors who prescribe medication without explaining a) what it is supposed to do for you, and b) what side effects you might need to report.

Instead, let's pause while I a take a nice cleansing breath and scream at the needless worry and confusion that our doctors create because their offices are chock full of sick people and they don't have time to explain things.

Ah, that's better.

Now let's take the bull by the horns and get some info that might help us reduce needless worry.

First off, here's the link to the Mayo Clinic's page that lists Hydrea's side effects.

Read this page carefully, save the link, or print out the info. Chances are, you will be on Hydrea at some point, and having this info will save you some concern.

Note that the side effects that you should report to your doctor ASAP are listed first and arranged from most to least common. The side effects that should not worry you and may go away eventually are listed at the bottom of the page.

Also note that chemotherapy will affect people differently, depending on the phase of your disease, your general health, and how sensitive you are to changes in your medication regime.

It may help, if your doctor doesn't offer this info, to ask:

1. How will this medicine help me?
2. How soon will I know if it's helping me?
3. What will happen if I don't take it?
4. What side effects should I report to your office or the ER right away?
5. Are there side effects that might go away with time?
6. How will this medicine react with other meds I take?
7. Are there other meds, food, activities, etc. I should avoid when I take this medication?
8. Is this medicine going to make any other conditions I have worse?
9. Do I have to have more frequent monitoring?

If you forget to ask the doctor any of these questions, remember that your pharmacist can often answer these questions as well as (and sometimes better) than your doctor. In some hospitals and nursing homes, pharmacists do rounds with doctors, helping the physician to spot medical interactions and often helping to calculate appropriate doses and alternative meds.

Be informed! Be well!

Related: Preparing to take hydroxyurea?

Related: What patients say about Hydrea

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