Hydroxyurea 1000MG: Each dosage effectivness

I have been put on Hydroxyurea 500 MG Cap to lower my Platelet count, after 3 weeks my Dr. has upgraded me to 1000MG for one week before my next blood draw. After taking each daily dose of the 1000MG, how long does it take each doze to have an effect on lowering my platelet count?

[Applesnpears]

Platelets have an average lifespan of 7 days so changing your dose of hydroxy is not likely to have a significant effect on counts within a week.

More generally I suspect that the speed of response to a change in dose will vary widely from person to person.

[Hidden in reply to Applesnpears]

I also asked my pharmacist who informed my that after taking my daily dose it takes 1 to 4 hours depending on ones body to start being effective.

[Applesnpears in reply to Hidden]

The figure of 1 to 4 hours refers to the peak levels of hydroxy in blood after taking a tablet but it will take longer to have an impact on platelet production within the bone marrow.

[Ebot]

Hi there. Although Hydroxy can be relatively fast acting compared to other drugs it can still take a while to find the right dose to impact effectively on your platelet count. That’s not unusual.

In my case my numbers fell pretty quickly (in about a month) from 1700 to 900. They then plateaued so the dose was upped. They fell again and then plateaued and the dose was tweaked again (an extra capsule per week each time). About eighteen months on, my platelets were well within normal range. Thankfully the need for venesections dropped very soon after commencing Hydroxy. And generally I felt much better as my counts improved. You may be looking at weeks / months rather than hours to see a sustained impact.

[Wyebird]

My heamo did exactly the same as yours after 1 week no different. Second week two tablets a day platelets dropped

[Mardigras]

Hello,

I’m really sorry, but I don’t know exactly how quickly hydroxy lowers the platelet count. I would guess that it is different for each person.

What I can tell you is that my hematologist prescribed 500mg hydroxy daily and my platelet count reduced very quickly. So much so in fact that after a year, I was able to leave out the weekend hydroxy and only take one a day on week days. I have been taking them now for three years. My platelet count is almost normal now.

I hope this helps.

Kind regards

M

[Scottishterrier]

HI

It varies from patient to patient and what it is given for also dosage .I was put on it because i had three infarctions to the liver,i have et jak2 + have had it since 1994 ,i am now down to 500G per week i count my blesssings thaat the clots were at the only organ that can regenerate itself i am under a fantastic gi to keep my eye on liver and brilliant haematologist i am on three month visits i hope this helps you you take care

best wishes Scottish Terrierxxx

[Scottishterrier]

HI

it varies from patient to patient and why you have et jak2+ I was put on it due to three clots to liver the better i got the less i got i am now on 500g a week now i have a fantastic gi consultant and also fantastic haematologist but never let any off your family give you it unless they are wearing rubber gloves as it gets absorbed through the skin and in to blood stream i was lucky that it was to the liver as it is only organ that can regenerate itself

best of luck and do not worry your consultant will take good care of you

best wishes

Scottish Terrier xxx