ALDARA Reviews (IMIQUIMOD)Average Rating: 2.9 (856 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare ALDARA with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Gender males first. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 |
More on ALDARA: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR ALDARA | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 3 | HPV | Redness, Itchiness, Swelling, Pain | Very powerful, worked well. However, the side effects were absolutely awful.. Be sure to only use a little at a time. 4 months later and intercourse is still painful. Hoping this isn't permanent damage. | F | 23 | 4 months 3x a week | 6/23/2017 | 3 | Basal Cell Carcinoma on face | Currently taking 1x per day, 7 days a week. About on day 9. Previous use was no big deal....I even put it on additional parts of my face to just "see" if any BCC was hiding anywhere else. This time I should NOT have done that. For the first 3 days I applied it to my entire face, avoiding lips and eye areas. I feel like I have the flu, ache everywhere, tired, can't workout daily like usual, joints ache like they have carpel tunnel, I'm popping ibuprofen like candy, my vagina itches like crazy (nope, didn't apply any there) and I have a clear, non-smelling discharge, and the worst part...my lower lip has swollen severely and is covered with fever blisters/canker sores. I've reduced to applying only at target site now and hoping these symptoms will go away soon, as I'm trying to stick out the 3 weeks of treatment. This was to be applied on a recurring BCC site, but this time it isn't causing ANY redness on the BCC location, so I'm wondering if perhaps the BCC is actually gone s | I've used Aldara or generic imiquimod roughly 5x now. I've never had any issues previously, aside from it attacking the BCC only (red, oozing, bleeding, etc). Not pretty, but livable to remove the BCC with minimal scarring compared to freezing/cutting. | F | 43 | 9 days 5mg 1X day | 9/30/2019 | 3 | Genital Warts | Burning, itching, sores, redness, blisters | I was told to use Aldara 3 times a week. I have clusters of warts around both my anal and genital area so I was told by the doctor that it would take around 2 months to clear. So the first day of using this cream I didn't have any side effects. After the second application it felt a little uncomfortable. And after my third I've come out with one blister on my clitoris and sores around my genital area. It's the second week of using Aldara and I've decided to take a few days off as I don't want to irritate the skin even more. However, having said that, I can already see a difference in my warts, they are getting smaller and the ones around my anus are getting dry and flatter. There's still some time before my warts completely go but I'm not giving up. If your in pain even a little bit, don't use the cream as it will only make the area worse. Instead take a break from the cream and allow your skin to heal before using it again. My doctor said even if you take a week off the cream will still work as it boosts your immune system. But everyone is different! You may not experience any symptoms, and other will. And if your worried about anything whilst using the cream then go see your doctor :) I'll give you an update soon after two weeks as I'm taking a few days off the cream | F | 23 | 3 days 3X W | 7/6/2020 | 3 | GW | Severe muscle aches, stomach cramps, fatigue | Is this normal? See above comments | F | 47 | 3 days 3x a week | 1/17/2016 | 3 | hpv | Mild itching, but not like people have described. Warts look slightly irritated. I just hope this stuff is working. | I was devastated to get the diagnosis. But I picked my head up and opted for the cream since the dermatologist said freezing them would be more painful. Im now on day 3, I don't have any pain, juse a tiny bit of itch which is none different than the itch the gw give me anyway. I have about a dozen on my anal area. I really hope this stuff works : / | F | 41 | 3 days 5 x week | 10/31/2015 | 3 | GW | Ok, I'm really hoping this helps someone. I started taking Aldara for a flat wart (I couldn't even see it or feel it but it was itchy). After 5 days (every night before bed), I was a horrible mess; severe pain, blisters, bleeding, oozing, swelling, scabbing, severe back pain and horrible headaches. I couldn't walk, or go to the bathroom / shower & laid in bed crying for 3 days. I basically "burned my vagina off." I stopped using it and began using Lydicane, Triple Antibiotic Ointment with pain relief and Vivadin for the pain. It took about 5 days before I was completely back to normal. DO NOT USE ANY OTHER KINDS OF RELIEF OR STEROIDS- it'll make it worse. And even though one Dr. said it "looked" like a Herpes outbreak, it wasn't. Now my original symptoms are back even though everything looks completely normal. My Dr. has me trying it again only 2-3 times a week. So far, so good. Here's what I'm doing: only use a little bit and only on the spot(s) necessary. Prior to application, put Vaseline around all the other areas to protect it, and again, just a little bit on the area needed. I'll follow up when I'm done, but I've been told 3 months. Good luck!! It will get better! | F | 33 | 1 weeks | 12/12/2015 | 3 | BCC | headache, nausea, disturbed sleep (with Ambien), flu like symptoms | I hope this works. I so don't need 30 rounds of radiation plus my present chemo. | F | 64 | 40 days 5% 1X day | 3/31/2016 | 3 | using aldara after freezing caused me extreem aches,itching,depration,hardness of skin | i have genital warts i freezed the warts 2 times and in the first freezing i had no problem at all but in second freezing i had such a reaaly hardddd time,i couldn't walk even.the second freezing made such big blaster down there and i used aldara 2 days after the second freezing and all the aches triggerd at that time.my skin in the gentile part became hard and unflexible and terribly ugly.but after one week of extreem aches it becames good and somehw normal but the colour is still bruise like and the skin is wrinkled.never sex before reasureing ur parter health. | F | 23 | 2 times 3X W | 11/27/2013 | 3 | BCC | At the beginning of treatment, slight headaches, after a week, no more headache, no other problems. | I was told to apply with a q-tip, take the cotton off first, use just the end of the stick. I applied just enough to cover the spot on the end of my nose. A very small amount. Seemed to go very well, I had no redness, bleeding, discomfort, scab, nothing. I really thought that between the biopsy and cauterization, the cancer was gone. After 3 weeks, went back to Doc., she thought it was gone as well. Wrong. It is back, so I'll be going back to the dermotologist shortly. I used Aldara for 3 weeks the first time, we'll try it again, I'm sure. | F | 53 | 3 weeks | 9/27/2009 | 3 | GW | itching, sores | I have maybe 10-15 very small GW from my labia to my perineum. I noticed the warts about 4 months ago and started taking Aldara 7 weeks ago. I've used it just like the package and my Dr. said; one day on, one day off, except that I thought it wasn't working so I didn't wash it off. I just about DIED when i noticed 3 sores on my labia. i thought I had herpes, too. After i read this I sat in a warm bath and got it all off. BTW, those who can't pee because of the pain: try peeing in a warm shower. inconvenient, but it helps a lot. Mine never hurt that bad. just stung a little. I'm going to let them heal, then start up again. Has anyone else tried apple cider vinegar??? | F | 23 | 7 days | 12/9/2009 | 3 | BCC on forehead | Initial dose was daily use resulting in severe reaction with oozing sores, thick scabs, bleeding, swelling. Derm had me discontinue for 2 weeks during which I cleaned with hydrogen peroxide follwed by neosporin. Resumed treatment 5-days on 2-days off; reaction was still too severe; reduced treatment to every other day during the week and not on weekends. I have two weeks left to complete the 90-day cycle and will do so since I have invested the time and effort. In the last few weeks I've experienced lower back pain and at times severe throbbing in my legs -- calves and ham strings. I can hardly wait until I can stop. I am concerned about permanent scarring and will try using the aloe vera gel as another reviewer recommends. I understand you have to wait 12 weeks post treatment to really evaluate the effect. Will adjust rating after that time. | Right side of forehead was most severe initially and now it appears to be healing and looks much better. The left side of forehead is now experiencing a severe reaction -- hope it will also clear up in the next two weeks. Not sure I would use again without longer discussion with dermatologist. | F | 57 | 90 days | 1/4/2010 | 3 | GW | sores, itching | I posted on here on 12/09 stating that i had sores and would let them heal before staring up again....well, i decided NOT to continue treatment as i was scared about the lasting effects Aldera would have on my body. I had read a bunch of testimonials about people using Apple Cider Vinegar to get rid of warts and i decided to try that. They all say NOT to use it to treat GW, but i tried it anyways, and it totally worked! i used Aldera for 7 weeks and saw no change, but with the ACV they were ALL GONE in less than a week. No pain, no sores, no lasting effects. I'm not a Dr. but hey, they look gone to me, and it's really only cosmetic down there anyways. | F | 23 | 7 weeks | 1/3/2010 | 3 | BCC | Extreme burning & itching around site, some stabbing and burning. Diahrea comes anytime I eat, mood swings, lack of energy or interest. Site went from the size of a pin head to 3 inches by 4 inches in size. | I covered the site with gauze pads and tape, used bandaids when I could but the adhesive burned my skin too. After using for a month, my derm gave me some Biafine. That took the burning and itching away instantly although I need to use it more than the prescriped use. I bought some Aquaphore - that helps lots. Keeps the air from getting to it. The BCC is on my colarbone and everything rubs from seatbelt to clothes. Very uncomfortable, over the course of 3 months, it is starting to look better but is still very sensitive. Not sure the sensitivity will ever go away. New stabbing sensations have shown up. | F | 51 | 3 months | 1/18/2010 | 3 | basal cell carcinoma | Extreme blisters on chest from lots of sun damage, itching, depressed, sore throat, tired | Thought I was the only one that is really depressed (this is not normal for me at all!). Not kidding-cried a little last night, just very blue and having headaches, also mild to moderate aches all over. Hope this works, I am crazy about my Derm. and trust him, but this was way more than I realized. Will keep posting. | F | 42 | 18 days | 10/27/2009 | 3 | basal cell carcinoma | How to cope with side effects? | I'm in the middle of my Aldara treatment but need some advice about how to cope with the redness, itching and scabbing. There's a site that has a few tips (skincancer.about.com/u/ua/livingwithskincancer/imiquimod_tips.htm but I'm looking for more. Anybody? | F | 43 | 2 weeks | 4/24/2009 | 3 | GW | Burning, itching, stabbing pains, aching. pain when urinating | I feel everyone's pain! It seriously hurts. One thing I haven't noticed mentioned to help alleviate the burning and itching is ice packs- sounds mad I know but when it gets bad I wrap and ice pack in some cloth and hold it between my legs. It numbs the pain and the itching, aqueous emulsifying ointment bp is also soothing- have a cold shower and apply to affected area then gently rinse but don't rinse it off completely and the cold and the moisturising helps dull the itch and burn! Hope that helps | F | 23 | 4 months | 9/1/2008 | 3 | GW | BURNING, itching, rash | After using it only 5 times (Mon, Wed, Fr, Mon, Wed) my wart is mostly gone. However, even though I was really careful about applying it, the whole area is in pain. I've been waking up in the middle of the night in pain. I used an ice pack for momentary relief. | F | 21 | 10 days | 6/26/2009 | 3 | gw | redness, swelling, open sores, itchyness | i used aldara for a week on 2 small external gw's than the side effects became too difficult to deal with my dr recommended i stop using it until the side effects lessened. the warts were pretty much gone after the side affects had worn off and a week later warts started to reappear. so its has been a cycle of warts, side effects, no warts, and haveing them reoccur, and i am now on my 3rd attempt | F | 23 | 6 weeks | 2/22/2009 | 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 | 3 | redness, itching, burning | Hi. I am 24 and have had hpv for almost 2 years. I had it pretty bad when it came to the warts. I was prescribed aldara and it worked but not 100% yet....i broke out of course, and after reading this, felt so much better to know i wasnt the only one who was going through the breakout part of it. I just wanted to know if anyone has heard about how this usually is fought off by your immune system in 2 years or so...and was wondering if anyone has gone through that and is now completely clear. I just want this gone already, and i feel like the aldara doesnt work 110% like i am expecting it to. then again, i just want it gone and faster results would lead to a happier me. any help wud be greatly appreciated. thanx. | F | 24 | | 1/28/2009 |