Experiencing some darkening on the nails and sometimes numbness on the hands

[kid12kg]

I started taking hydrocarbamide 1000 mg everyday this August and after a month I have an additional 500mg Monday , Wednesday and Friday rest of the day 1000mg. Last month I have experienced some numbness on my arms like every week also notice some dark on my nails . After three weeks darks coming off but I noticed some darkening again. Have anyone of you experienced the same? Thanks in advance for your reply . Regards to everyone.

[Whitehair51]

I have some darkening in a few toenails but no numbness.

[kid12kg in reply to Whitehair51]

Thanks for your reply Whitehair51

[hunter5582]

The numbness issue came up recently on another thread. Darkening of the nails and numbness in hands are both known HU adverse effects.

mayoclinic.org/drugs-supple...

online.epocrates.com/drugs/...

Do note this warning

Call your doctor at once if you have: numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands or feet;

rxlist.com/hydrea-side-effe...

Suggest you call your hematologist to consult.

Please let us know how you get on and what you learn.

[kid12kg in reply to hunter5582]

Thanks so much hunter5582 , I will update you .

[Solyesh]

Yes - I was on HU for about 5 months and increased dosage until I was on 1,500mg/day. I was not able to tolerate HU at that level (eventually switched to Peg). One of the first symptoms I had was melanonychia, the darkening of the nail bed and dark streaks in my nails. Only my fingernails were affected - but all of them got darker at the beds and had dark streaks in them. This along with other issues (hives and general feeling of malaise) drove me toward Peg (also the desire to try and do what might be possible to alter disease course).

My MPN specialist stated at the time that this condition usually goes away for most but can linger. It took 6 months off of HU for my nails to get back to normal.

[kid12kg in reply to Solyesh]

Thanks a lot for your reply Solyesh 😊

[sbs_patient]

I took HU for about six years (500 mg daily, then 750 mg and finally 1000 mg) and also experienced nail darkening in my fingernails. This was eventually followed by significant blistering and thickening of the skin on the back of my hands. It was successfully treated with betamethasone ointment, and my HU dosage reduced to 500 mg MWF. A few months ago, I consulted with a MPN specialist, who told me that I should stop HU and start taking ruxolitinib/Jakafi (10 mg, twice a day). So far, this is working well for me.

[kid12kg]

Thank you sbs_patient