Hydroxycarbamide, also known as hydroxyurea, is a medication used in sickle-cell disease, essential thrombocythemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia and cervical cancer. In sickle-cell disease it increases fetal hemoglobin and decreases the number of attacks. It is taken by mouth.Common side effects include bone marrow suppression, fevers, loss of appetite, psychiatric problems, shortness of breath, and headaches. There is also concern that it increases the risk of later cancers. Use during pregnancy is typically harmful to the baby. Hydroxycarbamide is in the antineoplastic family of medications. It is believed to work by blocking the making of DNA.Hydroxycarbamide was approved for medical use in the United States in 1967. It is on the World Health Organizations List of Essential Medicines. Hydroxycarbamide is available as a generic medication. Medical uses
Hydroxycarbamide is used for the following indications:

Myeloproliferative disease (primarily essential thrombocythemia and polycythemia vera). It has been found to be superior to anagrelide for the control of ET. Sickle-cell disease (increases production of fetal hemoglobin that then interferes with the hemoglobin polymerisation as well as by reducing white blood cells that contribute to the general inflammatory state in sickle cell patients.)
Repair of DNA damaged by chemicals or irradiation is also inhibited by hydroxyurea, offering potential synergy between hydroxyurea and radiation or alkylating agents.Hydroxyurea has many pharmacological applications under the Medical Subject Headings classification system:
Antineoplastic Agents – Substances that inhibit or prevent the proliferation of neoplasms. Antisickling Agents – Agents used to prevent or reverse the pathological events leading to sickling of erythrocytes in sickle cell conditions. Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors – Compounds that inhibit cell production of DNA or RNA. Enzyme Inhibitors – Compounds or agents that combine with an enzyme in such a manner as to prevent the normal substrate-enzyme combination and the catalytic reaction. Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 Inhibitors – Acts as an inhibitor to one of the most important enzymes involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics in the body, CYP2D6 a member of the cytochrome P450 mixed oxidase system. Society and culture
Brand names
Brand names include: Hydrea, Litalir, Droxia, and Siklos. References
External links
"Hydroxyurea". Drug Information Portal. U.S. National Library of Medicine.