Medication Management

People with Sickle Cell may take medications including:

  • Hydroxyurea
  • Penicillin
  • Over-the-counter pain medications (like Tylenol)
  • Prescription pain medications (like oxycodone)

How do I take my medications?

Talk with your doctor about your prescribed medication plan. Be sure to ask these questions about EACH medication you take:

  • When should I take my medicine?
    • What time of day? (morning/night/with meals)
    • How often? (once a day, twice a day)
  • How much should I take?
    • Number of pills
    • How many mg “milligrams” each pill is

What is Hydroxyurea?

Hydroxyurea (sometimes abbreviated as “HU”) is a medication that is recommended for most people with sickle cell disease.

  • How does it affect SCD? Hydroxyurea makes it harder for your blood cells to turn into the sickled shape, which means you can stay healthy longer and usually experience less pain.
  • What should I do if I miss a dose of HU? Follow your provider’s recommendation, but generally, if you remember within six hours, take it immediately, otherwise wait for next dose and take your normal amount.
  • CONSISTENCY is key to HU working. Keep at it!

How do I refill my medications?

  • Where did you get your medication last time? Usually, you can refill medications by:
    1. Calling your pharmacy (phone number is usually listed on the bottle or you can look this up online) or using their online refill system
    2. They will need your prescription number (on the side of your bottle), your name and sometimes the name of the medicine.
    3. You can pick up your medicine, usually the next day.

TIP: Set a reminder in your phone to refill the medication before you run out (usually you can do this a week before you run out). Some pharmacies even allow you to sign up for automatic refill.

What if I don’t have enough pain medications?

  • Be sure to follow your prescribed plan.
  • Generally, you can take oxycodone every 4-6 hours.
  • It is usually not a good idea to combine prescription medication with over-the-counter medications (like acetaminophen or ibuprofen) because these medications work differently in your body than prescription medication does.

What if doctors don’t trust me with pain narcotics?

  • Be sure to follow your pain action plan.
  • Contact your sickle cell team to discuss pain management plans and let them know you need help managing your pain.