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What Is Hydrea?

Hydrea is a prescription antimetabolite containing hydroxyurea. It is indicated for resistant chronic myeloid leukemia and for locally advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck, excluding the lip, when used with concurrent chemoradiation. Each capsule contains 500 mg of hydroxyurea.

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What Is Hydrea?

Hydrea is a prescription antimetabolite containing hydroxyurea. It is indicated for resistant chronic myeloid leukemia and for locally advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck, excluding the lip, when used with concurrent chemoradiation. Each capsule contains 500 mg of hydroxyurea.

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How Does Hydrea Affect Cancer Cells?

The precise antineoplastic mechanism is not fully defined. Hydroxyurea inhibits ribonucleotide reductase and rapidly suppresses DNA synthesis without directly blocking RNA or protein synthesis. This action interferes with cell replication and contributes to its activity against susceptible cancers.

Who Is Treated With Hydrea?

Hydrea is used for resistant chronic myeloid leukemia and selected locally advanced squamous cell cancers of the head and neck with concurrent chemoradiation. Treatment is individualized according to tumor type, disease state, response, patient risk factors, kidney function, and current clinical practice standards.

How Is Hydrea Dosed?

Hydrea dosing is individualized and based on actual or ideal body weight, whichever is lower. Current renal dosing guidance lists 15 mg per kg once daily when creatinine clearance is at least 60 mL per minute and 7.5 mg per kg once daily when clearance is below 60 mL per minute or end-stage renal disease is present. Capsules are swallowed whole.

What Serious Risks Are Linked to Hydrea?

Hydrea can cause severe myelosuppression, hemolytic anemia, secondary leukemia, skin cancer, fetal harm, cutaneous vasculitis, pulmonary toxicity, and serious complications with selected antiretroviral medicines. Blood counts are checked at least weekly during therapy. Hydrea is cytotoxic, so capsules are not opened, broken, or chewed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hydrea

What conditions does Hydrea treat?

Hydrea treats resistant chronic myeloid leukemia and selected locally advanced squamous cell cancers of the head and neck with chemoradiation.

What strength is a Hydrea capsule?

Each Hydrea capsule contains 500 mg of hydroxyurea.

Why are blood counts checked during Hydrea treatment?

Hydroxyurea can cause severe bone marrow suppression, so blood counts are monitored at least weekly.

Can Hydrea capsules be opened or chewed?

No. Hydrea is cytotoxic, and current labeling directs patients to swallow the capsules whole.

References

DailyMed - HYDREA (hydroxyurea) capsule. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=050bd2a2-a125-721a-e366-255c5466f018. Date Accessed October 1, 2026.

Definition of Hydrea. National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/hydrea. Date Accessed October 1, 2026.

Hydroxyurea. MedlinePlus. https://www.medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682004.html. Date Accessed October 1, 2026.

Hydroxyurea. PubChem. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Hydroxyharnstoff. Date Accessed October 1, 2026.

Hydroxyurea Toxicity. StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537209/. Date Accessed October 1, 2026.