Efudix once a day?

Hello Greyowl,

I think you need not be concerned on either count.  Firstly, there is nothing to indicate that efudix has to be applied twice daily - though it is common to do so.  The first time I had a course of efudix treatment I was advised to apply twice daily but if I found the process too discomforting to cut back to once a day or even every other day: but keep going.  Yes it will take longer to work if applied less frequently but it will still work.

In any case, nine days is not a long time.  In my own experience, it takes a surprisingly long time to see even a slight reddening.  How long depends on so many variables that it would be misleading to estimate any exact time.  But keep going and effects will be seen.  My own experiences have been very positive.

Good luck,  Bill

Thanks Bill. It's hard to see, though, what the point is, of using it just once a day from the start, when I have no adverse reaction and in the longer term would prefer to get it over with sooner rather than later!

Have decided to start using it twice a day. Unless anyone can suggest a reason why I shouldn't be doing this. I know people sometimes revert to this if the treatment becomes painful, but I would still be interested to know if anyone else has been told to do it only once from the beginning.

Hi greyowl

I've been prescribed effudex to be used twice a day on a small area.

Could you contact your dr and ask if you can use it twice a day and not the once as prescribed?

As previously stated, continuity is the key to it getting a response but see what your dr says 

Hi Greyowl 

You might like to contact Peteinlancs who's just posted here about just starting Efudix/5FU once a day.

You'll also see in this patient information leaflet produced by the British Association of Dermatologists that

"How often and for how long you should use 5-FU cream will depend on your skin condition and other factors, for example which part of your skin is affected. Efudix^® cream is usually applied once or twice a day, for 3-4 weeks when treating actinic keratosis"

x

Thanks for that, Latchbrook, it's interesting to see. All I can think is that possibly the skin on the nose is more sensitive? Not so far anyway - ten days and not a sign of extra redness. I suppose it's a puzzle to me why you wouldn't want to increase your chances of zapping the thing properly with two doses a day if you could. I'm a bit afraid that if there's no reaction they'll just suggest I carry on much later. I'll try and get through to the doctor next week to ask if she thinks I could increase the dose.

Yes, I will do that. When you started, how long was it before you got a reaction on your small area?

Hi greyowl

It took about 10 days for it to react but I think everyone's different.

The surrounding area also reacted.

It was quite unsightly and uncomfortable and it peeled a bit but is settling down now 

That's helpful to know, that the surrounding area reacted a bit. Thanks.  I'll be glad when something happens, to be reassured it is actually AK. Glad yours is settling now.

Hi, just wanted to ask - when you say the surrounding area also reacted, was this skin you definitely didn't put any cream on? And was it connected to the area where the cream was applied, ie was it far away? I ask because now I'm getting a reaction on my cheeks where I definitely did not put any cream (I am putting in a stripe in the centre of the bridge of my nose). I can't find anything officially saying this happens! A dermatologist told me a year ago it didn't spread. I can understand the cream might spread over your skin a bit, but on my face these parts are quite far apart. I am wondering if I have actually got sunburn... (where I did put sunbloc so that is odd too)...