Imiquimod (Aldara)

Brief Overview
Imiquimod is a cream that you put on your genital warts. Its brand name is Aldara.

Results have shown that ifmiquimod helps to get rid of warts in about half the people who use it for four months. But one study found it didn’t help people who had HIV.

Imiquimod can also help to reduce the chance of the warts coming back two to four months after you stop using it. It doesn’t seem to matter whether you use imiquimod once, twice or three times a day. It’s just as likely to work however often you use it.

Imiquimod cream can make your skin red, swollen and itchy. Using it twice a day causes more side effects than using it less often.

You shouldn’t use imiquimod if you’re pregnant.

Detailed Overview

Getting adequate treatment to take care of genital & venereal warts is very important. One of the products you will find out there is called Aldara. It is a type of topical cream that you will have to apply to the area for several days. Keep in mind that there is no cure for genital or venereal warts. Instead, you have to find a treatment that works well for you. Here is one that you may have heard of. Before you consider it though, get the facts.

Pros

There are many benefits to using Aldara to treat genital & venereal warts. This type of infection can be very itchy and painful. With the use of this medication, the itching and pain can be reduced. It can take action quickly and offer you relief. This particular medication is offered as a topical cream.

For those that take medications for various health concerns, that is important. They don’t want to risk the medication they take to treat genital & venereal warts to interfere with medications they take for other needs. This topical product is affordable too which is important. Not everyone has health insurance or has the money to pay for expensive prescriptions.

The use of Aldara can help to boost your immune system. This means that you are less likely to suffer from future outbreaks of genital and venereal warts. This is definitely a benefit because such breakouts can be very stressful as well as embarrassing.

There have been numerous studies with the use of Aldara. The findings are that it does work to help clear up genital and venereal warts for most individuals. These studies also so that there is very little risk involved with the use of this particular type of medication.

Cons- SIDE EFFECTS

Some individuals experience irritation in the genital area after they have used Aldara. For about 11% of users, there will be the development of some type of fungal infection. If you do experience that, you need to discontinue the use of Aldara right away. Make sure you consult with your doctor so that other forms of treatment can be considered. You will also need treatment to destroy the fungal infection.

Approximately 5% of people that use Aldara will develop symptoms that are very similar to the flu. However, most of the time they don’t make the connection. The symptoms should go away within a couple of days. If they don’t it is a good idea to consult with your doctor about alternative forms of treatment.

It is important to note that the use of Aldara is only to be for external warts. Don’t use it for anything that has developed inside of the body. It shouldn’t be used for anyone under the age of 12. You should only use it for the number of days your doctor tells you to. Applying too much or using it for too long can increase your chances of developing a very serious skin reaction.

It can take up to 16 weeks of use though to get the warts to clear up from a single outbreak. It can also be difficult to remember when to apply it since it should only be applied three times per week.

Consult with your Doctor

Never use Aldara for genital or venereal warts without first talking to your doctor. It isn’t a good idea to use a prescription medication given to someone else. Don’t be embarrassed to talk to your doctor about the situation and the use of this medication. Understanding the pros and cons of Aldara can help you to decide if it is a type of medication you are willing to try or not.