[ ARC forum 2 ]

Luxiq

Written by lucsac at 15 Sep 2004 22:52:36:

Hello. I am currently 21 and a few days ago I discovered that I have phimosis. I can/could only see about a centimeter of my glans exposed. I've had this condition ever since I can remember, so I had hope of resolving this with stretching/creams after reading this site.

I made an appt. with my GP, but it's only in October. I called him on the phone and tried to explain the problem in the hopes of something earlier being done about it. I originally wanted to pretend like I was ignorant about the issue so I could get an unbiased opinion from him, but that strategy didn't pan out. This is how the conversation went:

Me: My foreskin won't retract.
GP: So you want a circumcision?
Me: No, no circumcision.
GP: So you want a partial cut?
Me: No.. I'd like to try some cream.. I've heard they help.
GP (immediately): Sure.. pick it up tomorrow morning.

This was really strange - it's like he was expecting me to ask for cream. Sort of like a salesman pushing the most expensive deal first, before coming down to cheaper deals. He gave me three 12g bottles of Luxiq - betatmethasone valerate 0.12%. Before I talked talked to the doctor I did some stretching with the help of Vitamin E lotion. It's hard to say whether there was any change - it's all so gradual. Anyway, using Luxiq was certainly a different experience.

First of all, it's not a cream or an ointment, but a foam. I sprayed it directly at my glans - bad idea. It stung like a bitch. I quickly washed it off with some water. After a few minutes, I tried again, this time spraying it on my finger first and then spreading it around the top of my foreskin, not on the glans itself. It still stung a bit, then I just started doing some stretching and the sensation disappeared after a few minutes. In fact their website, http://luxiq.com, says exactly this:

"What are the possible side effects associated with Luxíq?
The most common side effects of Luxíq usually disappear quickly. These include mild burning, stinging, or itching where it was applied."

The only thing I'm concerned about is the concentration. Most of the posts here mention 0.05%, while mine is 0.12%, more than twice that. Nevertheless, http://www.drugs.com/cons/Luxiq.html, reveals that Luxiq can be indeed used with phimosis.

"Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although this use is not included in product labeling, topical corticosteroids may be used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:
Phimosis"

I'll be using it and posting any worthy updades. Also, what's the consensus on the best way to stretch? My GP didn't mention anything on how to use it. The way I do it, is I retract as far as it will go, then apply it near the top. Then I stretch the foreskin forward and hold it for a few mins, then retract and hold it for a few minutes and then repeat.

P.S. Robin - thank you so much for establishing this site. I love the internet!


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