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
She’s been on the medication hydroxyurea for 15 years, and has not had a pain crisis since.
—
Jane Tyska, Mercury News, 25 June 2025
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.
—Sharon Begley, STAT, 23 Oct. 2019
Among the treatments currently used is a medication called hydroxyurea, which can stimulate the production of fetal hemoglobin.
—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.
—Tess Vrbin, courant.com, 19 June 2019
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jane Tyska, Mercury News, 25 June 2025
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.
—Sharon Begley, STAT, 23 Oct. 2019
Among the treatments currently used is a medication called hydroxyurea, which can stimulate the production of fetal hemoglobin.
—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.
—Tess Vrbin, courant.com, 19 June 2019
Cite this Entry
“Hydroxyurea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hydroxyurea. Accessed 17 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share