Hydroxyurea and Zoloft

[Lovelymom4]

Hi everyone,

Has anyone experienced using hydroxyurea with Zoloft ? Does it have any interaction?

My mom is going through anxiety due to some family problems and I was thinking it would be beneficial for her to start using Zoloft to lower her stress level but I’m not sure if it can have any side effect on her MPN.

Please share your idea and experiences with me.

Thanks.

[Mazcd Partner MPNVoice]

Hi, sorry to hear this about your mum. Are you concerned that Zoloft (Sertraline) will have any interactions with the Hydroxyurea or concerns about affecting her blood counts and/or side effects of her MPN? A pharmacist can advise on interactions with other medications, and any concerns you have about affecting her MPN in general would be best discussed with her doctor. Best wishes, Maz

[Lovelymom4 in reply to Mazcd]

Thanks for your response!

[hunter5582]

This question should absolutely be run by several physicians and the pharmacist. The issue may be less about specific drug interactions than the use of a SSRI in the presence of a MPN. Per ePocrates, there is no specific drug interaction between Zoloft and Hydroxyurea; however, both drugs do present with the potential for hepatotoxicity. This is not uncommon with medications, but depending on liver health is something to consider.

Zoloft is a SSRI, it alters serotonin function in the brain and in the blood/platelets. Zoloft/SSRIs can alter platelet function. Depending on how your Mother's MPN presents, this may or may not be an issue. It would be another good question for the hematologist.

I have looked into this a bit myself when working through some super high stress level periods while also having PV. The meds for anxiety I would consider include: Bupropion, Nefazodone, Mirtazapine, Buspirone, and maybe Vistaril. For very short-term use, I would also consider a benzodiazepine (note they are addictive). Again - this is something to talk to the hematologist and a psychiatrist about. I would not take this question to a PCP.

Prescribing psychotropics for older patients needs to be done very carefully. If your Mother is in the geriatric population, then the best practice would be to involve both the Hematologist and a Geriatric Psychiatrist or a Gerontologist. Older adults respond differently to psychotropic medications and prescribers need to be knowledgeable regarding this. It is even more complex due to the MPN.

Hope that helps. Please do be sure to involve the right kinds of specialists to move forward on anxiolytic medication if your Mother want to pursue this option.

[Lovelymom4 in reply to hunter5582]

Thank you so much for your response and detailed explanation. You are right I will ask those specialists to be on the safe side. Thanks again.

[Scrollernut]

I’m on hydroxyurea 500mg a day and on 250 mg Wellbutrin and doin ok but definitely ask about it.

[Eric_Dufra002]

I took 500 Mg Hydrea (Hydroxyurea) , 1x 20 Mg Xarelto (Rivaroxaban) by day for a Polycythemia (Vaquez-Osler disease) and 1x 100 Mg of Sertraline (Zoloft) by day for anxiety.

I was always tired

Since i stopped my setraline prescription my energy level was better and better.

Hope i could help.