Hydrea
Hydroxyurea 500mg capsules, listed here as Hydrea, treat chronic myeloid leukaemia and sickle cell anaemia; this listing is generic hydroxyurea in capsule form.
All strengths and pack prices
| Strength | Pack | Price | Per capsule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500mg | 30 capsules | $86.40 | $2.88 |
| 500mg | 60 capsules | $148.80 | $2.48 |
| 500mg | 90 capsules | $207.90 | $2.31 |
| 500mg | 120 capsules | $262.80 | $2.19 |
| 500mg | 240 capsules | $520.80 | $2.17 |
- Category
- Oncology Support
- Active ingredient
- Hydroxyurea
- Route
- Oral
- Form
- Capsule
- Strengths
- 500mg
You will receive a quality generic equivalent, depending on stock.
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Conditions
- Chronic myeloid leukemia · Sickle cell anemia
- Therapeutic Class
- Antineoplastic
- Pharmacological Class
- Ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor
- Minor Side Effects
- Nausea, Dry skin
- Moderate Side Effects
- Sore mouth, Low blood count
- Dosage Forms
- Capsule
- Administration Route
- Oral
- Originator
- Bristol-Myers Squibb
- Storage Instructions
- Store in a cool, dry place.
- Drug Interactions
- Didanosine, Fluorouracil
What you will receive
Hydrea is the originator brand name, made by Bristol-Myers Squibb. We use it to identify the medicine; the pack you receive is a generic equivalent, not the original Hydrea.
- The same active ingredient (Hydroxyurea) at the same strength.
- The exact brand supplied depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
FAQ
Which Hydrea strengths and pack sizes can I order?
Hydrea capsules come as 500mg in packs of 30, 60, 90, 120 or 240. It is generic hydroxyurea, not the original Hydrea. Larger packs cost less per capsule.
Can a large Hydrea order be split for delivery to Hong Kong?
Very large orders over 120 units may be split into several parcels. Tracked courier takes 5 to 9 business days with online tracking. Every parcel ships in plain, unbranded packaging.
What other names is hydroxyurea sold under?
Hydrea and Droxia are brand names of hydroxyurea, which is also sold as Cytodrox. Here, hydroxyurea can be bought online as generic Hydrea. These are generics, not the original brand.
Is Hydrea a capsule or a tablet?
This listing is 500mg capsules. Hydroxyurea is also made as tablets, sold as separate products with their own strengths. The form on this page is the 500mg capsule.
Can I take Hydrea with food?
Food does not affect how hydroxyurea is absorbed, so a capsule at breakfast works as well as one between meals. Swallow it whole with a glass of water and pick a time that fits your day, then keep to it.
Should I protect my skin from the sun while taking Hydrea?
Yes. Hydroxyurea is linked to a higher risk of skin cancer, so wear a hat and long sleeves outdoors, use sunscreen, and keep out of strong midday sun. Look over your skin now and then for new or changing spots.
Does Hydrea cause hair loss?
Some thinning is possible and is usually mild. Hair generally grows back once the dose changes or treatment ends. Nails and skin can change too, with dark nails or darker patches of skin.
About Hydrea
What Hydrea capsules are for
Hydrea is a brand name for hydroxyurea, taken by mouth as a capsule. It has two quite different jobs. Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many white blood cells; hydroxyurea slows that overproduction, either on its own or alongside other cancer treatments, and it is used in some head and neck cancers as well. Sickle cell anaemia is inherited: red cells lose their flexible disc shape and become crescent-shaped, so they break down early and can block small blood vessels. Here hydroxyurea cuts the number of painful crises and how often transfusions are needed, and it is given to adults and to children aged two and over.
How it works
Hydroxyurea is an antimetabolite. A cell about to divide has to build new DNA first, and this medicine blocks one of the steps in that building work. Fast-dividing cells feel it most — cancer cells, and the marrow cells that make blood — which is how it slows a leukaemia and also lowers blood counts. In sickle cell anaemia the same action makes red cells less likely to take the sickle shape.
Taking Hydrea
Swallow each capsule whole with a glass of water. Do not split, chew or crush one. Most people take a single dose a day, at about the same time each day; some cancer regimens instead give a dose every third day. The amount is set by how the condition responds and by regular blood tests, and it may be paused or reduced if your counts fall. Many people also take folic acid with it. Wash your hands after handling the capsules.
Side effects
Low blood counts are both the aim and the main side effect: fewer red cells bring tiredness and breathlessness, and fewer white cells and platelets mean more chance of infection or bruising. Fever with chills, a sore throat, unusual bruising, black stools or blood in vomit are signs the marrow has slowed too far. Mouth sores, nausea, diarrhoea or constipation, poor appetite, headache and drowsiness are common; skin may darken or dry out, and hair may thin. Hydroxyurea can also raise the risk of further cancers later on, including skin cancer, so keep out of strong sun and cover up.
Storage and missed doses
The bottle keeps best closed, in an ordinary room, out of heat and damp. If a dose is forgotten, it can still be taken later that day. Do not take a double dose to make up for it.
Sources
- Hydroxyurea: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus
- HYDROXYUREA capsule - DailyMed - NIH — DailyMed