Headaches and ET with hydrea

[ZanneZ]

I have recently been diagnosed with ET. I had my enlarged spleen removed when I was 22 weeks pregnant because they were worried there wasn’t enough room for the baby. I started taking hydrea Monday because my platelet count was too high. Last night I had a horrible throbbing headache that hurt in my temple, my jaw, and behind my eye. I ended up going to the ER because I couldn’t close my eye the pain became so intense. Has anyone else experienced headaches like this? Is this a symptom of ET or hydrea? Nothing showed up on the CTscan but I have never had a headache so painful in my life. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am 33 with an 8 year old, 5 year old, and 5 month old. I am worried for their safety if it happens while they are with me.

[D1i2a3]

Hi so sorry to hear what happened to you you are young have been on hydroxycarbamide for 11 years 2000 g a day no headache hopefully they will find out what caused your headache hope it won’t happen again Diana

[ZanneZ in reply to D1i2a3]

Thank you! I am taking aspirin again and it keeps me from having any headaches. I just have problems with bleeding.

[hunter5582]

Headaches can be caused by thrombocytosis. While not all sources list it, some do note that hydroxyurea can cause headaches. It is hard to say which may be the culprit, but if this is the first time your have had this sort of headache and it started after recently beginning the HU, I would be suspicious of the HU.

Having just started HU, I am hoping you received the full gamut of information regarding its use. Unfortunately, there is inconstancy in what patients are told. Given your age here are a few critical facts to be aware of.

From the ePocrates site:

Pregnancy

Clinical Summary

avoid use in 1st trimester, otherwise weigh risk/benefit; risk of teratogenicity in 1st trimester based on animal data at 0.3x and 0.8x MRHD; risk of fetal harm low in 2nd and 3rd trimesters based on limited human data

Individuals of Reproductive Potential

obtain pregnancy test before tx start; avoid pregnancy by using effective contraception during tx and for at least 6mo after D/C in female pts and for at least 12mo after D/C in male pts

Lactation

Clinical Summary

avoid breastfeeding during tx and for at least24h after D/C; no human data available, though possible risk of infant harm based on drug excretion into milk; no human data available to assess effects on milk production.

Additionally - you will find on some patient education leaflets a precaution to sexually active patients to use a condom during sexual activity. HU passes into semen and vaginal secretions. Since HU is both mutagenic and carcinogenic it is advisable to protect the partner not taking HU. The non-using partner should not even handle the bottle without gloves (particularly women of child-bearing years) since HU is teratogenic (causes birth defects).

None of this is to say that the benefits of HU are/are not worth the risks for you. The risk-benefit of any chemotherapy has to be weighed for each person and we each respond differently. Please do be sure to follow up with your doc with your concerns.

All the best.

[ZanneZ in reply to hunter5582]

Thank you! I did not receive all the information you gave but have discussed with my husband.

I am taking aspirin again because it keeps me from having any headaches.