User Reviews for Efudex topical

I am on day 10 of 14 (twice a day). I started putting it on 4-5 small red marks on my face that weren't going away. Since using this product, the redness is almost on my whole face! I'm wondering if this cream spreads as I sleep and turn on my pillow.. I can see yellowish film on my pillowcase.....can't wait for it to end!

The process is very painful. I managed by using Noxema to wash my face. I used tylenol for pain. I used Aquafor and Cortisone treatment to help with healing once I stopped the application process. If using this doesn't keep you out of the sun, nothing will

Once a day for 3 weeks I only made it to 2 1/2 weeks extremely painfull red scabs Tylenol not helpfully used gold bond medicaled ointment for temporary relieve this was for keratosis on both arms I have used this for patches with no problem I am seeing the Dr tomorrowfor alternative TX I have had squamous cells surgically removed in the past I will never again go out in the sun uncovered horrible painfull treatment

I am on my first day of stopping using effudex after a 30 day treatment on my upper lip, cheeks, nose and temple. Had burning, itching, bad swelling, weeping sores, and now have a very unsightly scabs on all areas. I have no doubt this will work for me, but wish I was better prepared for the pain. Advil didn't really help. Post treatment is Clorsig (an eye ointment for conjunctivitus in australia) which I have started today. Good luck to everyone who uses this on their face. Be prepared to stay out of the sun, and maybe have time off work.Read More Read Less

This is my 3rd round with this treatment on my lips. I was to use for 14 days on day 8 had to stop and seek meds for the pain. My problem is getting the raw and scabs to heal. I have tried Aquaphor,Vaseline and Triple Antibotic but no relief. The med works well no doubt and I would recommend this to someone needed it. In the past my lips looked great but it keeps coming back to at my age, this is the last go round. My suggestion to anyone using this, cold compresses as the sores start. Good Luck and overall this product works, you just have to find a way to deal with some of the side effects.Read More Read Less

I'm on day 10 of a three week treatment on my face and back of neck. I have been following instructions carefully and today is the first day I have felt any pain whatsoever. Abnormal cells are prominently rising to the surface of my skin now, highly visible. One suggestion, if you do not use gloves to apply, be sure to wash hands twice. So far, so good, but based on posts I'm reading here, I may not be so calm in another week or so.

I have been using Efudex for the first time and have applied it for one week. So far, absolutely no change in the appearance of my skin whatsoever. Am using the prescribed dosage. I know that it takes time before any change is noticed, but since not a single change is appearing after 7 days, I am wondering if it is working.

I have used Efudex topical cream in the past on my chest with very good results. It does take time, looks horrible & is somewhat painful, but final results are good. However, this time I used it on a basal cell that popped up on my left temple near my ear. My dermatologist suggested using it for 3 wks. 2x a day. My skin has erupted into severe redness from above my eye down to the bottom of my ear, burns, itches & stings. Much larger area than the one spot I found. Called my doctor & he prescribed hydrocortisone valerate cream 0.2% 3 days ago. I am 4 days away from the 3 wk. deadline & found that in the past 3 days I have had extreme reactions...irritability, nervousness, swollen lips, insomnia. Then yesterday I broke out with huge hives above the opposite temple & began having trouble breathing, felt extreme nervousness internally. By evening my air passages felt blocked & hives worse. I immediately took a Benadryl, washed the infected area & applied the hydrocortisone. I Googled the side effects for Efudex & all of these symptoms were mentioned. I am going to call my doctor today, but I feel because it is at my mucous membrane area, this drug caused more of a reaction. I am stopping it all together & hope that the basal cell is gone. If not I will have a biopsy & have it burned off before I would use this cream again facially. Strong stuff!! Having been an outdoor person when I was younger & fair skinned, I am now paying for it. I have had Moh's surgery 4x now. Not good.Read More Read Less

I am on day 11. Reading all of the reviews has me worried about the second half of my treatment. I had melanoma surgery under my eye in July and often have precancerous patches frozen on my face, so this 21 day treatment was recommended as a preventative measure. As of today, my forehead is covered with tiny red dots. The creases of my nose look sunburned. A red dot on each cheek. But, my chin looks like I took a torch to it. I was told that it only affects precancerous cells, so I am hopeful that I have quite a bit of healthy skin, as most of my face doesn't seem affected. At least, not yet (day 11). But, we will see. Overall, my face feels sunburned and chin burns a bit more. But tolerable so far. I am 55 and spent way too much time in the sun throughout my life. Sunscreen and hats for me from now on!Read More Read Less

Have been using med for 5 days on face and neck. red scabby areas have appeared all over my face and neck. I can only hope that this condition begins fading soon.

Have used efudex many times over the years. Using now on forehead. After three weeks results are showing however I am experiencing some emotional discomfort, which is noted in product literature. Have applied good quality calming skin lotion to affected areas and mental disposition has improved. Don't be alarmed if you experience emotional problems or insomnia with use of Efudex.

This medicine is very uncomfortable to use. The burning, itching and dryness of the area being treated is annoying. It feels like having the area is on fire at times. And the treated area is very red with scabs forming and gets very unsightly for several weeks after treatment. I would almost prefer having the pre-cancer cells frozen instead of going through this treatment. At least the pain only lasts for a few minutes and then it's gone.

I have used this medication a couple of times with good results.

This is my 2nd time to use Efudex. The first time I used Aldara and was so horribly sick from that. Next time my dermatologist prescribed the Efudex. No side effects. You have to expect the area to get red, crusty and have a scab, that's how it works, but the results are so worth it! Also, you may start using it on just one spot, but as usage continues other little spots in the area will pop up that you will have to treat also. It only turn the skin red and inflamed where it is applied.

I am using Carac for the third time in 6 years. I have red spots on various parts of my face after 14 days of use, 1X per day. I had hard spots (karatosis) before use, but many more places turned red now. I just had a basal cell carcinoma cut off my jaw line last July and this treatment is definately preferable to that. It burns a little, and seems kind of itchy but not anything that prevents my normal daily activities. It makes your skin feel kind of dry too. My doctor said to use it for 14 days but I missed two days so I will extend the application for 2-3 more days. Read More Read Less

I have just finished 22 days of treatment on my arms. Lots of red splotches but no real pain or discomfort. No one has commented on the splotches, but I have worn long sleeves most of the time. now that the treatment is over, I am curious to see how long it takes for the red splotches to heal.

Red headed male, 83 yrs. Third treatment , first on chest, in about twelve years. Last time on arms I swore never again, this time I mean it. Had to stop treatment after twelve days. Chest became extremely raw and painful. Chest now healed but continues to ich at different times of day. Peculiar side effect is that three weeks after ceasing treatment I continue to have severe outbreaks of hives or simply intense itching over different parts of body including far from treated areas. Sometimes legs, other times arms or back, buttocks, and neck. Only ice packs seem to help. Itching ceases after 20-30 minutes and then resumes elsewhere a few hours later. Another peculiar effect is keratosis like patches erupting on back (never treated) and on previously treated arms.Read More Read Less

2ND time on my face and its no fun it burns, itches, weaps, bleeds, scabs and people look at you like you have the plague. Hang in there baby it looks good when it heals but its no fun until then.

This drug was extremely effective on my facial actinic keratosis; I looked like a lobster for about 10 days but it was worth it; after 2 weeks my face looked 100% better

This is my second course of treatment with efudex. My first was about four years ago, and two years ago I used Levulan which is a photodynamic therapy method for certain skin conditions. My experience with the efudex has been very positive. I did experience some discomfort in the final few days of application and was given a prescription for a small dose of hydrocodone which helped tremendously. I also have had some discomfort using my CPAP machine. The redness and inflammation from the efudex don't lend themselves to the straps of the CPAP mask (I wasn't diagnosed with sleep apnea until the last year). However, I have had six basil cell carcinomas removed over the course of the last 10 years and while this is more painful, I don't need to be cut on if I can help it. I also recommend that this be done in the late fall or winter. The cooler weather made it more tolerable for me. I would like to know from the posters on this site whether the effects are not as severe with each subsequent course of treatment.Read More Read Less