Agent	Class	Common side effects	Uncommon side effects	Precautions
Hydroxyurea (Hydrea)	Antimetabolite	Anemia, neutropenia, oral ulcers, skin ulcers, hyperpigmentation, nail changes	Leg ulcers, nausea, diarrhea, fever, elevated liver function test results	Renal disease
Recombinant interferon alfa-2b (Intron A)	Myelosuppressive	Influenza-like symptoms, fatigue, anorexia, weight loss, alopecia, headache, nausea, insomnia, body pain	Confusion, depression, autoimmunity, hyperlipidemia	Psychiatric disease, cardiovascular disease
Radioactive phosphorus (32P)	Radiopharmaceutical	Anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, Leukemia may develop after treatment	Diarrhea, fever, nausea, emesis	—
Busulfan (Myleran)	Alkylating agent	Pancytopenia, hyperpigmentation, ovarian suppression	Pulmonary fibrosis, leukemia, seizure, hepatic veno-occlusion	Seizure disorder