Drop Hydroxy for Pegasus?

[Sivasi]

Hello everyoneI have ET, JAK2. I started on Pegasys , 45mg, six weeks ago and my consultant told me to continue with Hydroxy also, 500mg daily. After the first 4 weeks my platelets were up to 810. He's now increased the dose to 90mg Peg and told me to stop taking the Hydroxy. This worries me, as I know from this forum that Peg can take months to have an effect. Might it not be the case that my platelets will shoot up if that's my only medication (apart from aspirin)? Do other people who are on Peg take other forms of meds in addition? I'd welcome other views. Thank you.

[hunter5582]

Combining PEG with HU requires dose modification. It can be tricky to use the two agents at the same time. I would be very cautious about taking HU with a PEG dose at 90mcg. It seems you hematologist is being appropriately cautious.

Suggest forwarding your questions to the MPN care team. they can best explain the rationale for the dosing recommendation.

[lizzziep]

I was moved onto peg 8 weeks ago, for the first month I was on Anagrelide as well, my platelets dropped after 4 weeks so I was taken off Anagrelide, after the second month, without Anagrelide, my platelets rose very slightly but still in normal levels. I’m on 45 mcg a week.

[Mishie14]

This is the same path I have been in but I also did try anagrelide after hydroxy before starting peginterferon. Both pill drugs caused horrible side effects that greatly impacted my quality of life and the latter sent me down a cardio rabbit hole I do not want to repeat. It took 3 months to recover kidney and in particular liver impacts. That is when platelet count went back up but not as high as before I started treatment. Peginterferon has been gentle on kidney and liver though slow to reduce platelets. I expected that and await a few more months of treatment before seeing it drop more. Been at 67 peginterferon for one month. May go up to 90 if necessary at end of year. I’m fine with slow and steady with this. Having clear mind, having appetite and taste back, having less fatigue, having much much less bone and joint pain, and kidney and liver enzymes in high but normal range is all worth it. Good luck to you. I hope you have a positive experience as I have with peginterferon. Stay safe!