Has anyone in this group used picato yet, and if so what were the resuts, and how much does it cost?

Two days ago, my dermatologist told me about Picato and gave me a prescription for it. I was excited to possibly treat my face and scalp with this new RX. First of all, the clerk at CVS pharmacy said that it was not covered by my insurance. When she looked it up, she said it would cost me $1,159! You have got to be kidding me! Can that be true? I would love to give this RX a try! Will see if my doc has any coupons to give me to help.

Research before using!!! I've just gone back to my doctor as I have second degree burns on half of my chest from using Picato gel!!! He said "Oh sorry about that, that's a really bad reaction, I probably won't be prescribing this anymore.." So glad I could be the guinea pig! :( I am so emotional. He told me it would scar less than having the (tiny) solar ketosis frozen off but now half of my chest is burned down two layers!! This is going to take weeks, if not months to heal and I could be permanently scarred. Research this gel and other options EXTENSIVELY before using it as prescribed as I did. If I could post a picture, I would. Nobody would ever use it if you saw my chest right now. F*** my life!! :(

I used picato on my arm, had redness and flaking skin for a few days, nothing more. I used on my chest and it became extremely red and burning. it got worse after 2nd applications. multiple open lesions, crusting, open blisters, and very painful pustules. I am 7 days out and hope this will get better with time. I have been putting aquaphor on lesions which does relive pain. not painful enough to take any analgesic, but I have high pain tolerance. I have had multiple cryotherapy to area in the past. I did have drug card from the company, and the copay was $40. insurance was billed $700.

I started using Picato on Sunday night. The first day was ok, some blistering. The second day was lots worse! Swelling, blistering, itching. But today, my eyes are swollen so badly that's it's difficult to see. I'm extremely dry and itchy. So glad I'm finished with the gel treatment! Question, can I use Aquaphor now that I'm finished with the treatment or will that burn? I definitely don't want anymore burning sensations!! I've done Effudex and I will most certainly say this treatment is far worse than that! The only good thing is that you only have to apply it for 3 nights!
So, Aquaphor?

I have recently used it on my cheeks nose and forehead. Normally I have my solar keratosis removed with liquid nitrogen but my dermatologist no longer does this on the face.
You apply it three days in a row and thats it.
After the first day but especially on the second day any mutated cells start to blister and go red and bumpy. Its quite ugly for a while. However it clears up really quickly. I would start on a Friday night and try work from home or not do much the following week if its on your face,
The results were very good for me, the scaly skin went and there are no scar or discolouration marks on my face.
The prices in the US for this cream is insane. It costs £65 in the UK for the three tube treatment. That's less than $100! Someone is ripping you guys off.
I hope my description helped.

Hello, I used Picato about 7 weeks ago for actinic keratosis just above my lip and there does not seem to be any visible change to the area.

Jane

Well, prices have gone up, as I got cash quotes of $1000 from Walgreens and $975 from CVS. Fortunately my insurance covered and I paid $7 copay. So -- doc didn't tell me there were these weird side effects everybody's talking about. I finished my 2nd night of using it on both my legs. I have NO redness, NO itching, NO pain -- just went on here to find out when my spots would be gone and now I'm freaking out that within a week I'll look like a leper!!! Oh well, too late now, LOL Gotta say the way they package this stuff isn't so hot -- finally had to cut those little tubes to get the rest of it out -- for that price I'm not wasting ANY of it!!!

I just did the 3 nights of Picato. This was the 2nd year in a row I did this. I have a history of BCC. It cost me $25 with coupon and my prescription insurance. Night 1, I knew to take 2 advil before I applied the gel. Mild burning. Nights 2 and 3, took Advil again and had mild burning. I am on day 5 (2 days after last dose) and the itching is unbearable! I tried coconut oil and Aquaphor and it helps but does not eliminate. Face is blotchy. Under eye swelling was noticable on day 3, almost half as much on day 5. My face is scaly and rough like sandpaper and is peeling pretty significantly, but I have had no blistering or weeping. My first go-round last year was not nearly as bad a reaction. As of today, I would say the itching is the worst side effect. I am 52 and live in Texas but born and raised in the northeast. A sun-worshiper and tanning bed person for many years. Guess I deserved the BCC. They had to remove half of my nose and required a plastics closure so I am careful now. Hope the info helps. I found these sites helpful.

I just started my first treatment. My face feels hot, but seems okay, just red. It looks and feels like I got a sunburn. The cost is only $25. Ask your dermatologist for a co-pay card. My pharmacist said it would have cost me $700. Since the drug was just recently approved in the US, they are trying to promote it, so the co-pay cards are readily available, and can be used for up to 3 refills.

I used picato on my lip. My doctor gave me a coupon, so I only paid $25 although I was told the cost was $550.00. The first day after applying it, my lip was slightly burned. After the second application, my lip was swollen and blistered. When I put the gel on the third evening, my lip was burning and throbbing. I was extremely uncomfortable that night. My lips remained swollen and painful for 3 more days. After that, they were substantially better. I was told that day 7 would be the worst, but, luckily, I did not experience discomfort for that long.

within a couple days of starting treatment my patients are starting to see some redness and irritation that escalates for about a week. By the end of the 2nd week they have started to see the redness decrease by the 4th week complete clearance. I have had one patient with much slower result on the body but the face seems to be more routine with that period.

The drug is not covered by most insurance companies at this time and depending on which course can be anywhere from $700-900 for the treatment for a cash pay patient.