Fluorouracil Coupons & Prices

Looking for a fluorouracil coupon? Fluorouracil (also called 5-FU) is available as a lower-cost generic, so you don't need a brand-name prescription to save. Because cash prices for the same generic can vary widely from one pharmacy to the next, comparing before you fill matters. Rx.com checks prices across more than 60,000 pharmacies so you can find a low price near you. Enter your ZIP above to see today's price on fluorouracil at pharmacies in your area.

What is fluorouracil and how does it work?

Fluorouracil is an antimetabolite (a pyrimidine analog) that works as a thymidylate synthase inhibitor. In simple terms, it interferes with the way fast-growing cells make and repair their DNA, which slows or stops their growth. It comes in two very different forms. Topical fluorouracil (cream or solution, sold under brand names such as Efudex, Carac, Tolak, and Fluoroplex) is applied to the skin to treat actinic (solar) keratoses and superficial basal cell carcinoma when other treatments are impractical. Injectable fluorouracil (5-FU, brand Adrucil) is given as part of combination chemotherapy regimens for colorectal, breast, pancreatic, and stomach (gastric) cancers.

Fluorouracil is also used off-label on the skin for warts and other keratotic conditions. Your prescriber decides which form and strength is right for your situation.

Fluorouracil cost without insurance and how to save

Fluorouracil is available as a generic, which is generally the most affordable way to fill this prescription. Even so, the cash price for the same generic can differ a lot depending on which pharmacy you choose, so it pays to compare rather than assume every pharmacy charges the same. A Rx.com discount can be used whether or not you have insurance, and sometimes the discounted cash price beats an insurance copay.

There is no manufacturer savings card for generic fluorouracil. To see what you'd actually pay near you, enter your ZIP above and compare today's prices across pharmacies before you fill.

Fluorouracil vs. related treatments

The topical brand versions of fluorouracil are the same active ingredient in different formulations and strengths: Efudex, Carac, and Tolak. If your prescriber wrote for a brand, the generic fluorouracil is often a lower-cost equivalent worth comparing.

For actinic keratoses, prescribers sometimes choose a different topical medicine instead, such as imiquimod or diclofenac gel. For certain cancers, an oral chemotherapy called capecitabine is converted to fluorouracil in the body and may be used as an alternative to injectable 5-FU. These are not interchangeable choices you can make on your own; which one fits depends on your diagnosis and your provider's judgment.

Fluorouracil safety and side effects

Topical fluorouracil commonly causes marked local skin reactions where it's applied, including redness, burning, erosion, and pain. This is expected as the medicine works, but avoid covering the area (occlusion) and protect the skin from sun exposure. Both topical and injectable forms are contraindicated in pregnancy because of the risk of fetal harm, and in people with dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency.

Injectable 5-FU carries an FDA Boxed Warning for severe or fatal toxicity in people with DPD deficiency; DPYD genotype testing is recommended before treatment, and it should not be given to those with complete DPD deficiency. Serious toxicities can include life-threatening mucositis, diarrhea, low blood counts (neutropenia/myelosuppression), and effects on the nerves and heart, as well as hand-foot syndrome. This information is not medical advice. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about your full health history, and get medical help right away if you develop severe mouth sores, diarrhea, fever, or unusual bleeding.