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hydroxyurea
noun
hy·droxy·urea
hī-ˌdräk-sē-yu̇-ˈrē-ə
: a drug CH4N2O2 used especially to treat myeloproliferative disorders (such as polycythemia vera and myelogenous leukemia) and malignant tumors
Examples of hydroxyurea in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Many receive doses of hydroxyurea, a drug that can reduce periods of severe pain and other complications, and researchers there are studying its effectiveness in Ugandan children.
Nabulo, now 37, is one of the hospital’s patients.
—
Rodney Muhumuza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 May 2024
Take hydroxyurea, an oral drug that makes red blood cells more flexible, reducing pain crises and the need for blood transfusions.
—
Megan Molteni, STAT, 7 Mar. 2023
This is in sharp contrast to hydroxyurea which is available in capsules and does not require hospital visits that would be additional costs for patients.
—
Paul Adepoju, Quartz Africa, 26 Nov. 2019
Current treatments include a 21-year-old cancer drug called hydroxyurea and Endari, approved in 2017.
—
Washington Post, 15 Nov. 2019
The most effective sickle cell drug, hydroxyurea, has hardly even been studied in sub-Saharan Africa, let alone made widely available.
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Sharon Begley, STAT, 23 Oct. 2019
Among the treatments currently used is a medication called hydroxyurea, which can stimulate the production of fetal hemoglobin.
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Michael Nedelman and Minali Nigam, CNN, 30 July 2019
The patients in the trial are divided into two groups, one also receiving a pain relief drug called hydroxyurea and one not receiving it.
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Tess Vrbin, courant.com, 19 June 2019
Your doctor can treat sickle cell anemia with a variety of medications, including antibiotics to ward off life-threatening infections, pain-relieving medications, and hydroxyurea, a medication that can prevent episodes of pain, the Mayo Clinic says.
—
Korin Miller, SELF, 19 Sep. 2018
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Word History
First Known Use
1949, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near hydroxyurea
Cite this Entry
“Hydroxyurea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hydroxyurea. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
Medical Definition
hydroxyurea
noun
hy·droxy·urea
-yu̇-ˈrē-ə
: an antineoplastic drug CH4N2O2 used especially to treat myeloproliferative disorders (as chronic myelogenous leukemia, polycythemia vera, and thrombocythemia) and malignant tumors
More from Merriam-Webster on hydroxyurea
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hydroxyurea
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