Brand
name: Efudix (Fluorouracil)
Pronounced: EFF-you-decks
Generic name: Fluorouracil
Other brand name: Carac
Why is Efudix (Fluorouracil) prescribed?
Efudix (Fluorouracil) and Carac are prescribed for the treatment of actinic or solar
keratoses (small red horny growths or flesh-colored wartlike growths
caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation or the sun). Such growths
may develop into skin cancer. When conventional methods are impractical--as
when the affected sites are hard to get at--the 5 percent strength
of Efudix (Fluorouracil) is useful in the treatment of superficial basal cell carcinomas,
or slow-growing malignant tumors of the face usually found at the edge
of the nostrils, eyelids, or lips. Efudix (Fluorouracil) is available in cream and
solution forms. Carac comes in cream form only.
Most important fact about Efudix (Fluorouracil)
If you use an airtight dressing to cover the skin being treated, there
may be inflammatory reactions in the normal skin around the treated
area. If it is necessary to cover the treated area, use a porous gauze
dressing to avoid skin reactions.
How should you take Efudix (Fluorouracil)?
Use care when applying these products around the eyes, nose, and mouth.
Wash your hands immediately after applying Efudix (Fluorouracil).
If you miss a dose Efudix (Fluorouracil)
Apply it as soon as you remember. If more than a few hours have passed,
skip the dose you missed and go back to your regular schedule. If you
miss more than 1 dose, contact your doctor.
Storage instructions...
Store away from heat, light, and moisture.
Efudix (Fluorouracil) side effects
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 Efudix (Fluorouracil).
* Side effects may include:
Burning, discoloration of the skin, itching, pain
If you develop symptoms of a severe allergic reaction--including abdominal
pain, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and chills--stop taking Efudix (Fluorouracil)
and contact your doctor immediately. You may have a condition known
as DPD enzyme deficiency.
Why should Efudix (Fluorouracil) not be prescribed?
If you are sensitive to or have ever had an allergic reaction to Efudix (Fluorouracil),
Carac or similar drugs, you should not take Efudix (Fluorouracil). Make sure your
doctor is aware of any drug reactions you have experienced.
People with a condition called DPD enzyme deficiency should also avoid
these products. The active ingredient can give them a life-threatening
reaction marked by abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, fever,
and chills.
Special warnings about Efudix (Fluorouracil)
Avoid prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays while you are under treatment
with these products.
Skin may be unsightly during treatment with Efudix (Fluorouracil) and, in some cases,
for several weeks after treatment has ended.
If your solar keratoses do not clear up with use of Efudix (Fluorouracil), your doctor
will probably order a biopsy (removal of a small amount of tissue to
be examined under a microscope) to confirm the skin disease.
Your doctor will perform follow-up biopsies if you are being treated
for superficial basal cell carcinoma.
Possible food and drug interactions when taking Efudix (Fluorouracil)
There are no reported food or drug interactions.
Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
Efudix (Fluorouracil) can harm a developing baby, and should not be used by women
who are--or even may become--pregnant. If you do become pregnant while
using Efudix (Fluorouracil), check with your doctor immediately.
Because it's not known whether Efudix (Fluorouracil) could find its way into breast
milk and harm a nursing infant, you'll need to choose between nursing
your baby or undergoing treatment with Efudix (Fluorouracil).
Recommended dosage for Efudix (Fluorouracil)
When Efudix (Fluorouracil) is applied to affected skin, the skin becomes abnormally
red, blisters form, and the surface skin wears away. A lesion or sore
forms at the affected site, and the diseased or cancerous skin cells
die before a new layer of skin forms.
