Droxiget 500mg Capsule
Product Info
| Prescription required | Yes |
| Marketer | GLS Pharma Ltd. |
| Active Ingredient | Hydroxyurea (500mg) |
| Storage | Store below 30°C |
| Chemical Class | Anti Metabolites, {Urea} |
| Habit Forming | No |
| Therapeutic Class | ANTI NEOPLASTICS |
| Action Class | Anticancer-others |
| User Rating | 4.3 |
| User Reviews | 357 |
FAQ
How to relieve constipation during the treatment?
To relieve constipation, include fiber in your diet (fruits and vegetables), drink 8-10 glasses of fluids a day, and keep active. A stool softener (with a doctor's prescription) once or twice a day may prevent constipation. If you do not have a bowel movement for 2-3 days, consult your doctor.
How to get relief from diarrhea while on treatment with Droxiget 500mg?
Food items with soluble fiber can help relieve diarrhea as they help absorb excess fluid from the body. These food items include bananas (ripe), oranges, boiled potatoes, white rice, curd, and oatmeal. Diarrhea can cause dehydration in the body, so drink 8-10 glasses of water to avoid dehydration. You can also have soups and juice frequently to hydrate yourself.
Does Droxiget 500mg cause hair loss?
Yes, while taking this medicine, your hair may become brittle and break. You may also experience patchy hair loss or thinning. These conditions tend to resolve once treatment is stopped. Be gentle when brushing and washing hair to manage hair loss.
What precautions should I take to reduce the chances of getting infected during treatment with Droxiget 500mg?
Since Droxiget 500mg lowers the number of white blood cells and platelets in your blood, it puts you at a risk of getting an infection. In order to prevent, avoid people who have infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you may be getting an infection, or if you get a fever, or chills.
Can Droxiget 500mg be taken during pregnancy?
This treatment may harm a baby developing in the womb. It is important not to become pregnant or father a child while you are having treatment and for at least 6 months afterward. Talk to your doctor about effective contraception before starting the treatment.
How to cope with tiredness and weakness after starting treatment?
Various things can help you to reduce tiredness and cope with it, for example, gentle exercise. Always consult your doctor before doing any kind of exercise.
Should I avoid any food and drinks while taking Droxiget 500mg?
You can continue with your normal diet unless your doctor tells you otherwise. However, it is advisable to sip water regularly to prevent you from becoming dehydrated, eat small, simple but nourishing snacks every few hours rather than large meals, and suck on hard candy or popsicles to prevent nausea and vomiting.
I have noticed some changes in my skin after taking Droxiget 500mg? What should I do?
Use a moisturizer to get relief from rashes, and dry and itchy skin. Avoid direct sunlight, wear protective clothing, and use sunscreen (SPF of more than 15) whenever you step outdoors. Do not go swimming if you have a rash because the chlorine in the water can make it worse. Avoid hot water baths and wear loose and cotton fabric clothes. Your skin will tend to become better once treatment is stopped.
Droxiget 500mg Capsule Reviews
Droxiget 500mg is used in the treatment of some kinds of cancer and to prevent painful episodes associated with sickle cell anemia. It may be also used to treat some other conditions. It is sometimes used with certain other medicines as part of combination chemotherapy.
Droxiget 500mg can be taken with or without food, but try to have it at the same time every day to get the most benefits. Your doctor will decide what dose is necessary and how often you need to take it. This will depend on what you are being treated for and may change from time to time. You should take it exactly as your doctor has advised. Taking it in the wrong way or taking too much can cause very serious side effects. It may take several weeks or months for you to see or feel the benefits but do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to.
The most common side effects of this medicine include hematological disorders, gastrointestinal symptoms, eating disorders, and weight loss. This medicine may reduce the number of blood cells in your blood thereby, increasing the susceptibility to infections. Regular blood tests are required to check your blood cells along with kidney, liver and heart function during treatment with this medicine.
Before taking it, tell your doctor if you have bleeding, liver, or kidney problems or are taking any medicines to treat infections. Many other medicines can affect, or be affected by, this medicine so let your doctor know all medications you are using. This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. The use of effective contraception by both males and females during treatment is important to avoid pregnancy.
Droxiget 500mg can be taken with or without food, but try to have it at the same time every day to get the most benefits. Your doctor will decide what dose is necessary and how often you need to take it. This will depend on what you are being treated for and may change from time to time. You should take it exactly as your doctor has advised. Taking it in the wrong way or taking too much can cause very serious side effects. It may take several weeks or months for you to see or feel the benefits but do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to.
The most common side effects of this medicine include hematological disorders, gastrointestinal symptoms, eating disorders, and weight loss. This medicine may reduce the number of blood cells in your blood thereby, increasing the susceptibility to infections. Regular blood tests are required to check your blood cells along with kidney, liver and heart function during treatment with this medicine.
Before taking it, tell your doctor if you have bleeding, liver, or kidney problems or are taking any medicines to treat infections. Many other medicines can affect, or be affected by, this medicine so let your doctor know all medications you are using. This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. The use of effective contraception by both males and females during treatment is important to avoid pregnancy.
How Droxiget 500mg Capsule Works
In cancer, Droxiget 500mg works by blocking an enzyme (ribonucleotide reductase) which is required for synthesis of DNA. This prevents the cancer cells from growing and multiplying. In sickle cell disease, it works by increasing fetal haemoglobin (HbF) levels in red blood cells (RBCs). This helps the RBCs assume a normal shape, improves blood flow and protects against complications such as painful sickle cell episodes.
How to Use Droxiget 500mg Capsule
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Droxiget 500mg may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
Benefits of Droxiget 500mg Capsule
- In Head and neck cancer: Head and neck cancer includes cancer of the mouth, nose, sinuses or throat. Droxiget 500mg kills or stops the growth of cancer cells and also prevents the multiplication of cancer cells. It is a potent and very toxic medicine and you should discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. You should avoid drinking alcohol or smoking while having this treatment and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
- In Sickle cell anemia: Sickle cell anemia is a disorder of the red blood cells (RBCs) in which they lose their original round shape and flexibility, turn sickle shape and eventually die out. Droxiget 500mg makes your red blood cells bigger. It helps them stay rounder and more flexible and makes them less likely to turn into a sickle shape. The medicine does this by increasing a special kind of hemoglobin called hemoglobin F. Hemoglobin F is also called fetal hemoglobin because newborn babies have it. This helps to treat this disease and also prevents further complications that may be life-threatening.
Uses of Droxiget 500mg Capsule
- Head and neck cancer
- Sickle cell anemia
Droxiget 500mg Capsule Side Effects
- Convulsion
- Bone marrow suppression
- Cutaneous vasculitis
- Increased uric acid level in blood
- Azoospermia (absence of sperms)
- Hallucination
- Peripheral neuropathy (tingling and numbness of feet and hand)
- Decreased appetite
- Gastrointestinal disorder
- Pancreatic inflammation
- Oligospermia (low sperm count)
- Fever
- Liver toxicity
- Eating disorder
- Skin cancer
- Pulmonary edema
- Hematological disorder
- Pulmonary fibrosis
Safety Tips
Liver
CAUTION
Droxiget 500mg should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Dose adjustment of Droxiget 500mg may be needed. Please consult your doctor.
Breast feeding
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Droxiget 500mg is probably unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug may pass into the breastmilk and harm the baby.
Alcohol
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
It is not known whether it is safe to consume alcohol with Droxiget 500mg. Please consult your doctor.
Driving
UNSAFE
Droxiget 500mg may decrease alertness, affect your vision or make you feel sleepy and dizzy. Do not drive if these symptoms occur.
Kidney
CAUTION
Droxiget 500mg should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Droxiget 500mg may be needed. Please consult your doctor.Regular monitoring of kidney function test and some blood tests may be advised while you are taking this medicine.
Pregnancy
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Droxiget 500mg is unsafe to use during pregnancy as there is definite evidence of risk to the developing baby. However, the doctor may rarely prescribe it in some life-threatening situations if the benefits are more than the potential risks. Please consult your doctor.
Quick Tips
- Your doctor may get regular blood tests done to monitor your electrolyte levels, liver function, blood cell count in your blood.
- It is advisable to stay hydrated and drink plenty of fluids while taking Droxiget 500mg.
- Do not skip any dose and complete the course as suggested by your doctor.
- Use an effective method of birth control to avoid pregnancy while taking this medication.
- Take it at the same time every day, either with or without food.
References
- Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. pp. 672-75.
- Masters SB. Agents Used in Anemias; Hematopoetic Growth Factors. In: Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ, editors. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. p. 578.
- Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006. Hydroxyurea. [Updated 2020 Jan 20].
- Chabner BA, Bertino J, Cleary J, et al. Cytotoxic Agents. In: Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC, editors. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 12th ed. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2011. pp. 1721-22.