Aldara Cream 5%

What is Aldara Cream?

A topical cream that is supplied as 12x250g sachets, a prescription-only medicine for genital warts caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), available to buy online.

The active ingredient in Aldara Cream is 5% imiquimod. This genital wart treatment is a cream to be used on the surface of the genitals (sexual organs) and around the anus (back passage). 

Imiquimod belongs to a group of drugs called immune response modifiers. It is believed to work by helping to activate your immune system to fight these abnormal skin growths.

How long does it take Aldara cream to work?

Aldara cream can take up to 16 weeks to clear genital warts, but some individuals will notice an improvement in as little as 4 weeks. 

Can I buy Aldara Cream over the counter in the UK?

No, Aldra cream is a prescription-only medicine in the UK. It can be obtained with a prescription from an online provider after completing a consultation. 

Warnings and Precautions:

• If you use too much cream or use it for too long, it can increase your risk of severe skin reactions. Follow your doctor's instructions.
• Do not use Aldara on areas of broken, wounded, or burned skin.
• Before using Aldara, tell your doctor if you have a weak immune system, an autoimmune disorder, graft-versus-host disease, or if you have recently received a bone marrow transplant or cord blood transplant.
• When treating genital warts around the vagina, avoid getting the cream on the more sensitive inner layers of vaginal tissue. 
• Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Aldara can make you sunburn more easily. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.
• Aldara is not a cure for genital warts, and it may not keep you from spreading this condition to others through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. You may develop new lesions during treatment with Aldara. 
• Imiquimod will not protect against sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, HIV, syphilis, and trichomoniasis.
• If you are treating the genital or rectal area with Aldara, avoid sexual activity while the medicine is on your skin. Aldara can weaken the rubber that condoms or diaphragms are made out of. 
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

Ingredients:

Aldara cream contains the active ingredient imiquimod.

Other ingredients:

Isostearic acid, benzyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, white soft paraffin, polysorbate 60, sorbitan stearate, glycerol, methyl hydroxybenzoate (E 218), propyl hydroxybenzoate (E 216), xanthan gum and purified water.

• Wash your hands carefully before and after applying the cream.
• Do not cover the treated area with bandages or other dressings after you have applied Aldara cream.
• Open a new sachet each time you use the cream.
• Dispose of any cream left in the sachet after use. Do not save the opened sachet for use at a later date.

How Do I Apply Aldera Cream?

• Apply THREE times a week 
• Apply 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 a clean, dry wart area and rub gently into the skin until the cream vanishes.
• After application of the cream, throw away the opened sachet and wash your 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. 
• Men with warts under the foreskin should pull the foreskin back each day and wash underneath it 

Continue to use Aldara cream as instructed until your warts have completely gone (half of all females will find warts clear within 8 weeks, half of all males will find warts clear within 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 find the effect of Aldara cream is too strong or too weak, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Common side effects of Aldara include

• application site reactions,
• upper respiratory tract infections,
• sinus infection,
• headache,
• diarrhea,
• skin erosion,
• fluid retention (oedema),
• itching,
• flaking, and
• redness.

Serious side effects of Aldara include

• flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, nausea, tiredness, body aches, or swollen glands;
• bleeding or swelling where the medicine was applied; or
• Symptoms of herpes zoster (shingles) include skin sores or blisters, itching, tingling, burning pain, and rash on the face or torso.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the above description and patient information leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for “MHRA yellowcard” in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.