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Description
Introduction
Cancer is not just a disease but a painful and scary experience that can break any person and their family to the extent of causing mental distress too. Around 6000 thousand people in America are diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) each year. The Food and Drug Administration has approved Hydrea or Hydroxyurea to treat resistant chronic myeloid leukemia.
The myeloid leukemia has adverse and life-threatening effects on the human body, such as anemia, weakened bone marrow, or poor immune system.
‘The sooner the treatment, the better the health’; this is true for CML as it can deteriorate both the physical and mental health of the patient in no time. However, it is still possible to treat it with the help of a chemotherapeutic medicine like Hydrea. The drug kills cancer cells, preventing the growth or spread of it and thus decreasing and controlling leukemia gradually.
What is Hydrea made of?
The formulation of Hydrea contains a functional ingredient known as Hydroxyurea. The other name for the ingredient is Hydroxycarbamate because, in carbamic acid (H2NCOOH), the OH is replaced by NH2 to make the compound.
By the reaction of sodium cyanate with hydroxylamine hydrochloride under basic conditions, the Hydroxyurea is formed.
NaOCN + NH2OH·HCl → HONHCONH2 + NaCl
This medicine is manufactured by Sarabhai Chemicals, which was founded in 1970. Since then, this company has promoted oncology products like Hydrea tablets for the treatment of CML. The pills are packaged as ten tablets in each strip of the drug.
What is Hydrea prescribed for?
The Hydrea uses include treatment of sickle-cell disease, essential thrombocythemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, polycythemia vera, and cervical cancer. It is a chemotherapeutic agent used alone or with other drugs or radiotherapy to treat chronic myeloid leukemia.
The drug has ingredients that can kill cancer cells in the body, which results in lowering leukemia. The condition of myeloid leukemia deteriorates the overall health of a person, so the health provider may start with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, depending upon the condition of an individual. For chemotherapy, particularly in resistant chronic myeloid leukemia, Hydrea (Hydroxyurea) is prescribed.
CML or chronic myeloid leukemia originates within the bone marrow where the abnormal white blood cells are produced. It can potentially spread to other parts of the body if left untreated.
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is also called chronic myelogenous leukemia, which typically affects adults. It is a chromosome mutation that occurs spontaneously and spreads quickly in the human body.
What does Hydrea do in the body?
Chronic myeloid leukemia is a cancer of white blood cells extensively produced by the bone marrow. These cells are called granulocytes or leukemia cells, which are unhealthy and abnormal. Eventually, they take up all the space, leaving no room for healthy RBC, WBC, or platelets.
When treatment is provided, even then, cancer is the same as before, and it is called resistant CML. In most cases of CML patients, they have a gene mutation (BCR-ABL gene) called the Philadelphia chromosome. Hydroxyurea works by eliminating cells that contain this abnormal gene mutation.
Hydrea is a chemotherapy drug called an Antimetabolite. It works by preventing the production of abnormal cells and repairing the DNA. This drug causes the bone marrow to decline, eliminating excess cells. This can prevent and control resistant chronic myeloid leukemia.
Recommended dosage for different conditions
The doses of this drug would be different for different patients dealing with diseases like sickle-cell disease, essential thrombocythemia, and chronic myelogenous leukemia. The amount of medicine you take depends on your condition, weight, and age. Let’s break it down and discuss it in detail;
- Sick-cell anemia
- Adults – The dosage depends on your weight and must be decided by the doctor. You may be asked to take 15 milligrams per kilogram of your weight every day. However, the doctor may adjust this according to the need. Also, the dose is not more than 35 mg per kg of weight.
- Children – Here, the dosages would completely be determined by the doctor.
- Chronic myeloid leukemia
- Adults – The dosage depends on your weight and must be decided by the doctor. You may be asked to take 15 milligrams per kilogram of your weight every day. However, the doctor may adjust this according to the need.
- Children – The doctor will decide the dosage and use.
- Cancer of the head and neck
- Adults – The dosage depends on your weight and must be decided by the doctor. You may be asked to take 15 milligrams per kilogram of your weight every day. However, the doctor may adjust this according to the need.
- Children – The doctor will decide the dosage and use.
Precautions and Contraindications
- One must keep precautions in check while taking this medicine.
- If you are allergic to Hydroxyurea, avoid taking this medicine as it can lead to reactions and other health issues.
- If patients have underlying health issues like bone marrow problems, kidney disease, liver disease, HIV infection, high uric acid level in the blood, or radiation treatment, then they should consult a doctor before taking this medicine.
- Taking this medicine can make you prone to infections and bacteria. You will most likely get flu, chickenpox, or other contagious disease if you contact the infected person.
- Let your doctor know if you are taking this drug after having any vaccination/ immunizations.
- Contraindications related to this drug;
- Pregnancy
- Active liver disease
- Pulmonary toxicity
- Vasculitis
- Hemolytic anemia
- Laboratory test interference
- Live vaccinations
- Macrocytosis
- Malignancies
- Bone marrow suppression
- Lactation
- Radiation
What are the Side effects of Hydrea?
The Hydrea side effects include;
- allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives
- breathing difficulty
- low blood counts, red blood cells and white blood cells
- skin ulcers
- constipation
- diarrhea
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- headache
- dizziness
- hallucinations
- anemia
- indigestion
Foods to avoid when taking Hydrea
Patients taking this medicine must take care of their eating habits and the type of food they are eating. Certain food items can interact with the medicine and have adverse side effects. One must avoid eating citrus like grapes, oranges, or lemons. The human liver contains CYP enzymes, which can increase the concentration of Hydroxyurea in the body when citrus food is taken. Avoiding fatty and sugary foods is recommended as they can cause many health issues. The patient should altogether avoid intoxicants like alcohol, tobacco, etc, because of their hazardous impacts on the human body.
What happens if you stop taking Hydroxyurea?
The Hydrea medication is a long–term drug which works gradually to treat leukemia. One should not start or stop using this tablet without consulting a doctor. If you stop taking Hydroxyurea suddenly, then you are at high risk as the cancer cells can rapidly increase by multiplying quickly. Hence, it is advised not to stop taking this medicine without talking to your health provider.
Conclusion
Resistance chronic myeloid leukemia is a type of cancer which affects the blood of bone marrow and later on, spreads elsewhere. This results in anemia, a weak immune system, and poor bone marrow. Hydroxyurea is a chemotherapeutic formulation that kills abnormal cells and prevents them from multiplying again. It provides an effective and reliable treatment for leukemia at affordable prices, along with Hydrea discount offers.
The health condition due to CML can affect a person both physically and mentally. The distress regarding cancer can hinder in day-to-day life of patient and the family. To prevent this, effective chemotherapy or radiotherapy is essential to avoid any further complications. This medicine can lower the influence of cancer on the human body and provide a better lifestyle.
FAQS
Is Hydrea a chemo pill?
Hydrea is a medication that is prescribed to treat resistant chronic myeloid leukemia as a part of chemotherapy for cancer patients. So, we can indeed regard this drug as a chemo pill.
Does Hydrea make you tired?
Fatigue and dizziness are common side effects of this medicine. Therefore, one may feel exhausted during the first few hours after taking the tablet.
How can I reduce the side effects of Hydroxyurea?
To avoid or reduce side effects, it is essential to eat the right food and take drugs that will not interact with the medicine. Furthermore, precautions and safety will provide more room for reducing side effects and will help the consumer deal with them.
How long can you take hydrea?
The doctor will decide the duration of the treatment based on the individual’s health conditions. It is a long–term drug, so noticeable changes require at least a few years of use.
How do you store Hydroxyurea?
The best way to store this drug is to keep it in a closed container at room temperature. One must ensure that medicine is away from moisture, heat, and direct light. Ensure that the drug is unreachable to children and animals.
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