Can Flourouracil trigger a PMR flare?: Hello. I'm a... - PMRGCAuk

PMRGCAuk

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Can Flourouracil trigger a PMR flare?

Tictok profile image
8 Replies

Hello. I'm a 66 your old active man and was diagnosed with PMR 3.5 years ago. I live in the UK. Three weeks ago I started a course of once-a-day Flourouracil cream (trade name Efudix). This is for sun damage to my face. Three days ago I started what I think is a PMR flare and added an extra 5mg Prenisolone to my daily 3mg dose. There has been no improvement. Prior to the flare I was stable on 3pm daily and had been so for 3 months or so, tapering from 3.5mg which I had been stable on for 8 months. I'm not sure if the Flourouracil has triggered a PMR flare, or if 3mg is too low and I should return to 3.5mg? Thanks for all articles and posts to this forum. - absolutely brilliant.

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Tictok
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8 Replies
SnazzyD profile image
SnazzyD

What makes you think it’s a flare? It seems like a long shot to blame the cream, but who knows. Have you had any extra stress or done something unusual, however mundane.

piglette profile image
piglette

The fact there has been no improvement may mean that your problem is not a PMR flare. Have you tried taking a painkiller to see if that works?

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

I would be inclined to suspect that the 3mg is minimally too low to keep the daily inflammation fully under control. There is a tiny bit left over, and that builds up over time until it is enough to be felt. I'd go back to 3.5mg - maybe with a few days of 5mg to start.

This

rxlist.com/efudex-drug.htm#...

is a comprehensive PIL (patient info leaflet)

Tictok profile image
Tictok

Thanks for replies. My wife tells me the PMR symptoms have been coming on for a month or so...being snappy, slow, etc. That would rule out the cream. Its looks like PMRPro could have the answer. I'll take extra Pred but will see my GP nearly next week if there is no significant improvement. It does feel like a PMR flare. Thanks again for replies.

PMRnewbie2017 profile image
PMRnewbie2017

Could also be a combination of factors. Under dosing of Pred plus anxiety from receiving treatment for solar keratosis????

Tictok profile image
Tictok in reply toPMRnewbie2017

This may well be so Newbie. I can underdstand how a slight minimal underdosing will be problematic at some unknown point in time. I can also understand how a chemo cream (and its powerful stuff) can place and therefore contribute to, an additional unwanted stress on the body. Might be a coincidence that using Efudix coincided with a possible/probable PMR flare. Thanks for your reply!

1951grumpa profile image
1951grumpa

I had a round of flourouricil on my scalp earlier this year and had no problem with my PMR.

Tictok profile image
Tictok in reply to1951grumpa

Thats reassurung Grumpa and I've only 6 more applications of Flourouracil to go. Thanks..

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