Is the drug Xiaflex worth getting excited about as a Dupuytrens treatment?

I’ve been reading that Xiaflex (used for Dupuytren’s contracture) was tested for Peyronie’s disease with pretty successful results and could be on the market as early as this year. Should I get my hopes up? Is this worth being excited about?

 

Greetings,

I am hearing more and more about nasty side effects and bad reactions from Xiaflex injections for Dupuytren contracture.  I think this is – or should be – the reason that Xiaflex has not been given fast approval as a Peyronie’s treatment.  I have spoken to people whose muscles and tendons have been injured (dissolved by the enzymes in Xiaflex) and the many problems they have to deal with as a result of these injuries. 

From the tone of your email I get the sense that you are genuinely hopeful about Xiaflex might do for you, because you feel so helpless against Peyronie’s disease.  Most men feel this way. You can get your hopes up, and you can get excited about it, if you wish.  Many people are sitting around waiting for a medical miracle cure while their lives slip away with a curved penis or useless hands.  They have the attitude that if there is no drug to save them, there is nothing to help them because the body cannot do anything against Peyronies disease or Dupuytren contracture.  Personally, I do not accept that line of thought.  I have seen too many people injured by drugs, like Xiaflex, and helped by Alternative Medicine. 

I believe a far more rational and safe approach to treating these two problems, and many others, is to first attempt more conservative treatment using a wide variety of simultaneous Alternative Medicine treatment methods.   Only after exhausting all possible conservative options would I remotely consider taking the calculated risk of a drug like Xiaflex.   The tone of your question suggests to me that you are not aware of, or even considering, the possible harm that can be done with a drug like Xiaflex.  

Many new drugs come on the market each year because of glowing reports and spectacular enthusiasm for the wonderful research results.  The new drug is highly advertised and heavily used for a while.  Then slowly and quietly new information comes out that bad things are happening to those who take this new wonder drug.  Even more quietly the drug is removed from the market a year or two later.  How many times have you heard that same story played out over and over?  High hopes based on questionable research, people hurt, drug withdrawal, many lawsuits. 

Why do we see so many TV commercials from lawyers who are trying to sue the pants off these drug companies?   The legal profession has created this large industry for itself because there are so many bad drugs on the market and so many people who are injured, that lawyers can profit from this misfortune.  What should that tell you?  The lawyers are not making this stuff up.  They are just taking great advantage of the huge opportunity they are given by bad drugs and injured people. 

Fact:  The U.S. is the heaviest user of drugs and surgery.  Fact: The U.S. is ranked about the 16th healthiest nation in the world, and we die at an earlier age, behind 15 other countries that take fewer drugs and use less surgery than we do.  If the use of drugs and surgery leads to health and long life, we should live the longest and be the healthiest country and we are not.  What does that tell you?

Sure, there are good drugs and not all drugs are bad.  But you must be extremely careful how you go about using them.  Xiaflex might help you, I cannot say one way or the other.  In my opinion, if you are going to use Xiaflex it should be the very last thing you do, not the first thing.  You should certainly talk to your doctor about your decision and educate yourself to the best level you can. How you approach the treatment of your problem is your decision.  TRH

Dupuytren Cause Could Be Related to Drugs

Prescription drugs indirectly related to Dupuytren contracture

A Dupuytren cause could be related to drugs.  As usual, there is controversy about drugs causing or contributing to Dupuytren’s contracture. However, because there is controversy and unknows in most areas of Dupuytren’s contracture, we speculate.

Even the cause of Dupuytren’s contracture remains unknown.  Age, genetic predisposition, and liver cirrhosis related to alcoholism, have the strongest statistical and clinical support as a cause of DC.  Interestingly, people think of trauma or injury most often as the cause of Dupuytren’s contracture. Perhaps this is because trauma, cuts and surgery lead to excess scar formation. And DC looks like heavy scar formation.  Regardless, a person with Dupuytren’s contracture should focus about avoiding or reducing exposure to those causes of DC that are avoidable or at least controllable.  Among them, there is statistical evidence that a Dupuytren cause could be related to drugs.

Drugs open the gate to DC when we are weak

For those who already have age (over 50), gender (male), genetic predisposition and liver disease in their history working against them, it is wise to pay close attention to other causes that are controllable.  For example, prescription drug use.  One side effect of these prescription drugs is to suppress or reduce the immune defense response of the body.  Thus, with a weakened immune system, and liver disease due to drug toxicity, there is less ability to prevent development of Dupuytren contracture.

While no single drug or drug family has been implicated in causing Dupuytren contracture, many drugs have the potential.  Prolonged use of a potent drug could initiate DC via the indirect mechanism by causing liver disease and cirrhosis usually associated with alcoholism.  Bottom line, many drugs stress and injure the liver, and this is statistically important in causing Dupuytren’s contracture.

Drugs to keep in mind

As a general guideline, this list is provided to demonstrate a Dupuytren cause could be related to drugs because they all affect the liver, some more and some less.  It is all about the connection between liver damage and Dupuytren’s contracture.

Drugs that may cause acute dose-dependent liver damage

  • acetaminophen
  • salicylates (doses over 2 grams daily)

Drugs that may cause acute dose-independent liver damage

  • acebutolol
  • labetalol
  • quinine
  • indomethacin
  • phenylbutazone
  • allopurinol
  • isoniazid
  • phenytoin
  • lisinopril
  • atenolol
  • ketoconazole
    • piroxicam
      ·  carbamazepine
      ·  cimetidine
    • maprotiline
    • pyrazinamide
    • dantrolene
    • metoprolol
    • quinidine
      • diclofenac
        ·  probenecid
      • cimetidine
      • maprotiline
      • pyrazinamide
      • dantrolene
      • metoprolol
      • quinidine
        • diclofenac
          ·  penecillins
        • mianserin
          ·  phenelzine
        • tricyclic antidepressants
        • halothane
        • phenindione
        • valproic acid
        • ibuprofen
        • phenobarbital
          • verapamil
  • ethionamide

Bottom line on Dupuytren cause could be related to drugs

In conclusion, these listed drugs have side effects.  They can complicate the problem of someone who is already sick.  Use all drugs with caution and discretion. But if you have Dupuytren’s contracture, use these drugs with great caution. Talk to your doctor about using the safest drug possible for whatever problem you might have.

If you are male, over 50, with a family history of Dupuytren’s contracture, or a history of liver cirrhosis or heavy alcohol consumption, recognize these drugs pose a danger to you. Your particular Dupuytren cause could be related to drugs on this list.  Possibly, you could be stressing your liver and putting yourself at further risk of worsening and accelerating your Dupuytren problem. For this reason, speak to your doctor if you are taking any of the above drugs. Ask about changing or reducing medication.

Also, consider using the safe and direct DCI  Dupuytren contracture treatment option.  When people use the DCI large plan, we get 8-10 reports of moderate to marked improvement of DC, for every one report of failure.