Can Flourouracil trigger a PMR flare?

[Tictok]

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.

[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]

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 Ambassador]

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]

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]

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

[Tictok in reply to PMRnewbie2017]

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]

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

[Tictok in reply to 1951grumpa]

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