Side Effects
Therapy for polycythemia vera (PV) can sometimes produce side effects. For most patients, treatment side effects are temporary and go away once therapy ends. For other patients, side effects can be more severe, sometimes requiring hospitalization. Some patients never have side effects.
Before you undergo treatment, talk with your doctor about potential side effects. Drugs and other therapies can prevent or manage many side effects.
Side Effects of Drug Therapy
Side effects of anagrelide (Agrylin®) include:
- fluid retention
- heart and blood pressure problems
- headaches
- dizziness
- nausea
- diarrhea
Side effects of interferon alfa (Intron® A, Roferan-A®) include:
- moderately severe flu-like symptoms
- confusion
- depression
Other drugs used to treat polycythemia vera include aspirin therapy, antihistamines and hydroxyurea (Hydrea(R)). For side effects information, please see the free LLS publication Understanding Drug Therapy and Managing Side Effects and the FDA drug information webpage.
