Package Insert: Information for the Patient
Actikerall 5 mg/g + 100 mg/g Topical Solution
fluorouracil/salicylic acid
Read this entire package insert carefully before starting to use this medication, because it contains important information for you.
1.What is Actikerall and how is it used
2.What you need to knowbefore starting touse Actikerall
3.How to use Actikerall
4.Possible adverse effects
5Storage of Actikerall
6. Contents of the package and additional information
Actikerall contains two active ingredients: fluorouracil and salicylic acid.
Fluorouracil belongs to a group of medicines known as antimetabolites that inhibit cell growth (cytostatic agent). Salicylic acid is a substance that softens thick skin.
Actikerall is a solution for the treatment of actinic keratosis (grade I/II) in adult patients with a healthy immune system.
Actinic keratosis lesions are small areas of scaly, brittle, or crusted skin. They can be red or light brown in color or the same color as your skin. They can be dry or rough to the touch,and sometimes feel better with touch than with sight.
These skin changes usually occur in people who have been exposed to the sun for a long time.
No use Actikerall
-if you are allergic to fluorouracil, salicylic acid, or any of the other components of this medication (listed in section 6).
- during lactation.
- during pregnancy or if there is a possibility of becoming pregnant.
- if you have kidney problems.
-if it can come into contact with the eyes, the inside of the mouth or nose, or the genitals (mucous membranes).
Determined medications may intensify the adverse effects of Actikerall or produce other adverse effects. See the section “Other medications and Actikerall” below.
Warnings and precautions
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting to use Actikerall
-ifyou know that you have no activity of the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase enzyme (DPD) (complete DPD deficiency).It is essential that you do not apply more than the indicated amount of Actikerall as specified in section 3 of this prospectus.
-if your ability to notice physical contact, pain, or temperature is reduced (for example, if you have diabetes). In this case, the treated lesions should be strictly controlled by your doctor.
Children and adolescents
Actikerall should not be used in children or adolescents under 18 years old. Actinic keratosis usually does not occur in children.
Other medications and Actikerall
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have used recently, or may need to use any other medication. If you take several medications simultaneously, the effect of each one may be intensified or reduced.
Especially, inform your doctorif you are taking one of the following medications:
Pregnancy, lactation, and fertility
Do not use Actikerall during lactation, during pregnancy, or if there is a possibility of becoming pregnant.
Driving and operating machines
No special precautions are necessary.
Actikerall contains dimethyl sulfoxide and ethanol.
Dimethyl sulfoxide may irritate the skin.
This medication contains 160 mg of alcohol (ethanol) per gram. It may cause a burning sensation on damaged skin.
Follow exactly the administration instructions of this medication as indicated by your doctor. In case of doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.
Dosage
It is recommended to apply Actikerall once a day, unless your doctor has indicated otherwise.
If you have actinic keratosis in a thin skin area, for example, around the eyes and on the temple, your doctor may instruct you to apply Actikerall less frequently. If severe side effects occur, reduce the application frequency of the medication to three times a week until they improve. Your doctor may also need to monitor your treatment more frequently.
Administration form
For use on the skin (cutaneous use).
Other instructions
Avoid direct contact of Actikerall with the eyes, the inside of the mouth or nose, or the genitals (mucous membranes).
Actikerall solution may permanently stain clothing, textiles, or acrylics (e.g., acrylic bathtubs), so avoid contact with these materials.
Warning: flammable product. Keep away from fire and do not use near flames, lit cigarettes, or some appliances (e.g., hair dryers).
Consult your doctor regularly during treatment.
Treatment duration
Actikerall is applied once a day to the actinic keratosis lesions until they completely disappear or for a maximum of 12 weeks. Improvement of actinic keratosis will start to be seen from the fourth week of treatment and will continue to improve over a period of up to 12 weeks. The elimination of actinic keratosis may continue for up to 8 weeks after treatment completion. Treatment should be continued even if no effect is observed after the first 4 weeks.
If you feel that the effect of Actikerall is too strong or too weak, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
If you use more Actikerall than you should
If you apply Actikerall more than once a day, it is more likely that skin reactions will occur and be more severe. In this case, contact your doctor.
In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicological Information Service, phone: 91 562 04 20, indicating the medication and the amount ingested.
If you forgot to use Actikerall
Do not apply a double dose to compensate for the missed doses. Continue your treatment as instructed by your doctor or as described in this leaflet.
If you interrupt treatment with Actikerall
Contact your doctor if you want to interrupt treatment.
If you have any other questions about the use of this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medications, Actikerall may produce adverse effects, although not all people will experience them.
Most patients treated with Actikerall present mild to moderate irritation and inflammation in the application area. If these reactions worsen, contact the attending physician.
As this medication has a strong skin softening effect, whitish discolorations and skin peeling may occur.
The salicylic acid contained in Actikerall may cause mild irritation, such as skin inflammation (dermatitis) and contact allergic reactions in sensitive skin patients or individuals allergic to salicylic acid. Symptoms of contact allergic reactions may include itching, redness, and small blisters even outside the application area.
Adverse effects may occur with the following frequencies:
Very Frequent, may affect more than 1 in 10 people
Frequent, may affect up to 1 in 10 people
Rare, may affect up to 1 in 100 people
Reporting Adverse Effects
If you experience any type of adverse effect, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, even if it is a possible adverse effect not listed in this prospectus. You can also report them directly through the Spanish System for Pharmacovigilance of Medicines for Human Use: https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting adverse effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medication.
Keep this medication out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medication after the expiration date that appears on the label and on the box after CAD. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
Do not store at a temperature above 25°C. Do not refrigerate or freeze.
Keep the bottle perfectly closed to prevent the content from drying out.
Do not use this medication after 3 months of opening the bottle.
Do not use this medication if you observe the formation of crystals.
Warning: flammable product. Keep away from fire and do not use near flames, lit cigarettes, or some appliances (for example, hair dryers).
Medications should not be disposed of through drains or in the trash. Deposit containers and unused medications at the SIGRE collection point of the pharmacy. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of containers and unused medications. In this way, you will help protect the environment.
Composition of Actikerall
The active principles are fluorouracil and salicylic acid.
1 g (equivalent to1.05ml) of topical solution contains 5 mg of fluorouracil and 100 mg of salicylic acid.
The other components are: dimethylsulfoxide; anhydrous ethanol; ethyl acetate; pyroxylin; poly(butyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate).
Appearance of the product and contents of the packaging
Actikerall is a transparent, colorless, slightly yellowish-white topical solution.
This medicine is packaged in a brown glass bottle with a child-resistant polypropylene cap in a cardboard box. The bottle cap is attached to an applicator brush that serves to apply the solution. The applicator brush is made of plastic (polyethylene) with nylon hairs attached to the steel (V2A) rod.
Packaging size: bottle with a content of 25 ml of topical solution.
Holder of the marketing authorization and responsible manufacturer
Almirall Hermal GmbH
Scholtzstraße 3
21465 Reinbek
Germany
Local representative
Almirall, S.A.
General Mitre, 151
08022 Barcelona - Spain
This medicine is authorized in the member states of the European Economic Area with the following trade names:
Country | Trade names |
Germany | Actikerall-Almirall 5 mg/g + 100 mg/g Lösung zur Anwendung auf der Haut |
Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Portugal | Actikerall |
Spain | Actikerall 5 mg/g + 100 mg/g Solución Cutánea |
Last review date of this leaflet: October 2020
Detailed and updated information on this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS)http://www.aemps.gob.es
Have questions about this medication or your symptoms? Connect with a licensed doctor for guidance and personalized care.