Is Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream still available?

No, Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream has been [discontinued](https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=016988) and is no longer available in the United States. Talk to your dermatologist about other available topical fluorouracil products that can treat actinic keratosis.

Does Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream have serious side effects?

The side effects of Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream are generally related to skin irritation, such as pain, itching, burning, and redness. These reactions can look serious, but should improve over time. But Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream can cause severe problems to unborn babies if used during pregnancy. For this reason, all topical fluorouracil products should be avoided during pregnancy.

Can you put sunscreen over Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream?

Since Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream makes your skin more sensitive to light, it's a good idea to use [sunscreen](https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/dermatology/should-you-wear-sunscreen-everyday) and wearing protective clothing (e.g., hats, long-sleeved shirts) when going outside. But the manufacturer doesn't say how soon you can put on sunscreen after applying Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream. The recommendation for [Carac](https://www.goodrx.com/carac/what-is), another brand of fluorouracil cream, is to wait at least 2 hours before putting sunscreen on the affected area(s). It's best to ask your dermatologist how soon you can put sunscreen over the affected area(s) treated with Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream.

Fluoroplex

fluorouracil

Used for Actinic Keratosis

Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream is used to treat actinic keratosis (scaly pre-cancerous spot or growth on the skin) in adults. It belongs to the antimetabolite drug class, which works by stopping skin cells from dividing and growing. It's applied to the affected skin area(s) twice per day, usually for 2 to 6 weeks. Side effects of this medication include skin burning, crusting, and itching.

Note: Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream has been discontinued. Talk to your dermatologist about other topical fluorouracil products for actinic keratosis.

Reviewed by:

Robert Chad Hakim, PharmD, BCCCP

Connie Zheng, PharmD

Last reviewed on March 13, 2024

What is Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream?

What is Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream used for?

Actinic (or solar) keratosis (scaly pre-cancerous spot or growth on the skin)

How Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream works

Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream is an antimetabolite. It works by getting in the way of cells making copies of their genetic material. When applied on pre-cancerous or cancerous skin cells, Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream prevents them from being able to grow.

Are you looking for information on fluorouracil (Efudex), fluorouracil 0.5% (Carac) cream, or fluorouracil 4% (Tolak) cream instead?

Drug facts

Common Brands	Fluoroplex(brand name no longer available)
Drug Class	Antimetabolite
Controlled Substance Classification	Not a controlled medication
Generic Status	No lower-cost generic available
Availability	Discontinued

Common Brands

Fluoroplex(brand name no longer available)

Drug Class

Antimetabolite

Controlled Substance Classification

Not a controlled medication

Generic Status

No lower-cost generic available

Availability

Discontinued

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Avg retail price

$1086.380

$1086.38

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Common questions about Fluoroplex

No, Fluoroplex has been discontinued and is no longer available in the United States. Talk to your dermatologist about other available topical fluorouracil products that can treat actinic keratosis.

Typically, you need to apply Fluoroplex for 2 to 6 weeks. But if you're not able to tolerate some of the side effects, such as burning or redness, let your dermatologist know. They might suggest that you stop this medication earlier and talk with you about other options.

How long it takes for Fluoroplex to work can differ from person to person, depending on how severe your condition is. Your skin should begin to improve within 2 to 6 weeks of starting the medication. Talk to your dermatologist if you're concerned with how well Fluoroplex is working to treat your skin condition.

Similar to other topical fluorouracil medications, the common side effects of Fluoroplex are skin reactions at the application site. These reactions incude pain, itching, burning, irritation, redness, and swelling. More rare side effects include changes in skin color and scarring.

The side effects of Fluoroplex are generally related to skin irritation, such as pain, itching, burning, and redness. These reactions can look serious, but should improve over time. But Fluoroplex can cause severe problems to unborn babies if used during pregnancy. For this reason, all topical fluorouracil products should be avoided during pregnancy.

No, don't apply fluorouracil cream to broken or damaged skin. Doing so will cause severe pain and also can cause some of the medication to get absorbed into your blood, which can cause side effects to the other parts of your body. If the area of skin where you're applying Fluoroplex is damaged, stop using Fluoroplex and contact your dermatologist for further instruction.

Yes, Fluoroplex can affect healthy skin. You can apply Fluoroplex on the affected area(s) using your fingertips or an applicator. Try as much as possible to not touch the surrounding healthy skin. It's also important to wash your hands right away very well with soap and water after applying the cream, especially if you're applying the medication with your fingertips.

Since Fluoroplex makes your skin more sensitive to light, it's a good idea to use sunscreen and wearing protective clothing (e.g., hats, long-sleeved shirts) when going outside. But the manufacturer doesn't say how soon you can put on sunscreen after applying Fluoroplex. The recommendation for Carac, another brand of fluorouracil cream, is to wait at least 2 hours before putting sunscreen on the affected area(s). It's best to ask your dermatologist how soon you can put sunscreen over the affected area(s) treated with Fluoroplex.

Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream dosage

The average cost for 1 tube of 30g of 1% of Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream is $1,086.38 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 0.00% off the average retail price of $1,086.38.

Tube of cream

Dosage	Quantity	Price as low as	Price per unit
30g of 1%	1 tube	$1,086.38	$1,086.38

Typical dosage for Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream

Interactions between Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream and other drugs

Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Brivudine
Measles Virus Vaccine, Live
Mumps Virus Vaccine, Live
Rotavirus Vaccine, Live
Rubella Virus Vaccine, Live
Tegafur
Varicella Virus Vaccine, Live
Zoster Vaccine, Live

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Acenocoumarol
Adenovirus Vaccine
Allopurinol
Azanidazole
Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin Vaccine, Live
Benznidazole
Cholera Vaccine, Live
Cimetidine
Dengue Tetravalent Vaccine, Live
Influenza Virus Vaccine, Live
Isoconazole
Levoleucovorin
Methotrexate
Metronidazole
Nimorazole
Ornidazole
Oxypurinol
Phenprocoumon
Poliovirus Vaccine, Live
Secnidazole
Smallpox Vaccine
Tamoxifen
Tinidazole
Typhoid Vaccine, Live
Warfarin
Yellow Fever Vaccine

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

How much does Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream cost?

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Fluoroplex (brand)

GoodRx lowest price

$1,086.38

(save 0.00%)

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What are alternatives to Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream?

There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream. Compare a few possible alternatives below.

Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream

Used for:

Actinic (or solar) keratosis (scaly pre-cancerous spot or growth on the skin)

$1,086.38Lowest GoodRx priceView prices

Fluorouracil 0.5% cream (Carac)

Used for:

Actinic (or solar) keratosis on the face and front of scalp

$629.71Lowest GoodRx priceView prices

Fluorouracil (Efudex) topical

Used for:

Actinic (or solar) keratosis (scaly pre-cancerous spot or growth on the skin) in adults
Basal cell carcinoma (certain type of skin cancer) in adults

$23.89Lowest GoodRx priceView prices

References

Almirall. (2022). FLUOROPLEX- fluorouracil cream [package insert]. DailyMed.

Casale, J., et al. (2024). Fluorouracil. StatPearls.

Drugs@FDA: FDA-Approved Drugs. (n.d.). Fluoroplex. U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

What is Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream?

What is Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream used for?

How Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream works

Are you looking for information on fluorouracil (Efudex), fluorouracil 0.5% (Carac) cream, or fluorouracil 4% (Tolak) cream instead?

Drug facts

Get your GoodRx coupon

Common questions about Fluoroplex

Is Fluoroplex still available?

When do I stop Fluoroplex?

How long does it take for Fluoroplex to work?

What are common side effects of Fluoroplex?

Does Fluoroplex have serious side effects?

Can I apply Fluoroplex to broken skin?

Does Fluoroplex affect healthy skin?

Can you put sunscreen over Fluoroplex?

Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream dosage

Typical dosage for Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream

Interactions between Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream and other drugs

How much does Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream cost?

$1,086.38

What are alternatives to Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) 1% cream?

References

Common questions about Fluoroplex

Is Fluoroplex still available?

When do I stop Fluoroplex?

How long does it take for Fluoroplex to work?

What are common side effects of Fluoroplex?

Does Fluoroplex have serious side effects?

Can I apply Fluoroplex to broken skin?

Does Fluoroplex affect healthy skin?

Can you put sunscreen over Fluoroplex?