Aldara

Aldara is a cream containing imiquimod and is used to treat genital warts, one of the most common sexually transmitted infections(STIs). Aldara has been clinically proven as an effective external treatment to reduce genital or pubic warts and relieve symptoms.

Aldara (imiquimod) was approved for use in Europe by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on September 18, 1998. It was authorised for the treatment of external genital and perianal warts in adults.

It was later approved for the treatment of some skin cancers (e.g. superficial basal cell carcinoma) and areas of sun-damaged skin that can turn into skin cancers (e.g. actinic keratoses).

Imiquimod, the active ingredient, works by stimulating the body’s immune system.

It does this by releasing chemicals called cytokines, one of these being interferon. Cytokines are important in fighting viruses and destroying cancer cells, this stops the virus from spreading. Eventually, the healthy skin cells replace the wart cells, which leads to the warts disappearing.

When to use it

To treat genital warts, Aldara should be applied three times a week (for example, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). A thin layer of cream should be applied to the affected area once at night. It’s best to use it before going to bed.

I recommend that patients start using Aldara as soon as possible after noticing genital warts. Early treatment can help prevent the warts from spreading and may reduce the overall duration of the outbreak.

Dr. Caroline Fontana Lead Prescribing Doctor

How to apply Aldara

Aldara is a topical cream, meaning you apply it directly to the warts on your skin.

Genital warts can vary in size and colour. What they look like often depends on the person.

To use this cream correctly, do the following:

1. Before going to bed, wash your hands and the treatment area with mild soap and water. Make sure to dry thoroughly.
2. Open a new sachet and squeeze some cream onto your fingertip.
3. Apply a thin layer of Aldara cream onto the wart area and rub gently into the skin until the cream can no longer be seen.
4. Throw away the opened sachet and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
5. Leave the cream on the warts for 6 to 10 hours. Avoid showering or bathing during this time, otherwise, the cream will be washed off.
6. After 6 to 10 hours wash the area where Aldara cream was applied with mild soap and water.

When using the cream, avoid contact with the eyes, lips and nostrils. If you get the cream in these areas, rinse it out with water.

For more information on how to apply Aldara to genital warts, please read the attached patient leaflet.

How long do I use it for?

Continue to use Aldara cream as instructed until your warts have completely gone. Do not use Aldara cream for more than 16 weeks to treat each episode of warts.

If you don’t see any improvements in your genital warts straight away, it doesn’t mean that the treatment isn’t working. It usually takes around 8-10 weeks for the warts to clear completely.

If you still have genital warts, or the warts return after treatment, speak to your doctor. You may need to try an alternative treatment such as Condyline or Warticon

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget to apply the cream, apply it as soon as you remember and then continue with your regular schedule. Do not apply the cream more than once per day.

The time it takes for Aldara cream to work can vary depending on the condition being treated. For genital warts, treatment is usually applied for a maximum of 16 weeks.

Studies show that in patients who achieved total clearance of their warts, the median time to clearance was 8 weeks for women and 12 weeks for men.

Aldara is available as a 5% Imiquimod cream. It is also available under the name Bascellex.

It is also available as a 3.75% strength cream called Zyclara. However, this cream is mainly prescribed for actinic keratosis.

What dose should I use?

The dose you use will depend on the condition you are being treated for.

When used correctly, Aldara cream has many benefits, for example:

• It usually clears the outbreak completely within a few weeks
• It can reduce the discomfort associated with genital warts
• It is easy to apply
• The cream can be applied at home, making it a convenient option
• It is well tolerated as the treatment is applied directly to the area, not ingested

Aldara cream is EMA-approved, so you can be sure you are using a safe and effective treatment.

A recent study was conducted on a group of people with genital warts. Out of the people who were given a treatment containing imiquimod:

51% found that their genital warts disappeared completely

72% of patients saw at least half of their warts disappear

When using this cream, there are several lifestyle factors to consider to ensure effective treatment and reduce the risk of experiencing side effects:

1. Avoid too much sunlight:
   • Aldara can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight so, avoid using sunlamps and tanning beds when using this cream.
2. Sexual activity:
   • Avoid sexual contact while the cream is on your skin. If you decide to have sex while you still have warts, apply the cream after sexual activity.
   • If you decide to have sex during an outbreak of genital warts, use condoms to reduce the risk of transmission. However, you should be aware that condoms are not 100% effective as they may not cover all affected areas. Aldara cream may also weaken condoms and diaphragms and reduce their effectiveness.
3. Hygiene:
   • Always wash your hands before and after applying the cream to prevent spreading it to other areas of the body or to other people.
   • Try not to touch or scratch the treated area to prevent irritation and infection.
   • If you are a man and have warts under your foreskin, you should pull the foreskin back each day and wash underneath it.
4. Open sores and wounds:
   • Do not apply Aldara to any open sores or wounds. Only use the cream after the sores have healed.

When using imiquimod, your skin will likely react and become inflamed. You may experience redness, swelling, burning, itching, pain and tenderness. As the skin starts to heal, you may see scabs forming and the skin starting to flake.

These reactions mean that the medicine is working. If there is no inflammation, the cream is unlikely to clear the lesion.

Who can use this medicine?

Aldara cream may be used for those with external warts (on the genitals or around the back passage), superficial basal cell carcinoma, or actinic keratosis. At euroClinix, we currently only offer treatment for genital warts if you are over 18 years old.

Aldara is only suitable for treating external warts, so make sure you only apply cream on the outside of your body.

If you have internal genital warts, please consult your doctor for a different treatment.

Who cannot use this medicine?

Do not use Aldara if you are allergic to Imiquimod or any other ingredients in this medicine.

Talk to your doctor before using Aldara cream if you have:

• previously used Aldara or similar preparations
• autoimmune disorders
• had an organ transplant
• recently had surgery
• an abnormal blood count
• inflammatory skin conditions
• open wounds or broken skin still in the process of healing

Most people who take Aldara don’t experience any side effects at all.

If you do end up with side effects, they are usually mild and go away by themselves when you stop taking the treatment.

Very common side effects (likely to occur in more than 1 in 10 patients) are listed in the table below:

Most of these skin reactions are mild and the skin will return to normal within 2 weeks after stopping treatment.

Very rarely, severe and painful skin reactions at the opening of the genitals have occurred. However, this is when more cream has been used than the recommended amount. If this occurs you should seek medical help immediately.

If you experience side effects that bother you, speak to your doctor about using an alternative treatment.

For a full list of potential side effects, please read the patient information leaflet.

Tell your doctor if you are taking, or have recently taken any other medicines. This includes vitamins, herbal supplements and over-the-counter remedies.

Imiquimod cream should be used with caution if you are receiving immunosuppressive medication. This is because it stimulates the immune system.

What safety advice should be followed when using Aldara?

For more information, refer to the safety information table below:

Aldara should be stored properly to ensure it remains effective.

How to store

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Store the cream at room temperature (do not store above 25°C).

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the outer carton. Each packet of Aldara cream is intended for single use. After applying the cream, discard the used packet.

Disposal

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. To properly dispose of medicines you no longer use (including opened sachets) take them to your nearest pharmacy.

No, Aldara cream is only available to buy with a prescription. Other wart treatments like Warticon and Condyline are also prescription-only.

Visit your GP or consult an online health provider to get a prescription for Aldara.

Yes, ordering Aldara through euroClinix is simple and secure. Follow these steps:

1. Start a confidential online questionnaire from the top of this page. It takes about 5-10 minutes to complete.
2. A UK-registered doctor will review your consultation.
3. If approved, the doctor will write a prescription.
4. Your medication will be dispensed in discreet packaging from a licensed UK pharmacy, with next-day delivery and tracking information provided.

euroClinix offers ongoing support for any questions. Privacy and security are guaranteed through compliance with the relevant regulatory standards and the use of encrypted transactions.

euroClinix is a trusted online clinic that offers services in several European countries. All consultations and prescriptions are handled by our UK-registered doctors. The process is convenient with online consultations and discreet home delivery. Our friendly customer service team is always happy to assist with any questions related to our services.

The euroClinix platform is user-friendly for managing prescriptions and reorders securely.

Choosing euroClinix ensures a trusted, professional, and supportive service to treat genital warts.

In addition to Imiquimod, podophyllotoxin is also used to treat genital warts. This is the main ingredient in both Warticon and Condyline

You can buy Aldara, Warticon and Condyline online at euroClinix for the treatment of genital warts. The table below shows some of the key differences between these three medications:

	Aldara	Warticon	Condyline
Active ingredient	Imiquimod	Podophyllotoxin	Podophyllotoxin
How often do I apply it?	3 times per week	Twice a day for 3 days	Twice a day for 3 days
Does it require a prescription?
How do I use it?
Can it treat soft genital warts?
Can it treat hard warts?