Quick Question re. Taking Hydroxycarbamide.

[azaelea]

Hi everyone, just to ask those of you with ET and taking HU, when taking two 500 mg capsules in a day, do you take them both together or at separate times in the day? Since my last post I have been back on my usual dose of 500 mg a day for 7 days, but after two weeks of taking this dose my platelets have actually gone up, rather than down which we were hoping for. They are currently 785, highest they’ve ever been since diagnosis 5 years ago. Telephone appointment yesterday with Haematologist has resulted in her advice to take 2 Hydroxycarbamide on Saturdays and Sundays till next telephone consult to hopefully reduce platelets but I forgot to ask if I should take them together or not. Thought I’d just ask what you all do. Thanks in advance. Regards Fran.

[Cja1956]

when I was taking hydroxyurea, I would take one in the morning and one at night.

[azaelea in reply to Cja1956]

Oh, thanks for your quick reply!

[Cat1001954]

Hi not a problem I take my 2 at once at 7 in the morning with my blood thinner no problem whatsoever good luck x

[Cat1001954 in reply to Cat1001954]

I take 2 on a Monday Wednesday Friday and 1 on a Saturday Sunday and Tues Thurs So 5000 mg a week platelets are at 386

[Wilma66]

I too take Hydrea 1 capsule daily. I've been on Hydrea since 2014. It controls my platelets. They run around 400's and a little above. The Hematologist put me on 2 daily. I took one in the morning and one at night. I was getting afraid of doubling it. So I decided 1 daily is enough. The Hematologist was ok with that. I wish you well 😊

[Meatloaf9]

when I first started on 2 per day I took one in am and one in pm. It didn't do a lot, when I started taking them both in the am on a empty stomach they worked better and all my blood counts were in control after a month and stayed there. I have PV. I wouldn't know I was taking them except for all the hand washing. Since then I have lowered my dose to alternating one and two every other day and still in control so far. Just my experience.

[MWxxxx]

I asked theHaematologist about this when I upped to two a day. They didn't seem to think it mattered and suggested taking them both together to get it out the way. I take mine before breakfast and my aspirin after. I guess whatever works for you best.

[Winchie]

I take one in the morning and one at night for two days and the third day I just take one.

[Tipsy2023]

Morning when I take double dose twice a week ,I take them together and I always take them at night as suggested by proff at Guys ,To help with some of the side effects I was having . To be honest I just assumed I take together … good luck hope it settles soon L

[Oscarsboy]

I take 2 Saturday and Sunday and take them together usually at night, then 1 Monday to Friday.

[quanglewangle]

I take one in the morning and one at teatime alongside other ‘two a day’ meds - seems reasonable….🤡

[Arnoldthecat]

Hi azaelea. I was in the same position as you and ended up on 1000 mg over 5 days a week. I took one tablet morning and evening as i found this helped with the side effects.

[HoundSept2022]

When my dose was increased, I asked the same questions and received very helpful answers. I tried to take one in the morning and one at night, but too often forgot the evening dose. So I quickly reverted to taking both tablets in the morning.

Some people take both at night. Some split the dose. Some, like me, take both in the morning. It depends on your routine. See what works best for you. And good luck.

[Conneryfan]

I take both of mine together around 8pm.

[Ovingite]

Hi Azalia,

I used to take 2 x HC capsules, at about 9pm - probably for about 5 years, and all seemed fine. However, about a year ago my hemo suggested that I take them about 12 hours apart as that provides a more stable flow. So now I take them at 9am and 9pm, as that seems logical, but I cannot honestly say that I have noticed any difference to symptoms etc. 😊

Take care

John

[Stargaye]

I take x2 500mg Hydrea round 9.30 before I go to bed with half a glass of milk. Found it helped with any side effects. Happy with that for me.. guess it’s an individual choice 😊

[Cokopops]

I take the 2 together at dinner time , 8ish, with the aspirin Good luck!

[Sheena2020]

I have PV. I take my low dose aspirin in the morning and two 500 mg Hydroxyurea in the evening after dinner. I have been taking Hydroxyurea for three years and in the beginning it made me very tired and caused some stomach upset. Taking them in the evening helped with both of those side effects. I also try to drink a whole glass of water with them. Everyone is different, good luck!

[Janis12]

Hi, on the days I take two tablets I take one am and the other pm. I was told it did not matter but I thought it would be kinder on my stomach lining to split them up. Like you my platelet levels started to increase after three years on hydroxy so I am currently making the switch to Pegasys. The only down side is that I now take two drugs as I have to phase Pegasys in gradually a phase hydroxy out gradually....ugh!!!!

[Wyebird in reply to Janis12]

I stopped hydroxi over night when I started peg.

Week 1 stopped my 9 anagrelide but had 17 hydroxi and Peg

Wk 2 just Peg

[Janis12 in reply to Wyebird]

Hmm, interesting. I have a telephone appointment (1st one) with Claire Harrison next month so I may ask her opinion on this. Although I have just gone onto peg my review with haem is not for three months, it did cross my mind that this seems a long time considering all possibilities. Thanks for this info, it really helps.

[Wyebird in reply to Janis12]

She is amazing. I’m under her team . Love them all to bits

[Wyebird]

Hi I always took mine together at night. I don’t think it matters if you take morning and night

[brightlys]

I've been told by my MPN specialist that I can do either, so I just take both pills together at night because otherwise I'm more likely to forget one if I have to take them separately.