About Your Treatment
Your doctor has ordered hydroxyurea to help treat your illness. Hydroxyurea comes as a capsule to take by mouth.
This medication is used:
to treat melanoma (a type of skin cancer)
to treat chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML; cancer of the white blood cells)
to treat recurrent, metastatic, or inoperable ovarian cancer [cancer of the ovary (a female reproductive organ) that has returned after treatment, that has spread, or that cannot be treated with surgery]
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About Your Treatment
Your doctor has ordered hydroxyurea to help treat your illness. Hydroxyurea comes as a capsule to take by mouth.
This medication is used:
to treat melanoma (a type of skin cancer)
to treat chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML; cancer of the white blood cells)
to treat recurrent, metastatic, or inoperable ovarian cancer [cancer of the ovary (a female reproductive organ) that has returned after treatment, that has spread, or that cannot be treated with surgery]
with radiation therapy to control primary squamous cell ...
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Important Warning
Hydroxyurea may cause severe, life-threatening side effects, including a low blood count (decrease in the number of blood cells in your body) Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a blood disease. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the medications you are taking. If you take hydroxyurea with other medications that may cause a low blood count, the side effects of the medications may be more severe. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: fever, sore throat, chills, cough, and other signs of infection; excessive tiredness; weakness; pale skin; dizziness; confusion; fast heartbeat, shortness of breath; difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; or unusual bleeding or bruising.
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain tests on a ...
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Other Uses
Hydroxyurea is also sometimes used to treat polycythemia vera (a condition in which the body produces too many blood cells), psoriasis (a skin disease in which red, scaly patches form on some areas of the body), and hypereosinophilic syndrome (a condition in which the body produces too many of a certain type of white blood cell). Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this medication for your condition.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Overdose
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
Symptoms of overdose may include:
violet discoloration, swelling, and soreness of the palms and soles
scaling of the skin on the hands and feet
darkening of the skin
sores in the mouth
Precautions
Before taking hydroxyurea,
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to hydroxyurea, any other medications, or any of the inactive ingredients in hydroxyurea capsules. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
tell your doctor if you are taking or have ever taken an interferon. (Interferons are a group of medications similar to substances produced by the body. They are used to treat diseases that involve the immune system such as certain types of cancer, hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, and genital warts. Brand names include Actimmune, Avonex, Betaseron, Rebif and others.) If you are taking or have ever taken an interferon, there is a greater chance that you will develop severe skin problems during your treatment with hydroxyurea. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if ...
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Possible Side Effects
Hydroxyurea may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
nausea
vomiting
diarrhea
constipation
drowsiness
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, or those listed ...
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Storage Conditions
Keep hydroxyurea in the container it came in, tightly closed and out of reach of children and pets. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.
