Hydroxyurea

[annmonster]

Anybody out there taking it ... ??? Read the side effects.... pretty scary .... afraid to take my first dose while home alone.

[Neil Cuadra]

Ann,

It's a double-edged sword. The medicine can make you feel sicker but can help you improve. They have to warn you of all of the possible side effects that other patients have experienced, but you can't know in advance which of them will actually affect you. If you experience vomiting or diarrhea you might find it easier to cope at home (make sure you don't get dehydrated), but if you experience skin problems or swelling that require an emergency trip to the treatment center, especially if it also makes you feel drowsy, then you might have wished you had taken the medicine while already at the treatment center.

A compromise might be to have a friend or relative on call for the first day or two, in case you need somebody to help you with self-care or transportation.