CVM Drug Safety Communication: Fluorouracil Products Used on People's Skin Can Cause Serious Reactions in Pets

U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent this bulletin at 09/07/2022 01:09 PM EDT

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US Food and Drug Administration

CVM Drug Safety Communication: Fluorouracil Products Used on People's Skin Can Cause Serious Reactions in Pets

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reminding pet owners, veterinarians, health care providers, and pharmacists that pets may become seriously ill or die when exposed to the FDA-approved prescription topical medication, 5-fluorouracil (also called 5-FU or fluorouracil). Topical fluorouracil is used on the skin to treat various conditions in people, including certain types of skin cancer. It is marketed under the brand names Carac, Efudex, Fluoroplex and Tolak, and the generic name, Fluorouracil Cream USP, 5%. Physicians prescribe topical fluorouracil for people to treat superficial basal and squamous cell carcinomas (two types of skin cancer), actinic or solar keratoses (scaly skin lesions that can develop into skin cancer), vitiligo (loss of skin pigment due to an immune disorder), and warts.

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