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Efudex - Uses & Side Effects

Generic name: Fluorouracil
Other brand name: Carac

Efudex is an anti-cancer drug which has the chemical name 5-fluorouracil. Efudex is used to treat actinic keratoses. An actinic keratosis is a precancerous skin lesion caused by sun damage. Actinic keratoses feel rough and are sometimes scaly. Actinic keratoses are not skin cancer, but they often turn into skin cancer.

Efudex Dosage

• Apply Efudex cream or solution 2 times a day, or Carac cream once a day, in an amount sufficient to cover the affected area. Continue using Efudex until the inflammatory response reaches the stage where the skin wears away, a sore or lesion forms, and the skin cells die; your doctor will then have you stop using the medication. The usual length of treatment is from 2 to 4 weeks. You may not see complete healing of the affected area for 1 to 2 months after ending the treatment.

Uses of Efudex

• This medicine is an antimetabolite used to treat actinic (solar) keratoses, which is a skin growth caused by exposure to sunlight.
• It may also be used to treat certain types of skin cancer or other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Side Effects of Efudex

Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue using Efudex.Side effects may include:

• Burning, discoloration of the skin, itching, pain
• irritation, inflammation, dryness, swelling, tenderness at the site of application.

Warnings and precautions before taking Efudex:

• Avoid prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays while you are under treatment with these products.
• kin may be unsightly during treatment with Efudex and, in some cases, for several weeks after treatment has ended.

Drug Interaction :-

• Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job.
• There are no known drug interactions with topical fluorouracil.

Overdose

Since fluorouracil is applied topically, it is highly unlikely that an overdosage would occur. In the event that this preparation is accidentaly ingested.

• Signs of toxicity may include diarrhea, stomatitis.