Hydrea side effects

Aren't you risking rather a lot by stopping taking your prescribed meds?

​If you find that one or other is the cause what do you intend to do about it?

​I imagine/hope that you will restart that med and then seek a way to help you sleep.

​So might it not be better to just deal with that anyway than risk your life by messing around with your prescription.

​I suffer at the moment from sleep problems - tho' I think they are somehow stress related - as they are not permanent. So I have a prescribed med for that and also use 'off the shelf' herbal sleep remedies and make sure I don't have caffeine or food too close to bed time.

​Nigel

I appreciate the severity of your symptoms - I know how devastating it can be to be awake at night and nothing you can do either to get to sleep. or indeed want to do while you are awake.

​But I still feel you are creating more trouble for yourself. Trying to get at your GP by putting yourself at risk seems reckless to me.

​Maybe you should look to some of the theraputic experts such as those on holistic medicine, hypnosis, relaxation techniques. Tho' I'm not an enthusiast of such diverse practices it sounds like you are desperate and maybe you need to try those, before perhaps getting yourself in a worse situation.

Lack of sleep can cause depression and being irritable. I don't understand why your Doctor won't give you a prescription to help you. By not taking your medication to prove your point to her is not the. answer. You need this medication to keep your red blood cells in order. Maybe make another appointment with her to at least ask why she feels you can't have something to help you sleep. You at least need to know her reasons. Seems odd to me that she has advised no sleep medication. I would want to know the reason why. Hope you can get to the bottom of this.

Let us know how it goes with your consultant.

​Though it sounds like you need someone to assess your situation generally. But a consultant is more usually a specialist in one area.

​Probably best though not to tell her you've stopped taking a prescribed med.

I am thinking of you and hope beyond words that there are some answers for you on Monday. I strongly feel there will be. Do you recall my situation where the Hemotologist put me on low dose aspirin? When Inwas taken to emergency because I was finding it hard to breathe and passed out 3 times in a very short period of time. Cat scan revealed small clots in my lung. It did not him long to over rule the Hemotologist and immediately put me on Xarelto. Clem I feel certain once you put your concerns on the table there is and will be a medical decision in your best interest and well being. Keep us posted after your appointment on Monday. In the meantime have faith something will be done to improve your quality of life!!!! 🇨🇦

That must be hard for you but my thinking is your mind is working overtime. Even before you go to bed you are telling yourself you won't be able to sleep. Now if I am right then the medication you are one to prevent the bone marrow from producing more than needed red blood cells may not even be the problem. I forget the name of it. Sorry. When I have a hard time getting to sleep it is often due to something heavy on my mind but that has nothing to do with my Polycytemia. I do sleep well my most parts but if something is weighing heavy on my mind then I can be assured of a sleepless night. I think this is your case. If you have taken yourself off the medication and was able to sleep that should be addressed with the Doctor but after reading this post I am not convinced this is your problem. You seem to still be having problems sleeping if I am reading this right. Take a good deep breath and get a mind set that you will sleep. When I was a child my Grandfather told me to count sheep! Hahahaha. Monday will come soon. You can do this and don't give up. Never give into this. Take care and keep us posted. We are your support group from different country's. I am from the best! Hahaha just kidding you 🇨🇦

For your information the prescribed meds I have had for sleep problems are:-

​Clonazepam, Zopiclone and Amitriptyline.

​The last is the current one and I believe the others are more adictive for long term use.

​I try not to take it every night but only when I feel that I am going to have a problem. Otherwise I use a herbal sleep aid.

​I had a long period about 18 months when I need the meds. Then for about another 18 I seemed to manage a good sleep without any help. But recently I am back needing the meds, but I connect that with stress related to a house purchase. Tho' there are no problems there, but it still seems to stress me! Of course throughout I have tried to make sure I don't eat food soon before going to bed (no less than 4 hours), no caffiene for at least the same time and I drink herbal or flavoured infusions which are supposed to help with sleep. I have also tried room scents in the bedroom which again are to promote sleep.

Nigel

Hi clem. I have sometimes had a problem sleeping. If I take an antihistimine, I sleep well, even though I'm on Hydroxyurea. Please don't stop taking the Hydroxyurea. It keeps you from having dangerous blood clots. It also keeps you from having a too high red blood count. It is too serious a disease to stop taking Hydroxyurea. When we have PV, the biggest problem is that we can easily get blood clots. Please try some sudafed or other antihistimine, and it will help you sleep.

harrishill

   

hi clem IAM  on Hydroxyurea, and when I can't sleep, I take an antihistamines such as sudafed. It helps me to sleep. Please don't stop the Hydroxyurea. It keeps us from developing dangerous blood clots, and keeps us from developing a high red blood count. I have PV and Hydroxyurea is the only thing that will help me with it. I feel lucky that I have no serious side effects. So please reconsider.

harrishill1 

Despite not take hydrea for over a week my bloods are close to normal. Consultant has contacted my family doc about my situation. I also have a script for sleeping tablets for short term. Let's hope I get some sleep for a change.