This medicine is a cream that helps to fight the virus that causes genital warts.
It also helps in the treatment of carcinoma basal cells which is a slow and progressive form of cancer on your skin. Generally, elderly and middle-aged patients are most affected by it, especially fair skinned people who have prolonged exposure to the sun.
It is also used to treat actinic keratosis. These are rough, dry areas of skin found in patients who are prone to excessive exposure to sunlight.
Don’t use the ointment if you are known to be allergic to Imiquimod, if you have a weakened immune system, if you are about to undergo surgery or if you have an abnormal blood count.
Keep it away from the lips, nostrils and eyes. If accidentally used near these body parts, gently remove it with water.
Men treating warts under the foreskin , should pull back the foreskin and wash the area daily, to avoid swelling and constriction of the foreskin.
The cream should be washed off before any sexual contact, you may apply it after.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women must consult a doctor before applying this cream. It is not recommended for adolescents and children.
Some of the more common side effects are; Unusual changes on your skin; colour, infections, small red spots, itching - Fever - Achy joints - Redness, swelling, open sores, flakiness, itchiness, pain in people with warts - Depression - Nausea - Dizziness - Migraine - Fatigue
If the side effects get worse or they become hard to tolerate, please report it to one of our doctors without delay and they may be able to prescribe you an alternative and will advise you of the best course of action.
Wash your hands with soap before and after using the ointment. Never try to cover a treated area with any dressing or bandage. Always use a new sachet, every time you apply the cream and dispose the remaining cream after you are done with it.
Apply the cream at night so that it has time to be absorbed into the skin.
If you are being treated for genital warts: - Before going to bed, wash your hands and the treatment area with mild soap and water. Dry thoroughly. - Open a new sachet and squeeze some cream onto your fingertip. - Apply a thin layer of Aldara cream onto clean, dry wart area and rub gently into the skin until cream vanishes. - After application of the cream, throw away the opened sachet and wash hands with soap and water. - Leave Aldara cream on the warts for 6 to 10 hours. Do not shower or bathe during this time. - After 6 to 10 hours wash the area where Aldara cream was applied with mild soap and water.
Apply Aldara cream 3 times per week. For example, apply the cream on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. One sachet contains enough cream to cover a wart area of 20 cm2 (approx. 3 square inches).
Men with warts under the foreskin should pull the foreskin back each day and wash underneath it (see section 2 “Warnings and precautions”)
Continue to use Aldara cream as instructed until your warts have completely gone (half the females who clear will do so in 8 weeks, half the males who clear will do so in 12 weeks but in some patients warts may clear as early as 4 weeks).
Do not use Aldara cream for more than 16 weeks in the treatment of each episode of warts.
If you have the impression that the effect of Aldara cream is too strong or too weak, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
If you are being treated for basal cell carcinoma: - Before going to bed, wash your hands and the treatment area with mild soap and water. Dry thoroughly. - Open a new sachet and squeeze some cream onto your fingertip. - Apply Aldara cream to the affected area and 1cm (approx. 0.5 inch) around the affected area. Rub gently into the skin until the cream vanishes. - After application of the cream, throw away the opened sachet. Wash hands with soap and water. - Leave Aldara cream on the skin for about 8 hours. Do not shower or bathe during this time. - After about 8 hours, wash the area where Aldara cream was applied with mild soap and water.
Apply sufficient Aldara cream to cover the treatment area and 1 cm (about ½ an inch) around the treatment area.
If you are being treated for actinic keratosis - Before going to bed, wash your hands and the treatment area with mild soap and water. Dry thoroughly. - Open a new sachet and squeeze some cream onto your fingertip. - Apply the cream to the affected area. Rub gently into the area until the cream vanishes. - After application of the cream, throw away the opened sachet. Wash hands with soap and water. - Leave Aldara cream on the skin for about 8 hours. Do not shower or bathe during this time. - After about 8 hours, wash the area where Aldara cream was applied with mild soap and water.
Aldara helps to strengthen the immune system naturally by stimulating the production of natural chemicals in your body which boost the immune system enabling it to fight the viruses that cause genital warts.
