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What Are The Side Effects Of Hydroxyurea?

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Posted on Tue, 17 Nov 2015
Question: My mother has been taking hydroxyurea for over two years. She has recently developed skin ulcerations, oral ulcers, hair loss, significant weight loss, confusion, dysphagia, and involuntary/non-purposeful motor movements. Could these be side effects of hydroxyurea?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (34 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Many of them are due to side effects of hydroxyurea.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern.

Oral ulceration, skin rash and pigmentation, hair loss, weight loss, confusion are side effects of hydroxyurea.


Dysphagia & involuntary motor movements are generally not seen with hydroxyurea. So it can be due to very rare side effects or due to some other cause.

Hope I have answered your question, if you have doubt then I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic. Wish you a very good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (11 hours later)
Thank you for your response. I am concerned that these symptoms may be life-threatening, especially her weight loss which is over 25% of her body weight in four months. Her doctor wants her to wait to schedule an MRI before addressing the possibility it is medication related. The Hydroxyurea is the only medication she is currently taking.

In addition, she has new onset dysarthria and expressive aphasia. The blood panel and CT scan all were, as her doctor said, "fine." There is a significant change in her behavior and I'm not sure why he would say she's "fine."

Thank you in advance for your reply.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (18 hours later)
Brief Answer:
She need to search the cause of severe weight loss urgently.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern.

She has lost weight more then 25% in just four months. She need to search the cause of sever weight loss urgently.

Her severe weight loss can be due to her primary disease or due to hydroxyurea or some other cause.

Her dysarthria and aphasia may be due to some other cause because generally hydroxyurea doesn't cause this type of side effects. So she need MRI. There is no doubt in that. But she is not fine and don't wait too much. Consult your doctor and plan accordingly.

Hope I have answered your question. If you have any doubts then feel free to ask me. I will be happy to answer.
Thanks for using health care magic.
Wish you a very good health.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Hardik Sanghvi

Hematologist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 7043 Questions

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What Are The Side Effects Of Hydroxyurea?

Brief Answer: Many of them are due to side effects of hydroxyurea. Detailed Answer: Hi, dear I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern. Oral ulceration, skin rash and pigmentation, hair loss, weight loss, confusion are side effects of hydroxyurea. Dysphagia & involuntary motor movements are generally not seen with hydroxyurea. So it can be due to very rare side effects or due to some other cause. Hope I have answered your question, if you have doubt then I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic. Wish you a very good health.