Fluorouracil topical for Actinic Keratosis User Reviews (Page 2)

• Joe...
• April 18, 2020

"Asked to use 5% fluorouracil cream by my derm, but I have always refused them. I have had Mohs surgery and a few PDT treatments over the past 15 years. Due to COVID-19, I am working from home and can take the time. My derm prescribed 5% at 2 times per day for 14 days. Applied to my entire face and forehead (minus the eyes, mouth, and chin). Day 4 - pain intense, made it difficult to smile, eat, or sleep. Face and forehead red, the skin weeps, burns, and is turning a deeper maroon color. At night I get chills but keep praying that I will make it through. Day 9 now, many areas have blended together around my nose and cheeks as well as some areas on my forehead and temples. The pain is difficult to handle, but not impossible. We are tougher than we think! It is important that I do this for myself and my family. I love them more than I hate the pain. You can do it too! Praying for strength for all of you who are about to join this battle and for those who are in treatment trying to tough it out. You can do it!"

• Jul...
• October 17, 2016

Fluorouracil topical "21-day treatment. This stuff is brutal, but it works. Make sure you give yourself a full two months for treatment and recovery. This treatment is lengthy, and there is a process to it. Try to plan your treatment in the winter or fall months, when it's cooler. Believe me, you will not want to go outside. Your face will be unsightly, and you will become sensitive to the sun. Use the medicine at night and Aquaphor during the day, or at least two hours after you apply the cream. Cool the cream in the refrigerator for a bit for instant relief. You WILL get itchy. I used a Q-tip dipped in Aquaphor to gently relieve the itch. Be careful around the crevices by your nose. You don't want cream to accumulate there. Hang in there."

• Sla...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 20, 2016

"I had extensive AKs for the past 10 years on my forehead, scalp, temples, face, and hands. Regular liquid nitrogen treatments removed those that were visible. They would return, and other unseen AKs would appear. I wanted more effective treatment, so I did almost 3 weeks of heavy applications of fluorouracil 5%, 2x/day. The burning, blistering, cracking, stinging, and swelling are most impressive. After nearly 3 weeks, my derm said I was done, and it would take 2 weeks to improve a lot, and 4 to be all better. He was right. My skin is great now, looks good, and no AKs! It's miserable getting there, but less cancer risk - why wouldn't you do it?"

• ras...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2019

Fluorouracil topical "Had to stop using Efudix on my face after 2 weeks and 2 days because of pain, dizziness, and mouth sores. My face was a fright, bright red all over as the cream seemed to creep when used. One week later, the rash has settled and the pain has subsided, but I fear it will be weeks before I return to my normal look. I have dry, flaky scabs on my face where scabs were not evident before Efudix. I regret using this cream on my face. My chest looks like I have been blasted with both barrels of a shotgun. Red welts everywhere as I dressed the whole area with Efudix as advised by my doctor. Not really painful, but starting to itch. I am 3 weeks into this area, I feel I could stop now, but will give it a few more days. The jury is still out."

• Spo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 22, 2018

Fluorouracil topical "I was misdiagnosed by a dermatologist as having A.K. when actually I had eczema. Efudex turned my arm into a raw, ulcerated, painful, itchy, oozing mess. Unable to sleep. Application was for two weeks only, then discontinued. After recovering from the treatment, the eczema was still there. I changed doctors. One application of a medium-strength corticosteroid, itching gone, healing started. Please get multiple opinions about the disease you have and the treatment options before being told to use Efudex."

• Has...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 4, 2019

Fluorouracil topical "Instructed by my dermo to apply cream mornings each day for 4 weeks - wash face at night with a gentle cleanser. Today is day #19, so I am well into my 3rd week. Results are dramatic. I do look like a zombie from Michael Jackson's Thriller video, but apparently that is a good thing - it's working. Lots of red splotches including my neck, which I included besides my face. First signs of scabbing, which is the next phase. Can't wait. I just hope that things clear up quickly after day #28. Not much fun, especially in public, but most likely worth the aggravation."

• mar...
• May 1, 2020

Fluorouracil topical "I grew up in Canberra, Australia. Sunburn every year, never wore a hat, didn't know about sunburn cream. I started using Efudex when I was 38. I'm on my fourth facial using it. I can last 16 days at the most. I would be so painful if I used it for 28 days. I know it's time to stop when it is so itchy that I don't get a single minute of sleep at night. I have to stay at home for 3 or 4 weeks - I scare too many people otherwise. Before bed, I have to take mild sleeping tablets (Restavit) and ibuprofen. I used to use Lucas Pawpaw ointment at night, but it's too thick and itchy. I use Dermeze treatment ointment. Lucas' is good for recovery. I have to wash the Efudex off before I go to sleep - otherwise, I can feel its horrible burning all night. If I accidentally touch the treated spot and then rub my eyes, they get swollen for days. I hate the treatment (0/10) - torturers could use it. But I love the results (10/10). My skin feels so good for 4 years."

• the...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 28, 2016

Fluorouracil topical "Dear the a: I have widespread actinic keratosis on my forearms. I was prescribed Efudex. I have thin, fair skin and some freckling. The damage seems to have occurred from a childhood playing outdoors, before sunscreen became so important. The Efudex, astonishingly, did nothing. So very disappointing. The dermatologist was equally surprised and prescribed another round. Still nothing. And no one can give me an answer. I am now considering a chemical peel or whatever the next step might be. So very tired of hiding my arms. Good luck to you. If anyone can give you an answer, please, please post it here."

• deb...
• December 24, 2015

"I have been applying cream to my face for actinic keratosis for 3 weeks, and my face looks horrible, like I have been burned bad. I have 1 week to go and hope I make it. It makes your skin burn and itch so bad, but that is better than someday having to have surgery to remove skin. I found that if you apply Vaseline to lips and eyelids before you wash your face, it helps not getting it on them. You do not want to get it on your lips, it burns them really bad. I hope I make it through this."

• Neu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2017

Fluorouracil topical "I have used Efudex for years on my severely sun-worshipped skin. I could never tolerate more than 7-10 days and never got great success. I tried Tolak once, with much better success. The mode of delivery, inactive ingredients, or something made a big difference, and I tolerated it almost 4 weeks. 1X a day app and something about it makes side effects milder, yet results better. I ended up getting much better results than I ever got with Efudex. I see some people here are discouraged that they don't get inflamed as soon as they do with Efudex, but the milder reaction allowed me to stay with it much longer. I did get a severe reaction after the 3rd week, but excellent results. Will use again... no more Efudex for me."

• Sni...
• October 22, 2020

Fluorouracil topical "My GP saw some actinic keratosis on my head and said I should mention this at my appointment with a dermatologist. I am using fluorouracil 5%. The regime was 4 weeks once a day, followed by 3 weeks of healing, followed by 4 weeks. The 2nd treatment is to reveal and fix any actinic keratosis missed in the first. I have nearly finished the all treatment on my head - I am bald. I am 78 years old. The treatment on the head was itchy and, at the end, painful - the 2nd treatment did not show any remaining AKs. I could see that some of the 'rash' raised by the drug extended to my face, so I started a treatment there. This was more painful - particularly around the mouth and cheeks as these move if you smile or speak. I am in the healing phase now and will start a second treatment in 2 weeks. COVID has meant that my scary face has not scared the neighborhood! This was free on the NHS (National Health Service UK) - they are great."

• Dee...
• March 12, 2020

Fluorouracil topical "I am on Efudex for a few spots of actinic keratosis on my face. I am on day 15 and was prescribed to stay on it for 21 days. My face is raw, swollen, and monstrous looking. I feel like it’s super glued. I’m gonna do my best to stick it out for the next six days. Like many others, my doctor did not tell me about the intense pain and scary look. However, my father-in-law was on the cream a few years ago, so I knew what I was in for. I also went through phototherapy 12 years ago, where that result was immediate, I threw up on the way home from the pain. Efudex has the same pain, just a long drawn-out process to get there."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 26, 2023

Fluorouracil topical "I successfully completed the 4 weeks on Tolak cream. My face became extremely unsightly, but I just dealt with it by staying inside. My upper lip was the worst and the only area that caused pain. It was definitely tolerable but extremely unsightly. I'm now in the healing phase and my results are AMAZING! I'm disabled and spend a lot of time inside. I will say...this would be difficult if you have to engage with the public."

• MBF...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 6, 2017

Fluorouracil topical "I have extensive AK on my face and chest and have had 5 basal cell and 1 pre-melanoma lesions removed via surgery. Because of the extensive AK and my history, my derm tried blue light (Levulan). I only made it 8 minutes and had 2nd degree burns. Due to my reaction, my Mohs surgeon recommended Carac in a modified application as I am in sales. I use the cream 7 days, then am off 3-4 weeks. I plan by time of year and my schedule as you can't be in the sun. The Carac cream has been AMAZING! I put it on before bed. I documented my reaction and have found that about day 6 I can see red trouble spots, day 7/8 itching, day 10 scabbing. Overall, my AK has diminished by 80% after 4 cycles since last spring. I took summer/fall off."

• Dav...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 18, 2020

Fluorouracil topical "My dermatologist said to apply on the face twice daily for 10-12 days. Well, my skin is super sensitive. After 2 days, I was red, itching, and in pain, so I stopped at the end of day 5. I’m at day 9 and look like I have severe sunburn with scaling, peeling, oozing, and burning. I am hopeful I’m about to turn a corner toward clearing up. Argh! It worked great on my legs after 2 weeks of treatment. My facial skin, another story."

• Luk...
• November 1, 2019

"I have had 10 separate Moh's procedures on my face to remove 9 basal cell carcinomas and one squamous cell carcinoma on the side of my nose. And many liquid nitrogen freezing episodes along with one surgery on my left forearm to remove another basal cell carcinoma and one on my chest. Now my dermatologists have prescribed fluorouracil for certain spots on my face and many on my scalp. I have had the entire gamut of side effects. Some so unpleasant and serious, such as nausea, severe headache, feeling fluish, insomnia, etc., I had to stop using for a few weeks and then start up again. It seems to be taking a very long time to treat them on my scalp. Currently, I am experiencing very painful joints, especially knees, which have never bothered me before. Why I came to this site to look up side effects. There is no mention of this particular side effect, but I can't help but think it may have something to do with it."

• Mag...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2020

Fluorouracil topical "Body is covered with skin eruptions. Used Efudex for 2 weeks on right cheek. Using Bioderm. Does not seem to be helping. 7 weeks since treatment. Seeing dermatologist, did biopsy, on prednisone. Where to go? Apparently, there are still cells on my cheek after Efudex. Very scary drug! Face is still healing, not sure how long it will take. Effectiveness unknown at this time."

• Kal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2022

Fluorouracil topical "This is day 27, the last of 4 weeks of use of the cream, putting it on in the evening after washing and drying the affected areas. In the first 2 weeks, nothing much happened, some redness, a little soreness in one or two places. I felt a little dizzy on a couple of occasions. In the third week, the spots began to become apparent, and flakes of stiff dry skin began to peel away from the worst areas. In this last week, the redness has increased, the spots have gone darker and darker, and some scabs have formed. Today and tomorrow are supposed to be peak horror according to the literature that I was given with the prescription. After that, it should start to subside. Right now, when I look in the mirror, I see an unfamiliar walk-on part from a rubbish zombie film, and it feels as if I have a layer of stiff chili-based lacquer painted on my face and forehead. Whenever I've been outside, I've worn a broad-brimmed bush hat to shade my face from the sun."

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 5, 2021

Fluorouracil topical "I was prescribed Efudex for a spot on my cheek that refused to heal and would crack and bleed if stretching the skin to wash or apply makeup. I have fair skin. I was told it was pre-cancerous. Applied the cream as directed, but after two weeks of treatment, I started to become increasingly unwell, and by the end of 28 days, I had horrible gastric and bowel symptoms. I even had a test to make sure that I was not missing DPD, as I was so badly affected even two weeks after stopping treatment. I recovered, thankfully, and the spot on my cheek healed well, but I wouldn't go through it again. I'd opt for cryosurgery or surgery even if it left a small scar. This cream is seriously toxic to pets, incidentally, so please be very careful with it."

• Aus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2024

Fluorouracil topical "Started to see red blotches at about day 4 on my face and head (scalp, forehead, and nose). By day 13, all areas are now raised, red, itchy, and painful. Trouble is, I am writing this at 5 a.m. in the morning. Yes, the pain and itching will not allow me any sleep. If I can't sleep, I reckon I will only get in another 2 days (14 in total), instead of the 4 weeks. Will call the doctor and see if I can get anything to enable some hours of sleep. I have used this cream on a couple of spots before with great results, but this extensive all-over treatment may be too much."

• one...
• November 26, 2019

"Treating the whole face for 2 weeks, twice a day. Actinic cheilitis on lips, so am applying it to lips too. Aquaphor on the inner lip before application to block it. Lips react before the rest of your face, and treatment is shorter-7-10 days. The lips will crack, blister, bleed, and hurt. Use a straw. If you had any kind of sensitive skin or rosacea, or even hormonal irritable skin around the mouth and nose prior to treatment, this will erupt almost more than areas with cancer or AKs. ‘Normal’ skin definitely will be affected and will actually tend to scar and discolor more than cancerous areas after treatment. My first doc told me none of this, my second one did. I'll continue to put on AK areas, but not in those other zones. Get a good doctor. If they tell you to do your whole face, question that or get a second opinion-I now know I didn't need it, and spot treatment would have been much more appropriate, and that much of this suffering was not needed."

• Eda...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2020

Fluorouracil topical "Was told to use Efudex 5% 2x a day for 2 or 3 weeks, but pain would not let me do that. Used it for only 4 days and had a serious reaction to it. Had raised redness over 3/4 of my face, like welts. Had stinging and pain at 4 days, and the doctor said that 4 days was enough. Unusually fast reaction. Now I want to see how long it will take to get back to normal. Today is day 5. My sister and brother-in-law have also used it with good results."

• Ang...
• June 27, 2016

Fluorouracil topical "The cream works wonderfully. It is a little bit hot, and you really feel the burn. The outcome is worth it, but it is criminal how much the drug company charges for this medication! It has been around since 1957, and in 2009 it cost $157.00 per tube, today it costs $2,865.00. Absolutely abuse!"

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 21, 2024

Fluorouracil topical "I was scared to use this TOLAK cream. I am fair, freckled, and 60. I noticed red spots changing on my face. Doctors and 2 dermatologists convinced me to do it (took 6 years). My bathroom looks like a pharmacy. I was ready for whatever was going to happen. I have Aquafor, Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser, Cerave Facial moisturizer with SPF 30, Tylenol, and Benadryl, and I cut off the fingers of plastic gloves to use for the application of Tolak. Yes, a little over the top, but I felt ready. Eight weeks prior to treatment, I got my skin as healthy as I could. I went to a Medical Esthetician and did the 8 weeks cleaning/moisturizing steps (faithfully). Everything on YouTube, internet talks about Effudex, not Tolak. I carried on. Those YouTube videos were helpful. I took photos and watched my progress. Day 1-5 - not much change (felt dizzy at times); Day 5-10 a lot redder (itchy/prickly feeling - crease at nose painful - avoid putting cream there); Day 12-17 redder/scaly/burning in one spot."

• Con...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 7, 2019

Fluorouracil topical "Was prescribed Efudix by the NHS to treat incorrectly diagnosed psoriasis (they thought it was Actinic Keratosis because I have AC on my arms/hands from growing up in a hot country) on my ankle. Used the cream for roughly 6 weeks in 2018 and stopped using the cream after the 6 weeks. Developed a case of discoid eczema which originated from the psoriasis spot and I've had it now for a year. Have to apply Epimax cream twice a day to contain the eczema, which is incredibly/unbearably itchy and causes red welts to appear on my legs below and on the knees. If you have a choice, I would not use Efudix."