Introduction
Fumaderm® is a drug which is used in the form of tablets for the skin disease psoriasis vulgaris. It is the most commonly used drug for psoriasis, and is used in patients with severe and moderate psoriasis. There are a total of four different fumaric acid esters contained in the drug Fumaderm®. These active ingredients are all derived from the plant Fumaria officinalis (common fumitory). Overall, Fumaderm® can help patients during an acute episode to improve or minimize symptoms, but a cure for psoriasis is not yet possible.
Fields of application
Fumaderm® is a tablet that drops very sharply in patients with white blood cells (leukocytes), thus weakening the patient’s immune system, which in turn makes the patient more susceptible to disease. Fumaderm® can be administered in addition to the external therapy with creams and lotions, but it can also be taken as a therapy on its own (so-called monotherapy). However, it is important to know that the dosage of Fumaderm® must be increased slowly in order to better assess the side effects. One starts with an initial dose and slowly increases the dose so that the patient’s body can get used to the medication.
Restrictions on use
Side effects
Fumaderm® is a drug with many side effects, so the benefit of the therapy should definitely outweigh the risk. Very often, i.e. one in 10 patients, so-called flushes occur, i.e. sudden reddening of the face with an enormous sensation of heat.
Less frequently, however, i.e. one in 1000 to 10 000 patients, allergic reactions occur. Very common are side effects of Fumaderm® on the gastrointestinal tract. Every 10th patient suffers from diarrhea, every hundredth from bloating, cramps and flatulence.
Furthermore, many patients also suffer from nausea. In most cases, the side effects occur mainly at the beginning of the therapy, but they often persist throughout the entire duration of the therapy. Furthermore, patients may occasionally experience headaches, tiredness and dizziness.
A change in the blood count occurs in most patients, although the extent can vary greatly. Regular check-ups are particularly important, as otherwise, in the worst case, the patient may have hardly any white blood cells (leukocytes) left in the blood and these are no longer reproduced (irreversible pancytopenia). A rare but serious side effect of Fumaderm® is kidney failure.
