I have read this on another website and I thought I would quote it here and add my comments as it seems to make it look as if Fumaderm is a dangerous drug that should be avoided, which certainly is far from the reality.
As a Fumaderm user and very happy with the way it has worked for me for for the last 5 years,  I was rather annoyed to see it dismissed as something not safe to consider.

Quote:

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An oral prescription drug called Fumaderm, which contains fumaric acid esters, has been used for decades in Europe to treat severe plaque psoriasis.

In the United States, however, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved Fumaderm or any other fumaric acid ester drugs, but that hasn’t stopped some psoriasis patients from obtaining them with potentially serious consequences.

The drug works by inhibiting the immune system’s T cells. Taking it without a doctor’s supervision can lead to dangerously low T cell counts, as well as side effects including gastrointestinal problems, Ryan said.

I will not name  the support website this came from, but the first thing this website says is that it is already been used for decades in Europe, so it is obvious that it is a recognised prescription drug, with a good effect, otherwise it would have vanished already.
The facts are that any drug that is taken without medical supervision can be dangerous, this is also the case for Fumaderm if the use is not monitored.

Everyone who takes Fumaderm in Europe and I include the UK is (and should) be monitored by blood tests and regular hospital visits. If this is not done it's not a fault of the drug, more the lack of following procedure and a fault of the prescribing  doctor. The patient needs  to be alert to that. Again, this is the case for every medication, including the brand new biologicals, of which the long term effects are not clear yet. While the long term effects of Fumaderm are known, there are no long term effects found in all the decades that it has been available.

The article is wrong as the FDA in America has an approved fumaric ester drug ( Tecfidera) which is prescribed to MS patients in America and is also available in other countries for MS Management ,... so it is extensively used as it is effective for auto immune diseases like MS (and Psoriasis)

There are already very positive results in trails with a new version that will be produced by Allmiral (Spain), with this medication, monitoring will also be essential, but with monitoring it is one of the safest drugs around. Not to mention the other possibilities that DMF, the working substance has, on: Lupus, Crohns, Sarcoidosis, bed sores, inhibiting the growth of tumors, and so on, the possibilities of this substance seem to be endless.

It's a fact that it reduces the working of some of the interleukin IL-17 cells, that is the reason it works ...it works in a similar way targeting the same cells as some of the newer biological drugs that are available. But that is not all, at the same time it modulates much more regarding the support of the better functioning of the mitochondria and its energy cycle, essential for life.  On the gastrointestinal side effects, yes, you can be get them , but so what? They are only inconvenient and in no way harmful.

One  last remark on the lowering of the lymphocytes, , when starting the therapy they are likely to go down, that is why the start must be slow, but when the body gets used to the therapy the lymphocytes will come back again to their original values. If not, the therapy can be stopped, or reduced

I can fully understand you being annoyed by it Jim as will a lot of our members that are not only doing well on it like yourself, but are being prescribed and monitored by a professional.

So let's try to understand why they would be saying this. I know where this has come from and the problem to me is simple.

#1 This propaganda has been posted in this way as there is an ulterior motive.

#2 The site in question is sponsored by big pharmaceutical companies.

#3 Biogen bought Fumapharm AG in 2006 (The makers of Fumaderm) and it's still traded under that name in the EU.

#4 Tecfidera (also owned by Biogen) say in their own words from their website "Tecfidera® (dimethyl fumarate) is a prescription medicine used to treat people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis".

#5 March 2013 FDA approves new multiple sclerosis treatment Tecfidera. (Erm isn't that dimethyl fumarate, but said site says "the FDA has not approved Fumaderm or any other fumaric acid ester drugs)

Although Biogen are still selling Fumaderm in the EU, they don't want it in the USA as they would prefer to use it for MS as it would make them more money.

So ?????????????????????????? well do your own thinking. All I can say is although I'm biased I would prefer to listen to people like yourself who are using it and being monitored by your health care provider than a pharma sponsored website.  

We have many members using Fumaderm (dimethyl fumarate) and getting very good results from it, even Bill is doing well on his own (though I don't condone his methods myself, his evidence is there for all to see) so this is nothing but scaremongering in my opinion and we can all find bad things about All treatments out there if we want to. As you know I'm a big Bio fan, but they too have given problems if you look around so it all comes down to wording and propaganda.

It's a shame that pharma companies can have such a pull over so called support sites, but at least we are independent and people with psoriasis will have to make their own choices.

I'll hop off my soap box now.  

Thanks Fred ....I know I sound like a Fumaderm salesman, but it has been so good for me I hate to see articles belittling it ..as far as I'm concerned it is just a wonderdrug at a reasonable price ......

(Wed-11-01-2017, 21:26 PM)jiml Wrote: Thanks Fred ....I know I sound like a Fumaderm salesman, but it has been so good for me I hate to see articles belittling it ..as far as I'm concerned it is just a wonderdrug at a reasonable price ......

I think we all sound like salesmen when a treatment is working for us and I find nothing wrong with that. As you know I'm not a DMF user and for me it's Bio's but I have seen the results for my own eyes from our members.

At least we get honest opinions from our users at Psoriasis Club and it's up to the people with psoriasis who they believe.

I think you both made very good statements gentlemen. Jim very to the point on the safety of Fumaderm and other related DMF compositions and Fred on the search for the motivation, maybe even a point could be added over there, could it be that Biogen doesn't like the developments of Alkmirall and therefore tries to obscure the use of DMF for Psoriasis? I hope they are not that evil.

(Wed-11-01-2017, 21:55 PM)Caroline Wrote: I think you both made very good statements gentlemen. Jim very to the point on the safety of Fumaderm and other related DMF compositions and Fred on the search for the motivation, maybe even a point could be added over there, could it be that Biogen doesn't like the developments of Alkmirall and therefore tries to obscure the use of DMF for Psoriasis? I hope they are not that evil.

Unfortunately 99% of the information out there for people with psoriasis is money driven. Sponsors, Advertising, Scams, Requests for donation, Etc. So the published information has to relate to what a particular site needs to get it's money.

It tends to be driven by the sponsors on that particular site so as it's prejudice towards their products which is why I like Fred's site , many products do work in different ways for different people and from proper information taking this into consideration you can make your own mind up not lead down a course that the drug companies make the most profit from.
We all have our own prejudices against some drugs especially if we have had problems with it them when taking them:but we should look at all aspects of treatments and form our own opinions but not from misinformation or other peoples perceived interpretation of what is safe or not.

(Thu-12-01-2017, 17:59 PM)D Foster Wrote: It tends to be driven by the sponsors on that particular site so as it's prejudice towards their products which is why I like Fred's site

Thank you Dave. You have my promise that Psoriasis Club will always be independent.

I only use one other site which is a USA site that Stelara information recommended to check compatible drugs or not as the case maybe. It covers all drugs and is an official site provided by ,I believe , the government.
Your site is great Fred even though it does have a bare bear on it.

(Thu-12-01-2017, 22:46 PM)D Foster Wrote: I only use one site which is a USA site that Stelara information recommended to check compatible drugs or not as the case maybe. It covers all drugs and is an official site provided by ,I believe , the government.
Your site is great Fred even though it does have a bare bear on it.

Yes I know the one you mean but there is also another one which is more relevant to Europe (sorry UK in your case) information. I'll PM you the link.

As for the bare bear I have tried to chain him up, but people are not happy with chained bears these days so I have to let him run around the corridors now and then. But I will look at getting him a wire wool thong.