- redness, itching, burning, or bleeding of the treated area.
- flaking, scaling, dryness, or thickening of the skin.
- swelling, stinging, or pain in the treated area.
- blisters, scabs, or bumps on the skin.
- headache.
What happens if you use too much imiquimod?
Topical medicine is for use only on the skin. Using too much imiquimod topical or using it for too long can
increase your risk of severe skin reactions
. Do not use two different forms of imiquimod topical on the same treatment area. Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine.
Who should not use imiquimod?
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of imiquimod topical for external warts in
children older than 12 years of age
. However, safety and efficacy have not been established in children younger than 12 years of age.
Can Aldara make you feel unwell?
Rarely, Aldara can cause a flare up of a pre-existing autoimmune disease.
You may develop flu-like symptoms, such as fever (high temperature), swollen lymph nodes, aches and generally feeling unwell
. You may need additional rest if these symptoms develop and paracetamol can be helpful.
Does imiquimod damage healthy skin?
What are the common side effects of imiquimod cream? Within 3 to 5 days, the skin treated with imiquimod cream can get red and sore.
Even normal looking skin may be affected, because it may contain invisibly abnormal cells
. The skin may weep, peel, crack or even blister and then scab over.
Can you use imiquimod everyday?
Aldara is usually applied 3 times per week for 16 weeks.
Zyclara is usually applied once daily for up to 8 weeks
.
How long do imiquimod side effects last?
The skin reaction tends to be worst in week 2 to 3 of treatment. For most people, the more sore and red the skin becomes, the better the treatment works. It is normal for redness and some crusting to persist for
around 2 weeks
after the treatment course has finished.
When should I stop using imiquimod?
Treatment usually continues until the warts have cleared.
If the area has still not cleared after 16 weeks of using the cream
, you must stop using imiquimod and see your doctor for further advice.
Does imiquimod make you tired?
Three cases of patients using imiquimod for anogenital warts reported a range of side effects, including flu-like symptoms and rash exacerbations, with
one patient progressing to intense headache, fatigue, lumbar pain, generalized myalgia, and locomotor difficulties during the third week of imiquimod treatment
.
Is imiquimod a chemotherapy?
Imiquimod is
not a chemotherapy drug
. Instead, it works by boosting the body’s immune response to the area of abnormal tissue.
How can you tell if imiquimod is working?
When using imiquimod to treat AKs or skin cancer, your skin should react. You may have redness, swelling, burning, itching, and tenderness.
As the skin starts to heal, you will see scabs and flaking
. These reactions indicate that the medicine is working.
Does imiquimod cause hair loss?
Patients and physicians should be advised to take note of any increase in shedding during the 6–12-week period following initiation of imiquimod treatment.
any excessive hair loss during this time may be related to a drug-induced telogen effluvium
.
What is imiquimod 5% used for?
This medication is used
to treat certain types of growths on the skin
. These are precancerous growths (actinic keratoses), a certain type of skin cancer (superficial basal cell carcinoma), and warts on the outside of the genitals/anus. Treating these conditions can decrease complications from them.
Is imiquimod cream safe?
Topical imiquimod has proven to be safe and efficacious in the treatment of actinic keratoses
, with tolerable transient local adverse effects. The ability of imiquimod to elicit an immune response and to treat subclinical lesions makes it among the most strategic therapies for these patients.
Does Aldara cause fatigue?
In addition, the potential impact on the brain should be considered with regards to human use and may explain why
fatigue, headaches and nervousness have been reported as side effects following prolonged Aldara use
.
Can Aldara cream cause tiredness?
General. The most frequently reported side effects are local skin reactions (e.g., erythema, edema, weeping/exudate, flaking/scaling/dryness, scabbing/crusting, and erosion/ulceration), headache, application site reactions, influenza-like illness,
fatigue, nausea, and fever
.
What happens if you leave Aldara on too long?
Using too much Aldara, or using it for too long 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 (including sunburn).
Can I use Vaseline with imiquimod?
Once you have completed your treatment, redness and crusting may be apparent. Cleanse twice daily with mild soap and water, or half strength hydrogen peroxide (peroxide diluted with water in equal parts) and
apply Vaseline petroleum jelly to keep the area moist
.
Can you use imiquimod twice?
Your doctor will repeat the treatment after you go 2 weeks without medicine
. If you use Aldara®, apply a thin film to the affected area of skin once a day at bedtime 2 times per week for 16 weeks. Your doctor will tell you which days are best during the week.
Can you use imiquimod twice a day?
Interventions: In the 6-week study, imiquimod was applied once daily for 3 or 7 days per week or
twice daily for 3 or 7 days per week
.
How effective is imiquimod cream?
This study shows that
5%
imiquimod cream is effective in the treatment of anogenital warts when applied overnight 3 times weekly for up to 16 weeks, and it is associated with a lower recurrence rate than those found with other existing standard therapies.
