Hydroxycarbamide

Hydroxycarbamide
Clinical data
Trade namesDroxia, Hydrea, Siklos, others
Other namesHydroxyurea (USAN US)
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa682004
License data
Pregnancy
category
  • AU: D
Routes of
administration
By mouth
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • AU: S4 (Prescription only)
  • CA: ℞-only
  • UK: POM (Prescription only)
  • US: ℞-only[1]
  • EU: Rx-only[2]
  • In general: ℞ (Prescription only)
Pharmacokinetic data
MetabolismLiver (to CO2 and urea)
Elimination half-life2–4 hours
ExcretionKidney and lungs
Identifiers
IUPAC name
  • Hydroxyurea
CAS Number
PubChem CID
IUPHAR/BPS
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
NIAID ChemDB
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.004.384
Chemical and physical data
FormulaCH4N2O2
Molar mass76.055 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
Melting point133 to 136 °C (271 to 277 °F)
SMILES
  • O=C(N)NO
InChI
  • InChI=1S/CH4N2O2/c2-1(4)3-5/h5H,(H3,2,3,4) Y
  • Key:VSNHCAURESNICA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
  (verify)

Hydroxycarbamide, also known as hydroxyurea, is an antimetabolite medication used in sickle-cell disease, essential thrombocythemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, polycythemia vera, and cervical cancer.[3][4] In sickle-cell disease it increases fetal hemoglobin and decreases the number of attacks.[3] It is taken by mouth.[3]

Common side effects include bone marrow suppression, fevers, loss of appetite, psychiatric problems, shortness of breath, and headaches.[3][4] There is also concern that it increases the risk of later cancers.[3] Use during pregnancy is typically harmful to the fetus.[3] Hydroxycarbamide is in the antineoplastic family of medications. It is believed to work by blocking the making of DNA.[3]

Hydroxycarbamide was approved for medical use in the United States in 1967.[3] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[5] Hydroxycarbamide is available as a generic medication.[3]

  1. ^ "Xromi- hydroxyurea solution". DailyMed. 8 April 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Siklos EPAR". European Medicines Agency. 9 July 2003. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Hydroxyurea". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Hydrea 500 mg Hard Capsules – Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) – (eMC)". www.medicines.org.uk. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  5. ^ World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.