Ycanth
Ycanth (cantharidin) is a solution that’s applied on your skin to treat a skin infection called molluscum contagiosum. This medication can be used on adults and children, though the infection is most commonly seen in children under 10 years old. Your provider will apply Ycanth (cantharidin) directly to the wart-like rash or bumps on the skin (also known as lesions) that’s caused by the infection. You’ll go to the provider’s office for treatment once every 3 weeks, typically for up to 4 treatments or as instructed by your provider. Some common side effects of Ycanth (cantharidin) include blistering, pain, or itching at the application site.
What is Ycanth (cantharidin)?
What is Ycanth (cantharidin) used for?
- Molluscum contagiosum in adults and children ages 2 years and older
How Ycanth (cantharidin) works
Molluscum contagiosum is a skin infection that is caused by a pox virus. People who’re infected will typically have small clusters of pink or flesh-colored bumps called lesions on the skin’s surface.
Ycanth (cantharidin) is a vesicant that’s extracted from blister beetles. The exact way it works to treat molluscum contagiosum isn’t fully understood. But it's thought that that after Ycanth (cantharidin) is applied to the lesions on the skin, it triggers the release of proteins that cause blisters to form. As the blisters heal, they remove the lesions from the skin.
Drug facts
Side effects of Ycanth (cantharidin)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
Application site reactions:
- Blistering (up to 60%)
- Itching (up to 47%)
- Pain (up to 41%)
- Scabbing (up to 39%)
- Discoloration (up to 28%)
- Redness (up to 24%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Dryness
- Swelling
Ycanth (cantharidin) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Toxicity (if swallowed or placed in mouth): kidney damage (lack of urination, dark colored urine, trouble catching your breath, swelling of hands/feet/ankles), seizures, paralysis
- Toxicity (from accidental contact with eyes): red or teary eyes, blurred vision, eye pain, vision loss
The following Ycanth (cantharidin) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
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Pros and cons of Ycanth (cantharidin)
Pros
- Can be used by people as young as 2 years old
- Only applied once every 3 weeks
- Typically need only 1 to 4 treatment sessions, or as directed by provider
Cons
- Need to go to provider’s office for application
- Must not touch treated area until medication is washed off, which might be hard for children
- Only available as a brand-name medication
Pharmacist tips for Ycanth (cantharidin)
- Wash Ycanth (cantharidin) off of the treated area using warm soap and water 24 hours after the treatment session. Gently use your hands to wash and remove the medication. Don’t rub the area too hard or use anything too rough to wash (not even a washcloth). Otherwise, it can be painful.
- Be sure to wash your hands again after you’ve washed off the medication. This is to prevent accidentally getting any leftover Ycanth (cantharidin) into your eyes or mouth.
- If you feel pain where your provider applied Ycanth (cantharidin) on the skin, contact your provider’s office. If the pain is mild to moderate, they might recommend that you take an over-the-counter pain medication that's appropriate for you.
- If you experience severe pain, blistering, or other severe reactions before the 24 hours are up, you can wash Ycanth (cantharidin) off earlier. Be sure to contact your provider to let them know.
Caring for the treated area (during the first 24 hours)
- Keep the area treated with Ycanth (cantharidin) uncovered. Don’t put any bandages over it.
- To avoid spreading Ycanth (cantharidin) to healthy skin, don’t apply any additional lotions, creams, or other products to the treated area for 24 hours or until you wash off the medication. This could cause unnecessary irritation or blistering to the healthy surrounding skin.
- If your child was treated with Ycanth (cantharidin), tell them to be extra careful not to touch the lesions for 24 hours, until you’ve helped them wash off the medication. If they accidentally get some of the medication in their eyes or mouth, they can experience serious reactions such as vision changes or blistering in the mouth or eyes.
- Because the Ycanth (cantharidin) solution is a purple color, you may notice that the areas of skin it was applied to are stained purple. This is temporary and should go away after you wash the medication off.
Common questions about Ycanth (cantharidin)
No, Ycanth (cantharidin) isn’t an injectable medication. Rather, it’s a topical solution that’s applied directly to the skin by your provider. The medication tube may look similar to an injectable pen, but there’s no needle. The tube design and applicator tip help your provider apply the solution to each of the lesions on the skin very precisely.
Your provider will carefully apply a small drop of Ycanth (cantharidin) to each skin lesion and use the tip of the applicator to spread the solution across the entire lesion. After your provider has covered each lesion with medication, you'll need to wait about 5 minutes for solution to completely dry on the skin.
You’ll know that Ycanth (cantharidin) is doing its job when you see blisters forming at the site of each lesion. Ycanth (cantharidin) works by forming blisters to help get rid of the lesions. These blisters typically appear within the first 24 hours after your treatment session and start to heal after the first treatment. Some people might even notice the lesions fading away by the time of their second treatment.
After your first Ycanth (cantharidin) treatment, you will start to see blisters forming at the lesions. By the second and third sessions, you might notice fewer lesions overall. Two 3-month studies showed that up to 54% of people who received Ycanth (cantharidin) had completely clear skin after just 4 treatments. In comparison, only up to 18% of people using placebo in the study reached the same results.
Seek medical attention right away if your child accidentally gets Ycanth (cantharidin) in their eyes or mouth. If left untreated, this can lead to serious health problems. If the medication gets into their eyes, you should rinse their eyes with water for at least 15 minutes. To prevent these problems, tell your child not to touch the treated area for the first 24 hours or until you've washed off the medication. Ycanth (cantharidin) toxicity usually happens when children touch the treated areas before the medication is washed off, then rub their eyes or touch their mouth. Get emergency medical help right away if you notice your child has trouble swallowing, stomach pain, or vision loss, as these might be symptoms of Ycanth (cantharidin) toxicity.
Let your provider know if you’re breastfeeding before receiving Ycanth (cantharidin). They can talk with you about the risks and benefits of receiving treatment while breastfeeding. If you choose to use Ycanth while nursing, your provider might not be able to apply Ycanth (cantharidin) on or around skin areas where your baby might touch. This is to limit the risk of your baby getting some of the medication in their eyes or mouth while they’re nursing, which can lead to serious symptoms such as skin blistering, seizures, and paralysis.
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Risks and warnings for Ycanth (cantharidin)
Ycanth (cantharidin) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Serious toxicities (from accidental contact with mouth or eyes)
- Risk factors: Taking this medication by mouth | Getting it in your eyes or nose
Get medical help right away if you think you or your child might’ve gotten Ycanth (cantharidin) in the eyes, mouth, or nose. Ycanth (cantharidin) is applied to the skin only and is washed off 24 hours after treatment. But it can get on other parts of the body if you touch the treated areas before the medication is washed off, then rub your eyes or touch your mouth.
Accidentally getting Ycanth (cantharidin) in your mouth can lead to severe and sometimes life-threatening side effects, such as damage to the kidneys, stomach, and intestines. Ycanth (cantharidin) has an ingredient that makes it taste bitter to help discourage young children from putting it by their mouth. But to be safe, you should still instruct your child to avoid touching the treated areas of skin to lower the risk of getting the medication into the mouth or eyes.
In addition, getting Ycanth (cantharidin) in your eyes can cause blurry vision and red or watery eyes. In severe cases, people have reported vision loss. If the medication gets into the eyes, remove any contact lenses first, then rinse the eyes with water for at least 15 minutes. Then stand over a sink, and flush the eyes with a steady stream of water.
Skin reactions at or near the treated area
- Risk factors: Application to healthy skin | Putting other products on top of treated areas
Ycanth (cantharidin) can cause skin irritation and damage if it comes into contact with healthy skin. Reactions can range from blistering and redness, to discoloration and pain. Your provider will take care to only apply the medications to the lesions. But if the solution does come into contact with the surrounding healthy skin during treatment, they will immediately wipe it off of the area using a cotton swab.
After you return home from the treatment, avoid applying other products such as creams, lotions, or sunscreen to the treated areas until you’ve washed off the medication. Rubbing other products across the skin where Ycanth (cantharidin) was applied can spread the medication onto healthy skin and cause the bothersome skin reactions mentioned above. If you're experiencing pain at the treatment site, let your provider’s office know. They might recommend over-the-counter pain medications to help with mild to moderate pain. But if your pain is severe or if there's severe blistering at the treatment site, wash the medication off and seek medical attention immediately.
Risk of fires
- Risk factors: Close contact with fire/flames | Smoking near the lesions
Ycanth (cantharidin) is flammable, even after the solution dries. Be sure to avoid having close contact with fires or flames or smoking near the area of application until you’ve washed off the medication.
Ycanth (cantharidin) dosage
Carton| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 applicator of 0.70% | 1 carton | $696.49 | $696.49 |
Typical dosage for Ycanth (cantharidin)
Each Ycanth (cantharidin) applicator contains 0.45 mL of 0.7% cantharidin solution. If needed, your provider can use a maximum of 2 applicators at each appointment.
At the appointment: Your provider will apply enough Ycanth (cantharidin) on the skin to cover each lesion. Afterwards, you need to wait at the office until the medication completely dries (about 5 minutes). Don’t touch the treated areas of skin for the next 24 hours.
Day after the appointment: It’s important that you gently wash off Ycanth (cantharidin) from the skin with soap and water 24 hours later. If needed, your provider will repeat your treatment every 3 weeks.
How much does Ycanth (cantharidin) cost?
$696.49
Ycanth (cantharidin) images
