Carac Vs Efudex

My dermatologist prescribed Efudex for my AKs. The pharmacy switched the prescription to Carac, probably due to my insurance's restrictions. I had used Efudex years ago for spot treatment, but this is the first time over my entire face.

After reading a lot of the messages here I'm left wondering if Carac perhaps has a higher likelyhood of doing longterm damage to the skin. I haven't seen any posts on Efudex leaving the dark marks on the face like Carac. And I'm left wondering, am I being paranoid since I'm stuck using Carac rather than Efudex or are they really equally beneficial and equally dangerous?

On 3/9/2007 Ednaz wrote:

My dermatologist prescribed Efudex for my AKs. The pharmacy switched the prescription to Carac, probably due to my insurance's restrictions. I had used Efudex years ago for spot treatment, but this is the first time over my entire face.

After reading a lot of the messages here I'm left wondering if Carac perhaps has a higher likelyhood of doing longterm damage to the skin. I haven't seen any posts on Efudex leaving the dark marks on the face like Carac. And I'm left wondering, am I being paranoid since I'm stuck using Carac rather than Efudex or are they really equally beneficial and equally dangerous?

I have completed my Efudex 5% 2x day for 21 days on my face and am extremely satisfied with the result. The redness is disappearing daily and I only have a few red spots that have not fully healed yet. I am so glad I was put on Efudex as I read about Carac and the side effects it could have. Some were auto immune and made people very sick. The only side effect I had with the Efudex was indigestion, I still get it a little but in 5 days I will have completed the treatment to my neck and fully expect to feel really well then. I asked a Pharmacist about the heartburn and was told it does happen as does insomnia. I suppose some of the medication does get into the blood stream.

I am sure you will look great when it is over.

I started the Carac on my face 02/27/07 and used it last 03/12/07. I lasted 2 weeks out of the prescribed 4. After explaining to a nurse on the phone about the extreme reactions I was having she told me to stop using the Carac. After the first few days of use my skin had begun peeling. At the end of week one my face was swelled to it's maximum. Into week 2 the skin was splitting at the corner of my eyes and I began using vaseline over my entire face to prevent it. I eventually switched to antibiotic ointment for the eye area. Itching and burning were extreme and there was no sleeping. My primary care doctor prescribed tylenol 3 for the pain and I was able to sleep a little. Which ever side I layed/slept on resulted in fluid swelling aroung the eye lid area to the extent I could barely open it. I saw the Dermatologist 03/15/07 and he appologized explaining mine was one of only a few reactions he had seen that was this bad, but the inflamation should indicate an eventually positive outcome against the actinic keratoses.He also prescribed Lidex cream for 1 week. The redness has faded slightly, the itching and burning are gone, but the skin is still pretty tight and the flaking continues.

These drugs, Efudex/Carac may do wonders but they are dangerous stuff so keep your doctors phone number handy and call them if you are concerned. I'm glad I did.