HU WEIGHT

Hi does everyone on HU gain weight.????

[hunter5582]

I had not heard of that before, but there is some evidence in the literature.

"At 18 months, the hydroxyurea-treated subjects exhibited an average weight gain of 3.16 kg. The mean weight gain in the placebo-treated subjects was 1.82 kg. Body composition analysis showed that the additional weight in both groups involved both lean and fat body mass components. " pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/917...

Some sources do list weight gain as a possible adverse effect; however, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, seem to be reported more often.

drugs.com/monograph/hydroxy...

online.epocrates.com/drugs/...

I think the bottom line is that we all react differently to HU and other medications. The good news is that if you find you cannot tolerate HU, there are other options.

All the best to you.

[Hidden in reply to hunter5582]

Thankyou!!!!! I don’t think it’s the HU but I was just hoping that the HU wasn’t adding to my weight gain!

[S031251]

I didn’t gain any weight - was on HU for over 3 years

[Tico]

Hi Keiks. I've been on HU for 13 years and in that time i've put on considerable weight but unfortunately I can't blame the HU. I blame, HTMS. Hand to mouth syndrome. Symptoms include a strong urge to put your hand to your mouth especially when you've got food in it!! Haha. 🤣🤣🤣Tina.x🤗

[Hidden in reply to Tico]

LOL!!!! OMG!!! Your amazing! So funny!! 😂😂😂😂😂

[Tico in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. You have to have a sense of humour especially during these days.🤣🤣 Tina.x🤗

[jillydabrat in reply to Tico]

Loved that 😂

[piggie50 in reply to Tico]

Love this Tina, gave me a laugh this morning. Hope you are well. Judy xx 💐

[Tico in reply to piggie50]

Yes thanks Judy, I hope you are too, i'm in a good mood, i've just booked up for a 3 day long weekend in Blackpool in a hotel next month, can never normally get away because of my cats but i've managed to make arrangements for them. Blackpool holds a lot of special memories for me, some people might say i'm easierly pleased! 🤣🤣 Tina.xx🤗

[piggie50 in reply to Tico]

Well done Tina, I’m sure you’ll have a lovely time. I’ve just come back from 3 days in the Cotswolds. It felt so good to get away for a break. Lots to eat, I think I have food withdrawal today, I feel very hungry!🤣 xx

[mhos61 in reply to Tico]

Hope you have a great time in Blackpool Tina. Thanks for the laugh this morning too. Xx👍

[Kari1961 in reply to Tico]

I with you on this one Tina.

😂 I've put on about 10lbs since starting HU, BUT it was roughly around the time of the first lockdown. I started HU in December 2019, then went into 'hibernation' in the March 2020. I also suffer from HTMS made worse by a seriously bad case of lazi-itus, I just can't be bothered to exercise.

🥰 Kari.x

[Tico in reply to Kari1961]

🤣🤣🤣

[jillydabrat]

I had a gastric bypass. I went down to 12 stone and was incredibly happy. I cannot eat even a sandwich size plate of food. My husband goes mad with how little I eat. I cannot eat anything with sauce on it, pasta, rice, yoghurt, and very little potato. Carbs seem to make me very sick. Even lettuce gives me crippling stomach pain. I honestly can say that if I didn’t have to have food I wouldn’t bother eating again,? I just don’t enjoy it anymore. When I was put on Hydroxy my consultant told me I may put weight on, well boy did I. I was also put on Pregablin for pain and that is well known for weight gain. My sister put on a stone in a month when she used it. So my weight has gone back up, I have no interest or enjoyment if food, life sucks.

[Tico in reply to jillydabrat]

I was really ill before I was diagnosed and lost a lot of weight, I had to buy a new wardrobe of clothes but when I was diagnosed and put on HU within a few months when my symptoms improved so did my appetite and I made up for lost time. Luckily, i'm one of those people happy to be a bit chunky! Tina.x🤗

[GarciaB]

I’ve gained about 35 pounds in five years. I increased my activity and watch calories. So I know it’s HU related .

[Cja1956]

I’ve been on HU since 2008 and it had very little effect on my weight. I did put on several pounds on Ruxo, but my doctor took me off it when I developed anemia and progressed to MF a few years ago. I’m still on HU, but I’ve lost about 10 pounds since 2019. My appetite just isn’t what it used to be. (not sure how pounds converts to stones) So, in my experience, HU doesn’t cause weight gain.

[bordeauxgirl in reply to Cja1956]

Cja1956........14 pounds equals 1 stone.

[Cja1956 in reply to bordeauxgirl]

Thx

[falconered53]

I’ve been wondering if HU has caused my weight gain. I’ve been on it for 20 months and their has been a steady increase, now at about 10 pounds. When I first noticed what was happening (I weigh myself every morning) I started to cut down my food intake and made sure to get in my exercise (6 or 7 days/week I do 45 to 60 minutes brisk walking and 3 days/week I work out with weights for an hour). I tried intermittent fasting for a month, which worked for me once a while back, but it did nothing. I am really hating how I’m starting to look as I have always been slim. Very discouraging! Not sure what to do next. HU has helped with my PV symptoms quite a lot, although I still need frequent phlebotomy ( about 5 or 6 a year). Doctor blamed the weight on COVID lockdown but I don’t think so. HU is what changed for me and so I think that’s the cause.

[mhos61]

I haven’t had any weight issue with hydrea, but I am on quite a low dose.

[Cookiebaker]

I gained about 12 pounds in 2 years. I blame it on the HU. I exercise lots. I like to exercise and always have .

[Windy51]

Yes I have put on wet with it

[Otterfield]

I did but I'm pretty sure that was because of comfort eating when I was worried about my sister having cancer (she recovered). Several years later I lost weight on a low carb diet (btw I'm not recommending any particular "diet" but it worked for me) also while on Hydroxycarbamide.

[Adlon57]

I have been an avid reader and complainer on this site for many years, one of my many 'sins' is diabetes 2 so hopefully I hope to lose weight? And any advice from HU is therefore very welcome😆😆👍

[Borage]

It is convenient to blame the Hydroxcarbamide, or the husband who buys the cakes and biscuits to sabotage my low carb efforts. Shielding hasn’t helped either, no swimming or gym classes.