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Eflornithine Hydrochloride cream, 13.9%, is used to reduce unwanted facial hair in women. It has only been studied on the face and on the affected areas just under the chin, so use should stay within those areas.
Pharmacology
Eflornithine stops hair growth by blocking the anagen phase of hair production. It does this by binding irreversibly to ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), which is also called suicide inhibition. Once it is bound, eflornithine physically keeps the natural substrate, ornithine, away from the active site of the enzyme.
Dosage Reference
Reference Information Only
Dosages shown are general references from official sources. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized dosing.
Adults:
Apply Eflornithine cream to the affected area twice daily, at least eight hours apart. It has only been shown to work on affected areas of the face and under the chin, so keep the application to these areas. The largest amounts used safely in clinical trials were up to 30 grams per month. You may notice an improvement within eight weeks of starting. Continued treatment may bring further improvement and is necessary to maintain the benefit. The condition may go back to its pre-treatment level within eight weeks after treatment is stopped. If no benefit is noticed within four months of starting therapy, stop using it.
Some patients may need to keep using a hair removal method (e.g. shaving or plucking) along with Eflornithine cream. In that case, apply the cream no sooner than five minutes after shaving or other hair removal, because stinging or burning may increase otherwise.
Elderly (>65 years): No dosage adjustment is necessary.
Pediatric population: The safety and efficacy of Eflornithine in children aged 0 to 18 years have not been established, and there is no data to support use in this age group.
Hepatic/renal impairment: The safety and efficacy of Eflornithine in women with hepatic or renal impairment have not been established. Its safety has not been studied in patients with severe renal impairment, so take caution when prescribing the cream for these patients.
Put a thin layer of the cream on clean, dry affected areas and rub it in thoroughly. Rub it in until no visible residue remains on the treated skin. Wash your hands after applying. For the best effect, don't cleanse the treated area within four hours of application. Cosmetics (including sunscreens) can be applied over the treated areas, but no sooner than five minutes after the cream.
Side Effects
Most side effects seen with Eflornithine Hydrochloride were mild, and they usually cleared up without any medical treatment and without the need to stop the medicine. The side effects that can occur are acne, barbae, pseudofolliculitis, stinging skin, headache, burning skin, dry skin, erythema (redness), pruritus (itching), tingling skin, dyspepsia, skin irritation, rash, alopecia, dizziness, folliculitis, ingrown hair, facial edema, anorexia, nausea, asthenia and vertigo.
Cautions & Contraindications
Warnings & Precautions
If your skin becomes irritated or doesn't tolerate Eflornithine Hydrochloride, cut down the application to once a day for the time being. If the irritation carries on, stop the treatment and see your doctor.
Contraindications
Don't use Eflornithine if you are hypersensitive to the active substance or to any of the excipients. Excessive hair growth can come from serious underlying disorders (for example polycystic ovary syndrome or an androgen secreting neoplasm) or from certain active substances (for example cyclosporin, glucocorticoids, minoxidil, phenobarbitone, phenytoin, or combined oestrogen-androgen hormone replacement therapy). The doctor should think about these factors in the overall medical treatment of any patient who might be prescribed Eflornithine. Eflornithine is for cutaneous use only. Keep it away from the eyes and from mucous membranes (for example the nose or mouth). Some transient stinging or burning may occur when the cream is applied to abraded or broken skin.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Pregnancy
Data from clinical trials cover only a small number of exposed pregnancies (22), and they show no clinical evidence that Eflornithine harms mothers or foetuses. Of those 22 pregnancies, only 19 happened while the patient was using Eflornithine. These 19 ended with 9 healthy infants, 5 elective abortions, 4 spontaneous abortions and 1 birth defect (Down's Syndrome in a 35 year old). Animal studies have shown reproductive toxicity, and the possible risk to humans is unknown. So women who are pregnant or planning pregnancy should use another way to manage facial hair.
Lactation
It is not known whether eflornithine or its metabolites pass into human milk. Women should not use Eflornithine while breastfeeding.
⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Overdose
Eflornithine Hydrochloride barely passes through the skin, so an overdose is highly unlikely. If someone does apply a very high dose to the skin, or swallows it by accident, look at the effects seen with therapeutic doses of intravenous eflornithine (400 mg/kg/day, or approximately 24 g/day).
Given by the intravenous route, this dose of Eflornithine Hydrochloride is used to treat Trypanosoma brucei gambiense infection (African sleeping sickness). The symptoms of this disease are hair loss, facial swelling, seizures, hearing impairment, gastrointestinal disturbance, loss of appetite, headache, weakness, dizziness, anaemia, thrombocytopenia and leucopenia.
If symptoms of overdose occur, stop using the medicine.
⚠️ In an emergency call 999 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
Storage
Store Eflornithine Hydrochloride below 30°C, and keep it away from light and moisture. Keep it out of the reach of children.
Common questions about Wonica 13.9%
What is Wonica 13.9% Cream?
Wonica 13.9% Cream is a medicine that contains Eflornithine Hydrochloride. It is made by Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd. It belongs to the Hair Growth Inhibitor group of medicines.
What is Wonica used for?
Eflornithine Hydrochloride cream, 13.9%, is used to reduce unwanted facial hair in women. It has only been studied on the face and on the affected areas just under the chin, so use should stay within those areas.
What are the side effects of Wonica?
Most side effects seen with Eflornithine Hydrochloride were mild, and they usually cleared up without any medical treatment and without the need to stop the medicine. The side effects that can occur are acne, barbae, pseudofolliculitis, stinging skin, headache, burning skin, dry skin, erythema (redness), pruritus (itching), tingling skin, dyspepsia, skin irritation, rash, alopecia, dizziness, folliculitis, ingrown hair, facial edema, anorexia, nausea, asthenia and vertigo.
Can I take Wonica during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
Pregnancy Data from clinical trials cover only a small number of exposed pregnancies (22), and they show no clinical evidence that Eflornithine harms mothers or foetuses. Of those 22 pregnancies, only 19 happened while the patient was using Eflornithine. Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
What happens if I take too much Wonica?
Eflornithine Hydrochloride barely passes through the skin, so an overdose is highly unlikely. If someone does apply a very high dose to the skin, or swallows it by accident, look at the effects seen with therapeutic doses of intravenous eflornithine (400 mg/kg/day, or approximately 24 g/day). In an emergency call 999 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
How should I store Wonica?
Store Eflornithine Hydrochloride below 30°C, and keep it away from light and moisture. Keep it out of the reach of children.
Do I need a prescription for Wonica?
Wonica is a prescription (Rx) medicine. Take it as your doctor advises.