Fumaderm

[Isabelle]

I am re-starting this thread from the old forum, since this is my current psoriasis treatment.

What is Fumaderm?

Fumaderm® (fumaric acid esters) tablets are licensed in Germany for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis for whom topical therapy is ineffective.

It is beneficial in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis, particularly chronic plaque, guttate or pustular disease; at least 50% of patients treated with Fumaderm® will have a reduction of about 70% or more in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score after 16 weeks of treatment.

Data from controlled and observational studies show Fumaderm® is effective as a first-line systemic agent in patients not responding to topical therapy, as an alternative to other systemic agents that are ineffective or not tolerated.

Adverse effects, including diarrhoea, abdominal pain and facial flushing, are common at the start of treatment with Fumaderm® and lead to discontinuation and/or non-compliance in 30 to 40% of patients.

Reversible leucopenia, lymphopenia and transient eosinophilia are frequently observed. Observational studies following patients for up to 14 years do not indicate that Fumaderm® is associated with serious or permanent adverse effects. Increases in serum creatinine and liver function tests occur rarely and resolve with continued treatment or on dose reduction.

[Isabelle]

It is also not a fast-acting treatment, so if you're looking for a quick fix, this isn't it.

But I do think it's safer than almost any other treatment out there - and Germany has been using this therapy for over 20 years.

My own dermatologist has had 3 patients who were prescribed Fumaderm for a period of 3-4 years, whose psoriasis symptoms did not return once they ended treatment.. at least this is what he told me.. whether it's true or not I cannot say.. but he is a very good doctor and treats me with the utmost care, so I would have a hard time calling him a liar.

Having been treated with Fumaderm now for 3 months, I can see a slow but steady improvement in my condition. When I started on the old forum, my Psoriasis Score was 37.

Today it is 23.

In the next few months, I aiming for 0.

[Fred]

Thanks for sharing. I shall be watching this thread with interest and hope to see you reach Zero!

Keep us updated.

[snookams]

FUMADERM
Hiya is there any1 on Fumaderm?? I started this drug in August and had the odd flush and tummy cramp/upset 2 or 3 times a week which i could handle and was advised it would ease off the longer i was on it............ I started the highest dose on Monday (6 blue per day) OMG The cramps in my stomach are worse than havin a baby, the flushes are soo bad im in a freezing cold shower 2 or 3 times a day and anything i eat is just running thru me Ive been on cyclo & mtx never had any side effects and my skin was clear within 7weeks only downside to them are the day u stop taking them it cums back with a vengence so this is why my Consultant recommended Fumaderm as its long term but im thinking of giving up as the side effects are so bad and my skin has only got better slightly. Please tell me if any1 is suffering the same symptoms.

[Paul]

Hi Snookams

I'm a 35y old from Ireland and have had P for 30yrs, I've been moved onto systemic drugs as I can no longer use UV treatment as I've used it too much over the years and my Doc has said that I can't go back to it ever again, so I'm afraid I'm stuck with the tablets. I was taking Methotrexate for 1y and was completely free of P for the first time years. The Metho was messing around with my liver a bit so I had to come off it and onto Fumaderm. Within 3 weeks of stopping the Methotrexate I was covered in P again, unreal!

I started taking Fumaderm 6 weeks ago and I'm currently taking 5 tables a day since the start of week 6. I had very little side effect up to now. I think I got 3 stomach cramps in 5 weeks, that's it!! Oh boy am I getting them now, it just took me two hours to eat my dinner as the cramps were so bad.

I woke up last night at 4am and had to run to the toilet! I get hot flushes also which make me look a bit mental! My stomach is constantly groaning as if I'm starving and more air is coming out of my behind than I'd like. I find taking an over the counter pill for an upset stomach does the trick though so far, might be worth looking into getting some. I also starting drinking low fat milk every morning and during the day. I'm not going to stop taking Fumaderm and will let you know how it's going next week.

Keep the chin up.

[Caroline]

Oww....
Can't help it, so must react to Paul and Snookams (what a name)..
I am not on Fumaderm but on an alternative called Psorinovo.
Psorinovo is also Dimethylfumarate, but then unlike Fumaderm without additives. Would make it even worse for your stomach and intestines if.... it was not enteric coated and slow release, but it is....
Which means that it will not be released in the stomach and is slowly released in the intestines. The effect of this is that:
1) almost no cramps, less diarrhea
2) limited flushes, I have them by day about once a week (20 minutes) and sometimes at night
3) higher doses than 6x120mg are possible

Psorinovo is also, like fumaderm I guess, based on the research of dr schweckendieck, but improved by dr L. Kunst into the current form.
Currently a scientific investigation is started in the large medical centers in holland, initiated by the patients community already using Psorinovo, in order to place it better on the map as a very well working treatment to beat psoriasis.

[JustSuzy]

Thanks to everyone for the info.Never ever hear of it in 47 years in the us.
I will be asking my doc about it later this week.I also am wondering if I could take prednisone again since I allready replaced both my eyes.
Suzy

[Fred]

(Wed-30-11-2011 20:07 PM)JustSuzy Wrote:  replaced both my eyes.

What

[Caroline]

(Wed-30-11-2011 20:07 PM)JustSuzy Wrote:  Thanks to everyone for the info.Never ever hear of it in 47 years in the us.

If you mean about Psorinovo, I can imagine, first tries are from beginning 80's, at their site is a woman photographer, that uses it already since 1988.
The site is a Dutch site: psoriasistherapie (so add .nl at the end). Unfortunately for you it is completely Dutch.

(Wed-30-11-2011 20:07 PM)JustSuzy Wrote:  I will be asking my doc about it later this week.

He probably will not know about it. As far as I know knowledge is not spread outside of Europe.

Hope your eyes are ok.

[JustSuzy]

(Wed-30-11-2011 20:07 PM)JustSuzy Wrote:  Thanks to everyone for the info.Never ever hear of it in 47 years in the us.
I will be asking my doc about it later this week.I also am wondering if I could take prednisone again since I allready replaced both my eyes.
Suzy

(Wed-30-11-2011 20:20 PM)Fred Wrote:  

(Wed-30-11-2011 20:07 PM)JustSuzy Wrote:  replaced both my eyes.

What

(Wed-30-11-2011 22:17 PM)caroldanon Wrote:  

(Wed-30-11-2011 20:07 PM)JustSuzy Wrote:  Thanks to everyone for the info.Never ever hear of it in 47 years in the us.

If you mean about Psorinovo, I can imagine, first tries are from beginning 80's, at their site is a woman photographer, that uses it already since 1988.
The site is a Dutch site: psoriasistherapie (so add .nl at the end). Unfortunately for you it is completely Dutch.

(Wed-30-11-2011 20:07 PM)JustSuzy Wrote:  I will be asking my doc about it later this week.

He probably will not know about it. As far as I know knowledge is not spread outside of Europe.

Hope your eyes are ok.

They are now. Taking prednisone as perscribed gave me cataracts and within about 3 months I went blind.It was scarry as when driving I realized my sight was going a little each week untill I finally couldn't drive or read even with glasses. I freaked out and it took awhile to figure out the cause of it. I had 2 cataract surgeries that replaced both lenses and now can see as good as any 40+ can....Still need reading glasses though.
It was just a thing that happened to me and doesn't happen to everyone who takes pred.
I make lots of lemonade,lol!

Suzy
P.S. I am going to give my doc that website!