Efudex User Reviews & Ratings (Page 5)

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 21, 2021

For Actinic Keratosis "I was prescribed Efudex cream for lip actinic keratosis to be applied once a day, and nothing could have prepared me for the forthcoming experience I was about to endure! The cream itself is easy to use, and as expected, on day 7 my lip reacted... a huge blister from one end to the other, and on day 9 it started to split, weep, and crust over in rotation, and I'm still going through that now. On day 35, I stopped the cream on day 28! Eating has been a nightmare... can’t bite into anything and living on soft foods... bonus being I’ve lost 10 lb in weight."

• Hel...
• September 13, 2021

For Keratosis "My husband was using Efudix cream 5% for 2 weeks. Though painful and itchy, too extreme, he was prepared to see it through the course. Last night was traumatic as he awoke shaking uncontrollably at around 4 am. He soothed his face with cool water and a soft cloth, reapplied cortisone (Triamcinolone Acetonide 0.02%) cream, and took more Panadol Forte (paracetamol 500 mg plus Codeine 30 mg) before going back to bed. It’s now just past midday, and he’s taking more pain tablets and going to sleep after a light lunch. He said he’ll now try Efudix on a small area soon on the back of his forearm and see how it goes. Due to see the dermatologist in 2 months' time. We know of other people who have benefited from using Efudix and feel it’s really worth trying more for a good outcome. Thank you."

• Rfi...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 3, 2024

For Actinic Keratosis "I have done 3 rounds of Efudex over the past 20 years, primarily for Actinic Keratosis and 'sun damage' on my face. I just completed my most recent treatment. It works great, but it is absolute torture. I have never been able to get past 14 days of twice a day application on my face. The folds around my nose and mouth get 'fried', and it becomes so painful that I can't open my mouth very wide after about 8 days. By the ninth or tenth day, I can't go to work and by day 12, I can't sleep. I have found that Ibuprofen and Tylenol every 8 hours is helpful. While taking a shower, my face temporarily feels good, but 5 minutes after the shower, my face throbs and feels absolutely like it is on fire. Putting the Efudex on at that point provides temporary relief. I use Eucerin Original Healing Cream, which I keep in the refrigerator. Applying the ice-cold Eucerin on my face about 2-3 hours after the Efudex feels like heaven."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 7, 2022

For Keratosis "I have been prescribed fluorouracil cream for SK on my face. I have been using it for 3 weeks and not sure if it is working because my skin doesn't sting when I apply it. It just looks dry. Not sure if I should get another treatment."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 26, 2022

For Basal Cell Carcinoma "Using Efudex for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) on my nose. Have finished 24 days and plan to go for 4 more days. My dermatologist feels if it hasn’t done the job, then it most likely will not work. My nose has been red since week one, then the affected area scabbed over during week two and three. It was uncomfortable but tolerable. Since I began week four, the pain has become intense at night, almost intolerable. I am trying to soldier on, but it is very stressful. I am using Tylenol and Benadryl, but nothing eases the pain but ice packs. It feels like someone is driving needles or glass in my nose. It’s brutal. My phone doesn’t recognize me anymore."

• Fem...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2023

For Keratosis "I used Efudex for 6 weeks in total. I did stop the treatment at intervals when the blistering became too bad. I used it at night and put makeup on during the day to cover all the redness. It is the worst experience I have had with my skin. But looking at my face now, it was worth it. It is 2 months since I stopped, and I still have slight redness in certain areas. However, the improvement in my skin has been wonderful. I will always use 50 factor sun cream when I go out. Heliocare is very good. I hope and pray that I never will have to use Efudex again."

• Mil...
• June 17, 2024

For Keratosis "This is my 3rd time using Efudex cream. I have been told by my dermatologist to use Efudex cream 2 times a day for 2 weeks on lower lip, forehead (1 spot), between upper lip and nose (1 spot), and both hands. I have very fair pale skin. My skin reacted really quickly to the cream. In 5 days, my skin was red with blisters and itchy, very uncomfortable. Now I am on day 10 and my hands are swollen, itchy, with scabs, very dry, and uncomfortable. I am applying fresh aloe vera gel from my yard 2 to 3 times a day. I am not sure I can make it to 14 days. I will write to let you know the results."

• car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 13, 2024

For Keratosis "I was prescribed Efudex for erosion on my face, used it every day for 3 weeks. My skin didn't go red or sore. I don't know why. I thought it can't be working as I didn't have any reaction to it, but it has worked, the skin cancer has gone now."

• Rit...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 23, 2023

For Skin Cancer "A sun worshipper from my teen years and up... I had/have spots of skin cancer on my face/arms/chest. I was sent to a plastic surgeon and had a spot surgically removed from between my brows (not a good experience). I am now using Efudex. I am tolerating the pain, itching, and side effects, but I find it helps. I have used it on my face, arms, and chest with good results. I have been using it intermittently for 1.5 years and will continue until my skin cancer is gone. It may be a while."

• Dol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2023

For Keratosis "I used Efudex for 6 weeks in total. I did stop the treatment at intervals when the blistering became too bad. I used it at night and put makeup on during the day to cover all the redness. It is the worst experience I have had with my skin. But looking at my face now, it was worth it. It is 2 months since I stopped, and I still have slight redness in certain areas. However, the improvement in my skin has been wonderful. I will always use 50 factor sun cream when I go out. Heliocare is very good. I hope and pray that I never will have to use Efudex again."

• kzn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 8, 2021

For Basal Cell Carcinoma "I was told it won't work on a squamous carcinoma. Applying to the tip of my nose for 3 weeks and only slightly red with no discomfort, hoping it's not irritating a squamous cancer! On my face for 10 days so far, and red and flaky but no real discomfort. Some of the stories on here are horrific, but so far so good. Will do one side of my face and evaluate the benefits. Big fan of freezing them off, so will weigh it all up."

• Lou...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 26, 2025

For Skin Cancer "Great success with 14-day broadcast application to my forehead several months ago. Handled persistent AKs and greatly improved cosmetic appearance. Significantly healed after just seven days. Some (very) pale red residual redness remained several weeks thereafter, but quite minor overall. I stayed active in the outside world throughout treatment and healing. Currently in healing phase on whole face - sans forehead - and clavicles. Two-week course again. Definitely a far more painful, uncomfortable, and difficult experience vs. the smooth sailing with my forehead. I’ve become a hermit this time, as my current cosmetic appearance is markedly worse and impairing versus the forehead treatment. I’m again hoping for a complete cosmetic healing in a prompt timeframe, but much greater discoloration and discomfort (PAIN) with this lower facial application at 14 days. It has been a difficult road, but the revealed issues indicate it was wise to proceed with the treatment."

• She...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 6, 2025

For Keratosis "I am a 72-year-old woman. Following a skin examination whilst on vacation in Australia, I was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma and prescribed Efudix cream. On returning to Scotland and requiring a repeat prescription for the cream (which is working well), I’m being told it has been withdrawn by the manufacturer!? Is this also the case in other countries? I’m so disappointed as I’m now beginning to be hopeful of a good result from Efudix."

• Dav...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 11, 2025

For Basal Cell Carcinoma "At day 15 of 21, my skin is tomato red and weeping. Ready to abandon the treatment (twice a day) altogether. However, after reading the postings here, I understood I am not alone. You have given me the incentive to finish the course. Thank you all. Advice: If your skin is weeping, do not leave a paper towel over it to the extent it can stick and be difficult to remove without damaging the skin. Just dab. At night, lay a spare pillowcase across your pillow and wash it each day. A medal should be awarded to all who finish the course."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 3, 2023

For Keratosis "Used on nose, cheeks, and chin every night for 18 nights when scabbing became apparent, so stopped using. From today, June 3, I can use Canestan steroid cream on the affected areas. Also using oatmeal cream, which is very mild. Areas are very red and unsightly with scabbing and some tightness. Redness and tightness have moved towards my eyes, and this is quite uncomfortable. Persevering. Can’t comment on the outcome as the process is still ongoing."

• Jac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2024

For Keratosis "Prescribed once a day for 3-4 weeks. I used it all over my face and chest... by day 13, I needed a break and stopped for two days! 21 days in and my chest is very painful, raw, swollen, and feels like paper cuts opening all over when I move. My face hasn't been too bad pain-wise, but I'm scaring not only the children but adults too ;-) Try to keep the cream away from the sides of the nose as it will crack the thin layer of skin that joins to the upper lip, and it's not pleasant! Not sure if I've gone as far as I'm supposed to, but the sores are starting to peel... I don't want to do this again and get it right the first round."

• DCI...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 16, 2025

For Actinic Keratosis "Used nightly for 4 weeks as instructed by a dermatologist. Live in Scotland, so advised to only use on specific areas of actinic keratosis. Several areas on the forehead, under my eyes, and the entire nose where the sun would hit my face under my glasses/sunglasses, and a couple of spots on my right cheek which had shown signs of bleeding. Used a Q-tip to apply. 1st week itchy and burning. 2nd week redness and a more burning sensation, so I applied Tropic Skincare Tamanu balm during the day to keep skin moist, which helped hugely. 3rd week, skin redness spread to a wider area than I thought it was going to, and skin felt very tight. 4th week, I was glad I wore glasses as it hid a lot of the redness and crusting which started this week. I’m now two weeks post-treatment, and having used the Tamanu balm and castor oil on my face day and night, it is almost healed with only very slight redness remaining. Most areas appear smoother, though I may have to repeat on my nose. Would use again. Very pleased with results."

• Anonymous
• May 4, 2018

For Actinic Keratosis "I work for a dermatologist. In order for Efudex to react, sun damage/AK's, cancer should be present. Undamaged skin will not react to Efudex."

• oly...
• September 25, 2008

For Skin Cancer "This product works very well to eliminate skin cancers. It becomes quite irritating after a few days, and very irritating at about 10 days, but it gets rid of the skin cancer in a couple of weeks."

• Anonymous
• February 12, 2009

For Keratosis "Efudex works great to eliminate actinic keratosis. I have used it before and unfortunately am using it again. It becomes VERY unsightly.. blotchy, swollen, very painful, etc, but it works."

• Tru...
• August 5, 2015

For Keratosis "Worked great for me, some pain but when I was done my face was like a baby's butt. Stay home for 30 days"

• Dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 17, 2017

For Actinic Keratosis "I have a question, not comment, please. I'm on day 6 of 14 days of application. No reaction. Is this normal? I'm applying a thin layer 2 times a day. Am I doing something wrong or is this normal?"

• The...
• April 8, 2016

For Keratosis "Can someone help me? I have been using Efudex once a day for 5 weeks and nothing is happening. Wondering if I should try using it twice a day or wait until I see my doctor?"

• Sun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 2, 2020

For Basal Cell Carcinoma "Have found using Efudex, apply only every 3rd or 4th day. Seems reaction not so bad, and it will do the job in the same amount of time. Works for me."

• Lee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 3, 2020

For Actinic Keratosis "I just started. I’m on day three. I am absolutely terrified."