Pronunciation: hye-DROX-ee-ure-EE-a
Generic Name: Hydroxyurea
Brand Name: Droxia
Droxia may cause severe, sometimes life-threatening side effects. With long-term use in patients with cell development disorders, secondary leukemias have been reported. It is unknown if this is related to Droxia or to the patient's underlying cell disorder.
Droxia is used for:
Reducing the number of painful episodes and blood transfusions needed by adults with sickle cell anemia experiencing recurrent episodes associated with moderate to severe pain. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Droxia is an antineoplastic agent. Exactly how it works is not known, but it is thought to increase the ability of deformed red blood cells to change shape, which may lessen pain associated with sickle cell anemia.
Do NOT use Droxia if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Droxia
- you have severe bone marrow depression, low white blood cell counts, low blood platelet levels, or severe anemia
- if you are taking didanosine or stavudine
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Droxia:
Some medical conditions may interact with Droxia. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if you have kidney or liver problems
- if you take medicine for HIV infection
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Droxia. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
- Didanosine or stavudine because the risk of side effects, such as inflammation of the pancreas, may be increased
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Droxia may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Droxia:
Use Droxia as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- An extra patient leaflet is available with Droxia. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.
- Take Droxia by mouth with or without food.
- Wash your hands before and after handling Droxia or the bottle it comes in. Wear gloves while you are handling Droxia or its bottle. Follow your doctor's instructions for disposing of the gloves after you remove them.
- If you have difficulty swallowing, empty the contents of the capsule into a glass of water and drink immediately. Use care when emptying the capsule into water. Do not allow the powder to come into contact with the skin or mucous membranes and do not inhale the powder when opening the capsules. If the powder is spilled, it should be immediately wiped up with a damp towel and disposed of, as should the empty capsules.
- Drinking extra fluids while you are taking Droxia is recommended. Check with your doctor for instructions.
- Do not use Droxia if the expiration date has passed. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to properly dispose of expired medicine.
- Taking Droxia at the same time each day will help you remember to take it.
- If you miss a dose of Droxia, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Droxia.
Important safety information:
- Do NOT take more than the recommended dose without checking with your doctor.
- Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Droxia before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
- Droxia may lower the ability of your body to fight infection. Avoid contact with people who have colds or infections. Tell your doctor if you notice signs of infection like fever, sore throat, rash, or chills.
- Droxia may reduce the number of clot-forming cells (platelets) in your blood. Avoid activities that may cause bruising or injury. Tell your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding. Tell your doctor if you have dark, tarry, or bloody stools.
- Droxia may harm your liver or cause burning, numbness, or tingling of your arms, hands, legs, or feet if you take it with certain HIV medicines (eg, didanosine, stavudine). Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about this information.
- Avoid vaccinations with live virus vaccines (eg, measles, mumps, oral polio) while you are taking Droxia. Vaccinations may be less effective.
- Women who may become pregnant should use effective birth control while they are taking Droxia. Check with your doctor if you have questions about effective birth control.
- Lab tests, including complete blood cell counts, kidney function, liver function, and platelet counts, may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
- Use Droxia with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects.
- Droxia is not recommended for use in CHILDREN. Safety and effectiveness have not been confirmed.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Droxia has been shown to cause harm to the fetus. Do not become pregnant while you are using it. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Droxia while you are pregnant. Droxia is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Droxia.
Possible side effects of Droxia:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Constipation; drowsiness; hair loss; inflammation of the mouth; loss of appetite; nausea; redness of the face.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blood disorders, including low numbers of red or white blood cells; blood in the urine; chills; diarrhea; fever; inflammation of the pancreas; lower back or abdominal pain; painful urination; persistent cough; secondary leukemia; shortness of breath; skin cancer; skin sores or lesions; sore throat; sores on the mouth or lips; symptoms of liver toxicity (eg, yellowing of the eyes or skin, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, severe stomach pain); unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual tiredness or weakness; vomiting.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: Droxia side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include dark discoloration of the skin; mouth sores; soreness; swelling of the palms and soles of the feet, followed by scaling of the skin.
Proper storage of Droxia:
Store Droxia at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Droxia out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about Droxia, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- Droxia is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Droxia. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
More Droxia resources
- Droxia Side Effects (in more detail)
- Droxia Dosage
- Droxia Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Drug Images
- Droxia Drug Interactions
- Droxia Support Group
- 0 Reviews for Droxia - Add your own review/rating
- Droxia Concise Consumer Information (Cerner Multum)
- Droxia Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Droxia Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Hydroxyurea Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Hydroxyurea Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)
- Hydroxyurea Monograph (AHFS DI)
- Hydrea Prescribing Information (FDA)
Compare Droxia with other medications
- Anemia, Sickle Cell
- Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
- Solid Tumors
