How soon does HU give results ? : How soon does... - MPN Voice

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How soon does HU give results ?

Iwillwin123 profile image
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How soon does hydroxyurea start showing results in reducing the platelet count ?

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Iwillwin123 profile image
Iwillwin123
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20 Replies
Swede profile image
Swede

Hello ,my doc says 4-6 weeks approx.

Iwillwin123 profile image
Iwillwin123 in reply to Swede

Thankyou . Hope it works for us.

Tico profile image
Tico

Hi, may i ask what your counts are and what mpn you have?

Iwillwin123 profile image
Iwillwin123 in reply to Tico

It is Polycythemia Vera. And the count is 560 . This is after one phlebotomy last week and the Hb came down from 18 to 15 after the HU ( 10 days) plus one phlebo .But platelets remain the same after 10 days of HU and plus first phlebo last week (of 350 ml removal of blood. )

Iwillwin123 profile image
Iwillwin123 in reply to Iwillwin123

The platelet count remains st 560

Tico profile image
Tico in reply to Iwillwin123

Hi, i have etjak2,but certainly remember it was a slow process with me,hydroxy constantly had to be highered. They have never really been able to achieve a consistently stable count with my platelets over a good period of time. My last count 2 months ago were 666 which i think is reasonable for me,the time i ever worry is they are nearering the 1000 mark or go above that which is when i have crushing headaches. At the moment i take 3 hydroxy weekdays & 4 at weekends but as a lot of people acknowledge on here we are all different in the way our bodies work,a thing to bear in mind. Atb, tina.🤗

Iwillwin123 profile image
Iwillwin123 in reply to Tico

Thankyou . It is certainly helpful to know the various experiences with HU. Helps to set expectations :)

Wyebird profile image
Wyebird in reply to Tico

Are you stable now? My meds have been altered approx every 3 months for 3 years. Always higher.😥

Tico profile image
Tico in reply to Wyebird

Hi wyebird, i have haemo appoiment wednesday but never really had a long period of time being stable. That's why the last count of 666 didn't phase me,would have to be a lot higher for me to worry but to be honest i don't think the main problem is our numbers i believe its the quality of our platelets thats the problem, ie, when they are sticky & abnormal in shape. The highest ammount of hxdroxy i've been on is 5 daily. Atb,tina.🤗

Wyebird profile image
Wyebird in reply to Tico

Strange!

you may well have a point. I’m feeling ok at the moment with my platelets being 450+ where as in the past it would have rendered me sofa bound. 5 hydroxi daily! I was mortified when put on 17 a week. About 4 months ago 1 anagrelide a day was introduced. Now I too have become complacent the anagrelide has been increased to 2 daily along with my 17 hydroxi a week.

Tico profile image
Tico in reply to Wyebird

I have discussed other possible alternative meds with my main haemo who dismissed it with the sort of attitude 'i know best' but when i spoke with a colleague of his i asked was it to do with cost and he nodded his head in acknowledgement. In reference to when i was on 5 hydroxy daily, i used to take them in one dose in the morning which the haemo agreed with,he said whichever way was best. I also take other medication besides. Atb,tina.🤗

WileyFrench profile image
WileyFrench

I’ve been taking hydroxyurea since end of June, and the platelets are verrrry slowly coming down. I’ve had to increase my dosage from three pills per week to one each day to now one on one day and two the next. I think some people get quick results and others of us have platelet levels that are more stubborn.

Chris_H profile image
Chris_H

I have PV, my platelets were higher, around 800k mark. It got to that mark twice due to experimenting with dosage of HU. This last time I was on 3 caps (1.5g) a day for three months to get it back to 300k.

Ebot profile image
Ebot

Mine dropped dramatically within the first four weeks then dropped again. Then plateaued and the drugs upped very slightly. Took about four months to have a significant effect on all counts and symptoms.

UKZA profile image
UKZA

Hi, I have been taking HU for nearly 3 months. I take one a day and have ET CALR mutation. My platelets were 1276 and after a month dropped to just below a 1000. They are now at 833. The haematologist wants to increase dosage but I am managing fine on them. I am 49 years old and lead a busy life! I was totally opposed to taking them and decided to try 3 months. I can only say that my energy levels have increased as my platelets have dropped. Good luck. Penny

Wyebird profile image
Wyebird in reply to UKZA

Likewise

jointpain profile image
jointpain

My wife started hydroxy while in hospital in August this year. Her platelets were around 2000 after two days they didn't come down so she went on Anagrelide, which worked immediately, each time they try to switch to hydroxy her platelets go up. ATM she is on 3 Anagrelide and 1 hydroxy a day. She has another FBC on Tuesday after three weeks when her platelets were 803. She is full of energy and has no symptoms of real note. And we should find out how well her Portal vein thrombosis is, as she had a scan last Saturday. Fingers crossed.

lizzziep profile image
lizzziep in reply to jointpain

Hope the results are good and she continues to improve!

Lizzie

lizzziep profile image
lizzziep

I think it varies with everyone, depending on what MPN you have and how high your platelets are to start with. It took a while for me, with several adjustments to the dose before mine came down with Hydroxy. I'm on Anagrelide now and have been "normal" for a few months!

Hope all goes well for you

Best wishes

Lizzie

h2ogal profile image
h2ogal

Hi, I got results within 1 week, dropped 100,000 & have been dropping steadily every week. I take 1,000 mg hydroxyurea in 2 doses every day. Hope this helps

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