Topical Eflornithine (Vaniqa) Discontinuation
Topical eflornithine (Vaniqa) 13.9% cream was not discontinued and is still available by prescription for the reduction of unwanted facial hair in women. There appears to be confusion in the question, as this medication remains on the market.
Background on Eflornithine Cream
Eflornithine is a specific, irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), an enzyme that catalyzes the rate-limiting step for follicular polyamine synthesis necessary for hair growth 1. It was approved by the FDA as the first topical prescription treatment for reducing unwanted facial hair in women.
Mechanism and Efficacy
- Works by slowing hair growth rather than removing hair
- Primarily effective for unwanted facial hair on the mustache and chin areas 2
- Clinical improvement typically occurs over 4-8 weeks of continuous use
- In clinical trials, eflornithine cream slowed unwanted facial hair growth in up to 60% of women 1
- After 24 weeks of treatment, 58% of eflornithine users showed at least some improvement compared to 34% with placebo 3
Safety Profile
The medication has a generally favorable safety profile:
- Most adverse reactions are minor skin irritations
- Common side effects include:
- Acne (21.3%)
- Pseudofolliculitis barbae (16.3%)
- Stinging skin (7.9%)
- Burning skin (4.3%)
- Pruritus/itching (3.8%) 4
Treatment Considerations
- Hair growth returns to pretreatment rates within 8 weeks of discontinuing treatment 3
- Can be used in combination with other hair removal methods like laser therapy for enhanced results 5
- Percutaneous absorption is minimal (<1%) when applied twice daily 3
Potential Confusion with Other Eflornithine Formulations
The question may be referring to a different formulation of eflornithine. It's worth noting that:
Oral eflornithine has been used for other medical conditions
Injectable eflornithine (difluoromethylornithine or DFMO) has been used for treating certain parasitic diseases
Most recently, in December 2023, the FDA approved eflornithine for use in the continuation setting for patients with high-risk neuroblastoma who have achieved a partial response or better following completion of anti-GD2 immunotherapy 6
Clinical Application
For women with unwanted facial hair, topical eflornithine remains a viable treatment option that can be:
- Used as monotherapy
- Combined with other hair removal methods like laser therapy, which has shown better results than either treatment alone 5
- Particularly beneficial for women who find other hair removal methods inadequate or too time-consuming
In conclusion, topical eflornithine 13.9% cream (Vaniqa) has not been discontinued and remains available by prescription for women with unwanted facial hair.