when to end treatment with carac

Precautions

Treatment with Carac Cream for 1, 2, or 4 weeks is compared to treatment with vehicle cream. Outcomes from 1, 2, and 4 weeks of treatment with vehicle cream are pooled because duration of treatment with vehicle had no substantive effect on clearance. Results from the two Phase 3 studies are shown separately.

How long does it take for Carac to work?

Stop using Carac and call your doctor at once if you have: 1 severe pain or swelling of treated skin; 2 severe itching, burning, or irritation; 3 open skin sores; or 4 shedding of dead skin.

When should I stop using Carac?

Carac is indicated for the topical treatment of multiple actinic or solar keratoses of the face and anterior scalp. Fluorouracil may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman.

What is carac used to treat?

Carac side effects. Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using Carac and call your doctor at once if you have: severe pain or swelling of treated skin; severe itching, burning, or irritation;

What are the side effects of Carac cream?

How do you know when to stop applying fluorouracil?

After continued application, the damaged skin becomes painful and inflamed with a beefy-red appearance with erosions and crusting. At this point, the medication should be stopped.

How many weeks should you use fluorouracil?

Adults—Apply to the affected area 2 times a day for 3 to 6 weeks. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Is 2 weeks long enough for fluorouracil?

The medication is used from 2 weeks to 6 weeks depending on what is being treated. For treatment of precancers (actinic keratoses), if your skin is very irritated and the symptoms are really bothering you then you can stop after two weeks.

Can I stop fluorouracil early?

Topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for the treatment of widespread multiple AK lesions has cure rates of more than 90 percent. The associated skin irritation, however, may lead patients to prematurely discontinue treatment.

How do I know when to stop using Efudex?

Unless your doctor tells you to stop using Efudix continue treatment up until the ulceration stage, usually 3 to 4 weeks. The healing process is usually complete 1 to 2 months after the end of treatment.

What is the erosion stage of fluorouracil treatment?

The skin began to separate and would bleed when it dried after applying Efudex. This is called the erosion phase. In addition to the cracking, some areas of skin turned darker and peeled leaving open, oozing spots. At this stage, wearing any clothing across the area of treatment becomes almost impossible.

How long do you leave fluorouracil on your face?

After 20 minutes, you can apply moisturisers and/or make-up as part of your usual skin care routine. If you have widespread sun-damage it is usually advisable to divide the affected area into smaller areas and to complete treatment in one area before moving on to the next.

How many cycles of fluorouracil are there?

You generally have up to 6 cycles of treatment. Each cycle lasts 2, 3 or 4 weeks. You have continuous treatment through a small portable pump.

What does skin look like after fluorouracil treatment?

After five to ten days of treatment, the sun-damaged parts of treated skin become red, scaly and tender. As treatment is continued, sores and crusts may appear. These raw areas result from the destruction of defective skin cells.

How do I know if fluorouracil is working?

The area of abnormal skin becomes very red and inflamed; this may progress to erosions and scabbing, followed by healing. This process shows the Efudix is working. After stopping treatment, your skin will need to heal and the treated area may remain red for a while.

Can you repeat fluorouracil treatment?

Ensure proper use of sunscreen (SPF 30+) prior to sun-exposure to prevent further sun damage and sunburn. You may need repeat treatment in the future. Do not re-start treatment with this cream unless your doctor has explicitly instructed this.

Is 2 weeks enough for Efudex?

After 2-4 weeks your skin will be red, crusty, and uncomfortable; this is what we want to happen. In some cases, such as for lesions on the backs of the hands, the body, or for basal cell carcinoma, it might take longer to get to this stage (4-6 weeks). The cream can then be stopped, to allow healing.

How long does it take for Carac to work?

Do not cover the treated skin area with bandaging or plastic unless your doctor tells you to. You may need to use Carac for up to 6 weeks. Treated skin may have an undesirable appearance as it heals, which may take several weeks.

How should I use Carac?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

What other drugs will affect Carac?

Tell each of your healthcare providers about all medicines you use, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

How to treat fluorouracil in eyes?

Rinse with water or saline if this medicine gets in your eyes. Do not let Carac build up in the skin folds around your mouth, nose, or eyes. Use caution when applying the medicine around these areas. Avoid using other medications on the areas you treat with fluorouracil unless your doctor tells you to.

What is a carac?

Carac (for the skin) is used to treat scaly overgrowths of skin (actinic or solar keratosis ). Carac is also used to treat superficial basal cell carcinoma. Carac may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Can you breastfeed while taking Carac?

It could harm the unborn baby or cause birth defects. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine. You should not breastfeed while using Carac.

What is the drug Carac?

Drug type: Carac is an anti-cancer ("antineoplastic" or "cytotoxic") chemotherapy drug. Carac is classified as an "antimetabolite." (For more detail, see "How this drug works" section below).

What to tell your doctor before taking fluorouracil cream?

Before starting fluorouracil (cream) treatment, make sure you tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking (including prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, herbal remedies, etc).

What is fluorouracil antimetabolites?

Fluorouracil belongs to the category of chemotherapy called antimetabolites. Antimetabolites are very similar to normal substances within the cell. When the cells incorporate these substances into the cellular metabolism, they are unable to divide. Antimetabolites are cell-cycle specific. They attack cells at very specific phases in the cycle. Antimetabolites are classified according to the substances with which they interfere.

What is the generic name for Fluorouracil?

Chemocare.com uses generic names in all descriptions of drugs. Carac is a trade name for Fluorouracil. Efudex and Fluoroplex are other trade names for Fluorouracil. 5-fluorouracil and 5-FU are other names for Fluorouracil. In some cases, health care professionals may use the trade names Carac, Efudex and Fluoroplex or other names 5-fluorouracil and 5-FU when referring to the generic drug name Fluorouracil.

How do cancerous cells stop dividing?

Cancerous tumors are characterized by cell division, which is no longer controlled as it is in normal tissue. "Normal" cells stop dividing when they come into contact with like cells, a mechanism known as contact inhibition. Cancerous cells lose this ability. Cancer cells no longer have the normal checks and balances in place that control and limit cell division. The process of cell division, whether normal or cancerous cells, is through the cell cycle. The cell cycle goes from the resting phase, through active growing phases, and then to mitosis (division).

What is chemocare.com?

Chemocare.com is designed to provide the latest information about chemotherapy to patients and their families, caregivers and friends. For information about the 4th Angel Mentoring Program visit www.4thangel.org

What is it called when a drug is given in cycles?

Che motherapy drugs that affect cells only when they are dividing are called cell-cycle specific. Chemotherapy drugs that affect cells when they are at rest are called cell-cycle non-specific. The scheduling of chemotherapy is set based on the type of cells, rate at which they divide, and the time at which a given drug is likely to be effective. This is why chemotherapy is typically given in cycles.

Why did Carac discontinue treatment?

Thirty-one patients (12% of those treated with Carac (fluorouracil) in the Phase 3 clinical studies) discontinued study treatment early due to facial irritation. Except for three patients, discontinuation of treatment occurred on or after day 11 of treatment.

How long does it take for Carac to work?

Carac (fluorouracil) should be applied up to 4 weeks as tolerated. Continued treatment up to 4 weeks results in greater lesion reduction. Local irritation is not markedly increased by extending treatment from 2 to 4 weeks, and is generally resolved within 2 weeks of cessation of treatment.

What is a carac?

Carac is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of Actinic (Solar) Keratoses and Superficial basal Cell Carcinoma. Carac may be used alone or with other medications. Carac belongs to a class of drugs called Dermatologics, Other; Antineoplastics, Topical.

What are the side effects of Carac?

The most common side effects of Carac include: skin redness, followed by dryness, tenderness, and crusting, skin peeling or flaking, skin darkening or scarring, small blood vessels under the skin, mild rash, and. mild irritation where the medicine was applied.

What to do if you have diarrhea while on Carac?

If you develop abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, fever, or chills while on Carac (fluorouracil) therapy, stop the medication and contact your physician and/or pharmacist. Report any side effects to the physician and/or pharmacist.

Can you use Carac in the sun?

Avoid sunlight or other ultraviolet light (such as tanning booths) as much as possible while using Carac (fluorouracil) . Sunlight may increase your side effects. When exposed to sunlight, wear a hat and use sunscreen.

Can Carac pass through milk?

if you are nursing a baby. We do not know if Carac (fluorouracil) can pass to the baby through the milk. If you have dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) enzyme deficiency. The active ingredient in Carac, fluorouracil, can cause serious side effects in patients who are DPD enzyme deficient.

How to report fluorouracil side effects in Canada?

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345. Precautions. Before using fluorouracil, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to flucytosine; or to capecitabine; or if you have any other allergies.

What is fluorouracil used for?

This medication is used on the skin to treat pre-cancerous and cancerous skin growths. Fluorouracil belongs to a class of medications known as anti-metabolites. It works by blocking the growth of abnormal cells that cause the skin condition.

Can you stop taking a medicine before checking with your doctor?

Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use.

Are you currently using Carac Cream?

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Carac Description

Carac - Clinical Pharmacology

Indications and Usage For Carac

Contraindications

Warnings

Precautions

Adverse Reactions

Carac Dosage and Administration

Overdose

How Is Carac Supplied