Hydroxyurea for sickle cell disease (1564)

What is hydroxyurea? 

It is a medicine to treat sickle cell disease.  It raises levels of baby (fetal) hemoglobin and lowers the amount of sickle (S) hemoglobin.

• It comes as a liquid or a pill.  It is taken once a day by mouth. 
• The dose depends on how much you weigh.
• It normally takes about 2 to 3 months for it to start working.

If your child takes this medicine, they will be seen in the clinic and have blood counts checked every 2 to 3 months.  Your child may need to get extra blood drawn more often at certain times during their treatment.

Why is it used?

• Hydroxyurea has been shown to reduce pain events by about half.  It also has helped reduce episodes of acute chest syndrome almost in half.
• It has been shown to help adults with sickle cell disease live longer by as much as 7 years.
• We recommend that hydroxyurea be used to treat:
  •  anyone with hemoglobin SS disease, hemoglobin sickle beta zero thalassemia or other severe types of sickle cell disease.
  • some children with hemoglobin SC and hemoglobin sickle beta plus thalassemia if they often have pain or acute chest syndrome.

What side effects should I watch for?

• The most common side effect is a decrease in white blood cells and platelets.  White blood cells fight infection. Platelets help blood clot.  Your child can be at a higher risk to get sick if the white blood cells get to low.  That is why blood counts are checked every one to two months. If the levels of white blood cells or platelets get too low, the hydroxyurea is stopped or the dose is reduced so the levels can come back up.
• Rarely children have had stomach ache, headache, or hair thinning.

If you have any side effects, talk with the sickle cell doctor. The doctor may have you stop taking the medicine for a short time.  Most side effects get better when the medicine is stopped for a week or two. The medicine should not be stopped unless the doctor says it is ok to do so.

Important note for females:

• Females who are pregnant or who are trying to get pregnant should not take hydroxyurea.  It may cause birth defects if you are taking it when you get pregnant. 
• Sexually active females must use birth control when taking hydroxyurea. 

For other health and wellness information, check out this resource: https://kidshealth.org/ChildrensWi/en/parents