Treatment with Aldara
Adara 5% Cream

What Aldara cream is and what it is used for?
Aldara cream is prescribed for the treatment of Warts (condylomata acuminata) on the surface of
the genitals (sexual organs) and around the anus (back passage).
Aldara cream helps your body´s own immune system to produce natural substances which help fight
the virus that has caused your warts.
Who should not use Aldara cream?

Do not use Aldara cream

• If you are allergic to imiquimod or any of the other ingredients of this medicine
•  If you suffer from autoimmune disorders
• If you have had an organ transplant
• If you are HIV positive
• If you have open sores
• If you have internal warts: do not use Aldara cream in the urethra (the hole from which urine is passed), the vagina (birth canal), the cervix (internal female organ), or anywhere inside your anus (rectum).

How to use Aldara cream
Wash 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.

Application Instructions – 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).

1.  Before going to bed, wash your hands and the treatment area with mild soap and water. Dry thoroughly.
2. Open a new sachet and squeeze some cream onto your fingertip.
3.  Apply a thin layer of Aldara cream onto clean, dry wart area and rub gently into the skin until cream vanishes.
4. After application of the cream, throw away the opened sachet and wash hands with soap and water.
5. Leave Aldara cream on the warts for 6 to 10 hours. Do not shower or bathe during this time.
6. After 6 to 10 hours wash the area where Aldara cream was applied with mild soap and water.

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.

Warnings and precautions
Men with warts under the foreskin should pull the foreskin back each day and wash underneath it. If
not washed daily the foreskin may be more likely to show signs of tightness, swelling and wearing
away of the skin and result in difficulty in pulling it back. If these symptoms occur, stop the
treatment immediately and speak to your GP.
If you decide to have sexual relations while you still have warts, apply Aldara cream after - not
before - sexual activity. Aldara cream may weaken condoms and diaphragms; therefore, the cream should not be left on during sexual activity. Remember, Aldara cream does not protect against giving
HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases to someone else.
Because of the way Aldara works, there is a possibility that the cream may worsen existing
inflammation in the treatment area or the treatment area is likely to appear noticeably different
from normal skin.

Accidents with Aldara Cream
If you use more Aldara cream than you should, wash the extra away with mild soap and water.
When any skin reaction has gone you may then continue with your treatment.
If you accidentally swallow Aldara cream, please go to A&E immediately.

Possible side effects
Many of the undesirable effects of Aldara cream are due to its local action on your skin.

Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
effects include redness (61% patients)
wearing away of the skin (30% patients)
flakiness and swelling.
Hardening under the skin, small open sores, a crust that forms during healing, and small bubbles
under the skin may also occur.
You might also feel itching (32% patients)
a burning sensation (26% patients) or pain in areas where you have applied Aldara cream (8%
patients).
Most of these skin reactions are mild and the skin will return to normal within about 2 weeks after
stopping treatment

Others include;
• some patients have experienced headache • fevers and flu like symptoms joint and muscle pains •
prolapse of the womb • pain on intercourse in females • erection difficulties • increase in sweating •
feeling sick • stomach and bowel symptoms • ringing in the ears • flushing • tiredness • dizziness •
migraine • pins and needles • insomnia • depression • loss of appetite • swollen glands • bacterial,
viral and fungal infections (e.g. cold sores) • vaginal infection including thrush • cough and colds
with sore throat

Very rare
severe and painful reactions have occurred, particularly when more cream has been used than
recommended. Painful skin reactions at the opening of the vagina have very rarely made it difficult
for some women to pass urine. If this occurs you should seek medical help immediately.