FLUOROURACIL (5-FU)

Hi all, I am a new pacemaker recipient (3 weeks). Just turned 60 years old, have always had perfect health, vegetarian for 37 years, low cholesterol, no heart problems ever. Had some recent injections of Fluorouracil on my nose for dermatological reasons, 8 weeks later I'm near dead and I need a pacemaker. Would like to know if there are others out there who have had a severe reaction to this drug like I did.

4 Comments

Fluorouracil or Efudex

by PKite - 2012-10-03 10:10:25

targetgk-

Why do you believe that fluorouracil had anything to do with a heart condition? I've had at least three complete head and face treatments with fluorouracil (a.k.a. Efudex) over many years without any negative reaction of the kind you suggest.

What kind of condition did the cardiologist say brought about your need for a pacemaker? I never had a heart problem until I was nearly 80 -- however, body parts have a way of wearing out even though we take good care of them.

Continue taking good care of yourself -- you'll live longer because of it.

PKite

REPLY TO IAN MC

by targetgk - 2012-10-03 10:10:28

Ian, thank you for your well written comment. I'm pretty sure this is what happened, but can I prove it in court? Not too sure about that. I'll have to swallow this and accept my good fortune that I didn't keel over dead before I got to the doctor.

REPLY TO PKite

by targetgk - 2012-10-03 10:10:55

I had total heart block within 3 weeks of my injections, probably would have died if I didn't get the PM. Never had a single cardiac problem in my life. After reading about this drug, there is roughly a 5-7% chance of serious cardiac problems associated with Fluorouracil. I was never told this in advance, which is doubly disturbing. Just wanted to hear from any of the others. I cannot say positively this is what happened, but if it looks, smells and tastes like a fish, it probably is a fish.

Can happen !

by IAN MC - 2012-10-03 12:10:26

Hi targetgk Fluorouracil, like all chemotherapy agents can occasionally have serious side-effects; because cancers can be life threatening , the normal risk-benefit considerations for drugs are skewed towards the "benefit" side of the equation.

I have lifted the following from an article on fluorouracil :-

"Serious adverse reactions to Fluorouracil are; chest pain, EKG changes and increases in cardiac enzymes - which may indicate problems with the heart. These symptoms are very rare but increased for patients with a prior history of heart disease. "

If fluorouracil can causes changes to the ECG ( or EKG, depending on which side of the pond you are) then it must be affecting the electrics of the heart in some way. It is not alone in doing this; calcium antagonists used to treat high BP can also cause arrythmias i.e electrical changes to the heart.

I identify so closely with your " Why me ? " plea , you did everything right with your healthy lifestyle etc and whilst this may help prevent plumbing problems of the heart , when it comes to electrical problems they can strike anyone at any time . BUT in your case it is just possible that you may never have needed a PM if you had never been given fluorouracil .... life is a bummer sometimes but your skin cancer could have killed you . On the other hand, it is possible that the fluorouracil had nothing to do with your cardiac problems leading up to a PM .

You will never know !

Best wishes

Ian


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So, my advice is to go about your daily routine and forget that you have a pacemaker implanted in your body.