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Efudex (5-fluorouracil) Cream
Virtual visit

Efudex (5-fluorouracil) Cream

With our quick and easy online prescription process, you can manage your health effortlessly — whether you need a first-time prescription for Efudex (5-fluorouracil) Cream or a refill of an existing one.

Licensed providers in all 50 states

Expert-guided, evidence-based treatments

Skip the trip to the doctor's office

Visit options

Costs shown are for the visit only. You'll pay for medication at your preferred pharmacy.

Video Visit

$25

Est. or $100 w/o insurance

Most insurance accepted

Board-certified

No hidden fees

Available nationwide

What is Efudex (5-fluorouracil) Cream?

Efudex is a prescription topical chemotherapy cream containing 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), used to treat actinic keratoses—precancerous skin lesions caused by chronic sun damage—and certain superficial skin cancers. It works by interfering with DNA synthesis in rapidly dividing cells, selectively destroying abnormal, sun-damaged cells while leaving healthy surrounding skin intact. Treatment causes a predictable inflammatory reaction—redness, peeling, crusting—that signals the medication is working. Applied once or twice daily for 2–4 weeks, it's a non-surgical way to treat widespread precancerous lesions across large skin areas.

Pyrimidine antimetabolite action

5-Fluorouracil is incorporated into cellular DNA and RNA in place of uracil, blocking thymidylate synthase and preventing DNA replication—selectively targeting the rapidly dividing abnormal cells of actinic keratoses while relatively sparing normal skin.

Field treatment advantage

Unlike cryotherapy that treats individual lesions one at a time, Efudex applied to a large area treats both visible lesions and subclinical sun-damaged cells not yet visible to the eye—providing comprehensive field clearance of precancerous changes.

Inflammatory reaction as treatment signal

The expected redness, erosion, and crusting during treatment indicates that abnormal cells are being destroyed—this reaction is a sign the treatment is working, and resolution of inflammation marks the successful clearance of treated tissue.

Virtual visit with clinician

Ongoing support, always available.

You’ll be supported by experienced clinicians who care for a wide range of health needs, from everyday concerns to more complex conditions.

Our clinicians track your progress over time and adjust your care as needed. If medication is prescribed, we’ll manage dosing and monitor for side effects. If lab testing is recommended, we review results and refine your plan accordingly. You’re never left to navigate care on your own.

All your care in one place. That’s the General Medicine difference.

We help you understand your options, connect you to the right clinicians, manage prescriptions, coordinate any needed evaluations, and keep an eye on your overall health along the way. It’s comprehensive care that looks at the full picture — your goals, your history, your lifestyle — and makes it simple to move forward with confidence.

Your care plan
Clinician

What our customers have to say

“I feel like I’m finally on the right path to improving my health with the right support now! It’s so refreshing and reassuring.”

Emerald

“My experience with General Medicine was amazing. The understanding and care that was taken to figure out what is exactly going on with me. I feel like a weight has been lifted off of me.”

Kaylee

“I couldn’t be happier with my experience with General Medicine! They are fast, responsive, kind and knowledgeable. It is much easier, more affordable and faster.”

Nika

Get the care you need, without the wait.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Efudex treatment take?

Treatment typically lasts 2–4 weeks for actinic keratoses, applied once or twice daily. The duration varies based on the extent of sun damage and how your skin responds to the treatment.

Why does the treated area look so inflamed during treatment?

The redness, erosion, and crusting are the expected and necessary inflammatory response — the immune system destroying precancerous cells. This reaction indicates treatment is working; it resolves once the course is complete.

Do I need to avoid sun exposure during treatment?

Yes. Sun exposure significantly worsens the inflammatory skin reaction during Efudex treatment. Stay out of direct sunlight, use protective clothing, and apply sunscreen to untreated skin during the treatment course.

What side effects might I experience?

Severe local inflammation — intense redness, swelling, burning, stinging, and crusting — is expected and part of the treatment. Pain management strategies and timing the treatment to a lower-activity period can help manage discomfort.

Can Efudex be used to treat skin cancer?

Efudex is approved for certain superficial basal cell carcinomas when other treatments aren't appropriate, in addition to actinic keratoses. For more invasive skin cancers, surgical or other treatment approaches are typically required.
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