will I tolerate Hydroxy after interferon?

[Baimead]

hello everyone. After having given Interferon for ET a good go, I haven’t been able to continue on it. Currently just on aspirin awaiting next blood results to see if I need medication again after a 10 month break. Dr’s are planning on Hydroxy…. i’m worried that if I didn’t tolerate IFN I won’t tolerate Hydroxy either. Anyone with a similar experience please?

[EPguy]

I don't have info on that difference, tolerating both ok. But curious, what forced you to discontinue IFN? Were you on PEG?

There are members who could not tolerate HU but do ok on IFN, so it would not be surprising to hear from those the other way around.

[Baimead in reply to EPguy]

I had unbearable itching from PEG & a degree of hair loss. I’m just worried that they are the same side effects as Hydroxy.

[EPguy in reply to Baimead]

Hair loss is unfortunately a shared effect between HU and IFN, while I assume for different reasons. I think it may be more common with HU. My hair also got stiff and crunchy on HU, still so on Besremi.

Do you possibly have access to Besremi? It is also IFN, but for some it is better tolerated. The maker claims it is more mild on the body and some members here have found that to be so (and a few the other way too).

[hunter5582]

Your reaction to an interferon would not be predictive of your reaction to hydroxyurea. these two meds work in very different ways. Some of us tolerate one but not the other. I was unable to tolerate HU, experiencing toxicity even at very low doses. I have done much better on the interferons. Your experience may well be exactly the opposite. We are all different.

Wishing you success.

[Solyesh]

I went the other way - started on HU but did not tolerate it well and switched to Pegasys which I have tolerated extremely well (save some liver sensitivity). So your ability to tolerate or not one does not say anything about how your experience might be with the other. This is why it is so great that we now have options. Best of luck!

[Loobylou72]

I was on Hu but haematologist wanted me to try Interferon as she felt it might be better option for me, but I did not tolerate it well and had terrible itching and skin rashes, so went back to Hu. It seems to be the better option for me.