Does any one take Hydroxcarbamide with Anagrelide.

[softail]

Is any one taking a cocktai of two drugs my Haematologist has suggested I mix in Anagrelide with the hydroxycarbamide that I have been taking for six years.At the moment I take 150mg on 5 nights and 100mg on two nights. I seem to have become anaemic on the dose that now fails to control my platelet count. so please does any one have any thoughts on this, because all reports on anagrelide have such bad press re the side effects.

[tarifa]

Hi, my platelets have been high sufficiently most of the time to require intervention. Hydrea wiped me out, I couldn't function. I struggled with anagrelide for several years. I had borderline anaemia most of the time, the palipitations required betablockers to control them and I also needed a diuretic as AG can cause fluid retention. When struggling with AG, it was suggested I could take HU with it, but never went down that path. Neither drug on their own controlled my platelet count. For the last 5 years I've been on interferon, which has been so successful that I haven't needed it for the last two years, so have been med free. The haematologist organised my GP to do some blood tests to check if there was any other cause for the anaemia when I had it. I've come to the conclusion that anything which damps down the platlets, will also damp the other lines to a lesser, so it is a balancing act. I used to take Floradix to ensure I had a good iron intake and this helped I think. Everyone is different, so it is a case of trial and error to see what suits you. I hope you are seeing your counts as once I had sight of mine, I had a much better idea of what was happening and could make informed decisions.

[ourlife]

Hi Softail, Interesting question when I switched from HU to AG I had a period of time on both meds slowly decreasing HU while increase AG about half way through my counts were really good and I wondered if mixing them could work better or if it was a good idea to mix long term, if you go for it please do a blog to keep us updated. Good luck

[softail]

thank you ourlife, I will of course keep you informed I have to go back in one month so we wi see what they suggest.then.

[westlieght]

Always best to be drug free,now i am only asprin after 6years taking frist hyrox then anarga taken together am left wishing had not taken these drugs as my ET has changed to post ET-MF was it the anagri that made this change i will never no? now depended on transfusions as anaemia gets low have to manage life rest when my body tells me had enough!we are all on are own journey with MPD but it great to have the surport we have.best wishes