INDICATIONS
Hydroxyurea is utilized to treat melanoma (melanoma), a cancer from the white blood cells called chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML), and metastatic cancer (cancer that has spread) with the ovaries. This medicine are often given as well as radiation treatment for head and neck cancer (primary squamous cell cancer).
Hydroxyurea can also be utilized in adult patients with sickle cell anemia in order to avoid painful episodes and reduce the necessity for blood transfusions. It works by making the red blood cells more flexible.
INSTRUCTIONS
Before you begin treatment with hydroxyurea, you and your doctor should discuss the great this medicine can do as well as the perils of deploying it.
Take this medicine exactly as directed because of your doctor. Do not use a greater portion of it, avoid using it often, and avoid the use of it for longer than a medical expert ordered.
This medicine has a patient information insert. Read and refer to the instructions inside insert carefully. Ask your doctor in case you have any questions.
Hydroxyurea ought to be handled properly and people who aren't investing in this medicine must be careful to stop touching it. To decrease the chance of touching the medicine:
Wear disposable gloves when handling hydroxyurea or bottles containing hydroxyurea.
Wash both your hands before and after contact with the bottle or capsules.
If powder through the capsule is spilled, you need to wipe it down immediately with a damp disposable towel and discard it inside a closed container, such as a plastic bag.
You need to keep medicine faraway from children and pets.
You should contact your physician for instructions on the way to dispose of capsules which are after dark expiration date.
If you miss a dose of the medicine, get it as quickly as possible. However, whether it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your family dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
DOSAGE
The dose on this medicine vary many different patients. Follow a medical expert's orders or perhaps the directions for the label. The following information includes exactly the average doses with this medicine. If your dose is different, usually do not change it out unless your physician lets you know to take action.
The amount of medicine that you simply take depends about the strength in the medicine. Also, the quantity of doses you are taking on a daily basis, the time allowed between doses, along with the length of time you take the medicine depend on the disease you simply are using the medicine.
For oral dosage form (capsules):
For cancer with the head and neck, ovaries, or skin:
For chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML):
For sickle cell anemia:
STORAGE
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.
Keep out with the reach of kids.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine will no longer needed.
Ask your doctor how you must dump any medicine you do not use.
Along featuring its needed effects, medicine could cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these unwanted effects may occur, should they happen they will often need medical assistance.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following unwanted effects occur:
More common
Less common
Rare
Incidence not known
Get emergency help immediately if any from the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Some unwanted side effects may occur that always do not need medical help. These negative effects might have to go away during treatment since your body adjusts towards the medicine. Also, your quality of life care professional just might inform you of ways to avoid or reduce some of these unwanted side effects. Check with your health care professional if any from the following side effects continue or are bothersome or when you have questions about them:
More common:
Less common:
Other unwanted effects unlisted may also occur in some patients. If you notice another effects, check using your doctor.
Call your physician for health advice about negative effects.
It is vital that your medical professional check your progress at regular visits to be sure that this prescription medication is working properly. Blood tests are usually necesary to check for unwanted effects.
Make sure your medical professional knows if you're pregnant before you use this medicine. Using this medicine while you are pregnant damages your developing fetus. If you think you have conceive while using the medicine, tell a medical expert immediately.
While you're receiving care with hydroxyurea, and once you stop deploying it, do not have any immunizations (vaccines) without a medical expert's approval. Hydroxyurea may reduce your body's resistance and there is the opportunity you can find chlamydia the vaccine is meant to stop. In addition, other persons living in your household should not get live vaccines (eg, nasal flu vaccine, measles, mumps, or rubella) since there is a possibility they can pass the problem onto you. Also, avoid persons who've had a live vaccine. Do not get close to them and never stay inside same room with them for too long. If you cannot take these precautions, you need to consider wearing a protective nose and mouth mask that covers the nose and mouth.
Hydroxyurea can temporarily lower the volume of white blood cells with your blood, increasing the danger of getting contamination. It can also lower the volume of platelets, that are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, there are particular precautions it is possible to take, particularly when your blood count is low, to relieve the risk of infection or bleeding:
Using this medicine for some time may improve your likelihood of developing cancer with the blood (leukemia). Talk to your doctor when you have concerns concerning this risk.
This medicine might cause temporary lack of hair in a few people. After treatment has finished, normal hair growth should return, even though new hair can be a slightly different color or texture.
Do not take other medicines unless they've been discussed with your physician. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or nutritional vitamins.
Airmail: 2-3 business weeks
EMS: 3-8 business days