ALDARA Reviews (IMIQUIMOD)

Average Rating: 2.9 (856 Ratings)

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 DERMATOLOGICS

 Type: Rx Drug

  

ALDARA  (IMIQUIMOD):  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. 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. This product is not recommended for use on children under 12 years of age unless specifically directed by your doctor.   FDA Approval Date: 1997-02-27 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)

  

Results are sorted by Age oldest to youngest.

Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

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RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR ALDARACOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 5  As an option to surgery None. NOWHERE could I find what to expect, how it works, or when to quit using it. Felt that I should post this. My Generic cost was $106. (Happy to share price info, E-mail me.) After years of small BCC outbreaks on my neck that were removed by cauterization, freezing, and minor surgery, they continued to recur. Last time as a nodule UNDER the skin, that slowly grew. Doctor gave me 2 options ; "surgery" or Aldara. Instead of using a packet for each use, used a HALF packet each night and washed it off each morning as the literature directed. Used it for 3 weeks, 5 day application then by 2 days of non usage. After 4 days many small eruptions occurred in a two inch radius of the original nodule. A week later my neck was a disaster area, (ask to see a pic.) Stayed calm and reasoned out that my one single 'hidden-nodule' also had a bunch of BCC 'spider-roots'. In 3 weeks, my neck looked horrible. Discontinued usage and started applying a healing "Aloe based skin M 80 3 weeks
4/12/2007
Email
 1  small dime sized bcc on behalf of my Mother - her face just about came off My mom died one week after the worst of it - her ENTIRE RIGHT side of her face came off - black scabs - puss like a horror movie - obviously it went into her system - she was weak - and passed away - this is no joke - beyond horrible F 75 7 days
7/25/2009
 4  actinic keratosis This is the 2nd time I have used aldara. first time was successful. This time I have been taking it for 4 weeks every day on my forehead and neck. Felt extreme fatigue, chills, and anxiety the first two weeks. Went back to dermatoligist and he told me that it had nothing to do with aldara and recommonded that I go to my doctor and get a blood test. I've gone to this guy for 10 years and after reading the responses here I am dissappointed in his lack of awareness to the side effects of a drug he is prescribing Will let you know about the results in a couple of weeks M 74 28 days
7/17/2006
 3  GW At first nothing and flat wart half gone. After a week flu like symptoms, extreme fatigue,ached all over, no appetite, very thirsty, headache, could not wear underwear, sore where other area got cream on. Hoping that extreme care in applying and vaseline on unaffected part will help, but for the moment can't put up with it as had had one flat wart 2 years using herbal treatment with minimal effect. Other than surgery did not know any other treatment. But for my age it seemed what the hell if I have one. But not sufficient warning from dr. re side effects. Your column a relief to know others have had the same. F 73 1 weeks
11/26/2008
 1  cancer in the opening of the nose put on cancer after it was bioped and was very sick, four months later needed 7 pints of blood, and not seem to turn the search and distroy mission around that aldara is doing to my body. one year later after feeling awful went for blood test 3 more pints of blood were put in me. I have been on heavy iron pills for a long time. Dr. just added Folic Acid to that in hopes that the iron pills will help get me started making blood I could not expel water from my body, I was sore all over and that dying would be better. My blood and it is now 2 years later I am still having problems. Of course the arrogance of the medical proffesion backing the 3mm company is no help to us. One Doctor would not listen he just said can not happen. Well it did happen and I was very healthy up until I put that Aldara and my cancer in the nose. M 73 2 months
6/7/2008
 4  basal cell carcinoma Been using Aldara for last two weeks on bcc behind right ear. Have previously(3years ago} used this drug on ears and nose with very good results. Side effects tend to be headaches, tinitus and flu like symptums. They are depressive but I suppose no pain no gain. I use the cream very sparingly and each sachet lasts about 8 to 10 applications. Obviously for larger areas of coverage, greater quantities would be used. I apply before going to bed at night and shower next morning. This is repeated for 5 nights and then a break of two nights before recommencing treatment for next 5 nights. Total period will be 6 weeks. My previous usage was spectacularly successful and I have had no repetition of the previous bcc. I can only endorse the product for my own use but accept that there may be patients with bigger problems and correspondingly unacceptable side effects. These problems are for the medical fraternity to resolve. M 72 6 weeks
minimal 1X day
2/17/2011
 1  genital warts, I had a Bx done and it showed Genital warts.I used this stuff 4times and it turned the warts to Cancer.No lie.I went back to the DR. and told him I wanted a second BX.He then found out it had turned to Cancer.I reported it to the FDA.and they are looking into it.I would love to sue the Hell out of the drug company that makes it.I have had this rash on my legs for 2yrs and nothing the DR. has given me has helped. I reported this to my DR. and he acked like Oh Hum stuff happens.I hope they take this off the market.I wouldn't rub this on my DOG Lucy and I don't like the dog. F 72 4 days
1X W
7/6/2011
 1  genital warts Rash all over legs.now red itchy sores.have had this for 3yrs now.nothing helps. I would like to get the DR. down and rub it all over his private parts.If they used this they wouldn't give it to their pts.I reported it to the FDA however don't expect anything done about it.Look at all the coments on it adverse effects. F 72 4 times
3 times a 1X W
7/24/2011
Email
 5  squamous cell affected area turned bright red and burned all night but that meant it was working. I applied it to the lesion on the bridge of my nose each night for twelve nights then stopped for three nights and then did it three times a week until the scab fell off. I am now using topicort to relieve inflamation and it appears the cancer is gone! F 71 5 weeks
5/23/2005
 5  Basal and squamus sell Fatique, weakness, slight chest pressure,ringing in my ears, itching. Previous to using Aldara I had 4 MOH surgeries on my legs in a period of about 18 months. I had already used Aldara on my chest and knew about the burning,oozing,blisters and redness. The main side effect is fatique...every day and weakness in my legs.I applied the cream Sunday and Wednesday for the BC and Sunday,Monday,Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to the SC. And it is working well. My sores were very sensitve to heat and did itch when they fist came out. I used 2% cortisone cream occasionally on the nights when I didn't use Aldara. The end of my treatment is 12/22. I did take 3 "breaks" (2 applications) each time). The directions say not to extend the procedure to make up for breaks. If stuff still breaking out I'll check with my Dr. I retired last year and I doubt I could do the procedure if I was working. F 70 14 weeks
5% 2X W
12/6/2010
Email
 1  2 BCC's on face After 4 applications of Aldara (applied with a cotton bud very carefully and I still have most of the packet of Aldara left and only applied alternate days) I had severe swelling and redness on (R) jaw and left nostril and was told by the Dermatologist to cease the Aldara (I was to have only 8 applications totally) this was done in July, 2010. This Cream triggered my autoimmune system (there are a lot of Autoimmune diseases )and I now have Rheumatoid Arthritis in my neck, both shoulders, upper and lower arms and elbows, hands and wrists and in constant pain as my bones are eroding and I am also having severe side effects with the prescribed medications to counteract the Rheumatoid Arthritis(prednisone, Methotrexate (Chemotherapy) and sulfasalazine. I have since found out that if you have a very good autoimmune defence for diseases (common cold, flu etc and I would only have the flu every 7 or 8 years and had lots of marvellous energy) that aldara works only by triggering your own a F 70 1 weeks
4X W
1/31/2011
 1  removal of non cancerous headspots Flue like effect, severe fatigue, nausea, reduced appetite, anxiety and some depression. Stopped applying cream 10 days ago and still feel ill and fatigued. If I had been made aware of the possible side effects of this toxic drug I would never had applied it., particularly as , in my case, it was probably not necessary. My doctor has some explaining to do. I hope I can recover from the toxic effects anxiety and fatigue soon. M 70 26 days
250mg 3X W
1/30/2016
 5  AK & BCC slight tightness of skin on scalp sometimes but very minor and infrequently. Every M W F for first month, then second month off, then every M W F for month 3. It works well ! Highly recommended with minimal discomfort. Tough it out if you need too, the results are better than imagined. M 69 9 weeks
.25 gm 1X O
6/7/2016
Email
 1  Small basal carcinoma on wrist Vitreous gel detachment eye/blurred vision Shingles same arm as carcinoma Sudden osteoarthritis both knees Painful feet Dermatitis It is a hideous cream which should never be prescribed, and my doctor did not advise me of any of the horrific side effects. Prior to using this cream I was in excellent health F 69 5 weeks
5%
4/6/2018
Email
 1  Minor skin lesions Flu-like symptoms. Shooting pain up the back of my head. Pain across my shoulders and in my right forearm. Twinges of pain in my chest. Pain in the pelvic area and down both legs. Hemorrhage in my right eye. My dermatologist prescribed Aldara twice - in March 2009 and October 2009. Each course of treatment consisted of 12 applications, for which there were 12 sachets of the drug. I was to apply Aldara (mainly to my forehead) for five days, take two days off, apply it for another five days, take two days off, and then apply it for two days. I didn't have bcc; just a few minor lesions. My dermatologist said the Aldara would clear these up and reduce the risk of bcc developing in the future. There was no warning of possible side effects, except that I would look "a bit of a mess" for a while. And I have to say that, the first time I used Aldara, I suffered no side effects that I remember (apart from the local effects on the skin). But five days after I started using it in October, I came down with flu-like symptoms. At first, I thought I did have a touch of flu - and continued to apply the cream. But after six days of pain, for which I took codeine, paracetamol and aspirin at night, I suspected the Aldara was to blame, and did a Google search for "Aldara+side effects". I read some of the testimonies I found on the first page of Google results, which were enough to persuade me not to use the three remaining sachets of the drug. The pain continued for about five more days, but affected a smaller and smaller area until it was eventually confined to my lower legs and ankles. I then suffered a hemorrhage in my right eye, which left half of it badly bloodshot for more M 69 2 weeks
12/25/2009
Email
 1  Squamous Cell I had two suspicious areas on my chest biopsied and they were squamous cell. After stiches removed, Dr recommended using one little dot of this each day on each one. After 5 days I thought this is so painful cannot go on. The reason is when a woman sleeps on her side, her chest and breasts compress and as a result the treatment ointment spread to other areas on the chest. his caused a severe burning rash to erupt all over. Going down to the Dr now to see what she recommends for further treatment. I was told it would cause redness, and scab over - however, none of thought of the spread of the ointment to non-affected areas. Will follow up this report with results later. F 69 5 days
3/8/2006
Email
 5  bcc This was prior to 2006. I started treatment in 2006. I had bcc on right shoulder in the form of a non-healing scab about 3/4 inch in diameter. Dermo prescribed aldara, one packet a day for six weeks. After 3-4 days I had a weeping scabby sore, deeper and uglier and spreading a little. I continued, and it continued weeping. After a week I made one packet last three applications but still weeping, bleeding, tender. It was a mess. I was a little fatigued. By the middle of the third weeks it was so deep, weepy, tender and spreading to about 2" diam. that I called the dermo. She was not available but her advice nurse said stop using it. I didn't even wait and call back to the dermo, I was so happy to have SOMEBODY medical tell me to stop. I stopped. It started to heal so fast I could not believe it. Big improvement every day. It started drying up right away, within 36 hrs. Then scabbed over, nice and dry. I was careful not to loosen scab. Then the crusty little thing jus And I was using 1/3 prescribed dose. I scupulously washed my hands with warm soapy water after every application. F 68 20 days
4/2/2009
 1  Skin cancer Infection. Open sores, med got into bloodstream. Dr. Did not monitor me. Now have Sjorgren syndrome. My dermatologist over prescribed Aldara. She was not educated in the serious side effects. F 68 2 months
5X W
10/22/2020
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 5   Pain but no g. Improved when decreased.amount used. Appears to have cured squamous cell cancer of vulva One year later i have a bluish colleagues cancer was at base of my vagina. Putting off biopsy for now F 67 30 days
3X W
2/15/2018
 4   Used this for a biopsy proven superficial basal cell on my nose. Not much reaction for the first 3 weeks and my dermatologist had me up the dosage from 5x week to 7x week. That seemed to get things going. Mostly scabbing and crustiness, kind of gross looking. The only systemic effects is week 4 I developed a UTI, but my internist did not feel it was related to the Aldara. After reading all the reviews on the internet I was terrified of using this medication but desperately wanted to avoid surgery on my nose. It was a long six weeks but I did not have any horrible side effects and carried on with life as normal (other than a gross looking nose). The good news is my dermatologist biopsied the site after treatment and it was negative for basal cell, so the Aldara appeared to do its job. I would use it again on any area that I didn't want to have surgery scars (i.e. my face) but if I had a basal cell on my body I would just have it removed surgically for a much faster process. I have known several others who have used this medication and did not have any bad systemic reactions. F 67 6 weeks
1X day
1/10/2020
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ALDARA  (IMIQUIMOD):  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. 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. This product is not recommended for use on children under 12 years of age unless specifically directed by your doctor.   FDA Approval Date: 1997-02-27 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)

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