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 Date added. 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 , molluscum. | Open Sores (very shallow, technical term is erosion, and is supposedly a side effect for 33% of patients.) | First: If you don't have health insurance, a free clinic that does cryotherapy (liquid nitrogen) is probably your best bet. This stuff is WAY MORE EXPENSIVE than the results are worth, so far anyway. I have full drug coverage so the espense isn't an issue for me; if that's the case for you as well, read on.
I caught my HPV soon after it became detectable at all - I had probably less than 0.2 cm² of warts when I went in. Cryotherapy was effective (but itchy when healing) and after 3 weeks of weekly cryotherapy I was still getting new warts. Thus, I requested a perscription for Aldara, hoping to head off any new ones and keep the one I had tiny. I am still willing to go in in 4 weeks and have them burn off anything that's still around; then, hopefully, another 4 weeks of Aldara to ensure nothings coming back, and we'll be done. That's my plan, anyway.
Bad:
* Itchy: Number one comment is that it's very itchy. (and 60% of people say so.) It's about as bad as a yeast infection, if you've ever had one of those; or, as bad as healing cryotherapy burns. =) That said, you do get the weekends to recover, and it's only really bad in the mornings when you wake up. * lesions: I have a shallow, bleeding lesion where there wasn't one before. I expect I might get more. If you get these IT MOST LIKELY IS NOT HERPES. It doesn't hurt but (sensing a theme, here) it does REALLY itch. * More cost: when I go into the doctor, as someone else said, I'll likely end up getting tested for herpes because of the lesions. And if you are not on a full health plan, that could suck. On the uphand, most likely not herpes. * Not a miracle cure: In trials it cleared 70% of women after 16 weeks... so 30% of people took $800 (in canadian drug dollars, no less - it's way cheaper up here I bet) worth and still needed other therapies in addition. I think so far, using Aldara as a booster after clearing anything visible with liquiod nitrogen is working pretty well. There are very few new visible (really, | F | 22 | 14 days | 7/22/2004 | 2 | genital warts | I was thrilled to come across another therapy for my recuring genital warts problem. Unfortunately, my doctor did not explain to me the potential dangers of over-using Aldara and as a result, I experienced burns on my penis which were quite painful. I urge newer users of this medication to error on the side of caution when first using this medication! | M | 33 | 5 days | 7/12/2004 | 3 | Genital Warts | Intense itching, burning, swelling, redness, cuts, dry skin | This cream gets rid of warts, but the pain that goes with the application of it will put you in pain. I have used it 3 times a week for 2 months and my vagina is red and raw. The warts have gone almost 100% away, but I can't urinate without burning. Sitting and moving hurts as my underwear rubs against the soreness. I am bleeding a little too from being dry and the clothing rubbing on my vagina. The itching is almost unbearable. It is impossible not to itch. | F | 22 | 2 months | 7/4/2004 | 5 | genital warts | some swelling, redness, itching, some pimples on upper thighs | I am writing here because I know how much this forum had helped me a few weeks ago when I was trying to make an informed decision regarding the drug. I was so scared and alone at the time, especially after reading the attached information. However, Aldara worked for me and did so a lot faster than I was told it would. After 4 times, more than half the warts have gone. Yes there is some discomfort and side effects connected with this drug, however they are all a small price to pay for eventual relief. | F | 18 | 4 times | 7/1/2004 | 1 | genital warts | this was the worst thing to ever happen to me so far in my 24 years. i thought getting hpv was bad. well, when i went back for my check up to see how i was responding to the aldara, i told the doctor i was really sore and i didn't think i could get my next tca done. he told me it was because i had HERPES!!! i told him that couldn't be right. anyway he prescribed me meds and creams for herpes. meanwhile i got worse. my vaginal lips swelled four times larger!! i couldn't sit or walk, and i cried in pain when i peed. i did that last application on monday was in severe pain buy thursday now it's monday and it still hurts a little, but soooo much better. i wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. after research on the net i found out this type of reaction is extremely rare. i found out today i was negative for herpes. it was a horrible, horrible chemical burn from the aldara. thanks for nothing aldara!! | F | 24 | 1 weeks | 6/14/2004 | 3 | perianal warts | Very sick for a brief period of time, not sure if there was a connection to the Aldara or if it was just a virus... | Warts seem to be reacting to the medication. Expensive but potentially well worth the investment. No unusual pain or discomfort. | M | 32 | 3 weeks | 6/10/2004 | 1 | HPV | itching, burning | I have been using this medicine 3 times a week now for 5 weeks with no changes at all. It's very expensive and I'm not sure if I'm going to see any results. | F | 24 | 5 weeks | 5/11/2004 | 1 | Hand Warts | none | Didn't work for warts--did it for over 12 weeks on my hands as directed by dermatologist. Expensive and pointless. | F | 31 | 4 months | 5/4/2004 | 4 | HPV/genital warts | Mild itching and a bit of redness and puffiness, but nothing terrible | I've heard from a lot of people that this drug has horrible side effects, but so far I'm doing fine with the medication. It seems to be making the warts a lot smaller - actually they are pretty much gone at this point, so I don't really have any complaints at this point. | F | 22 | 2 weeks | 4/30/2004 | 3 | HPV | Horrible burning and itching, especially with erection, much soreness. Almost unbearable pain when washing genital area. Some very fluid discharge | Apart from all these concerns, warts seems to be getting smaller. Although Im not sure i can keep taking it because of side effects. Would rather get them burned off with liquid nitrogen | M | 21 | 1 weeks | 4/30/2004 | 2 | hpv | rash on scrotum, open sores on penis. itching, burning and loss of self worth. | have only just started it so cant judge the final results but i'm definately uncomfortable. | M | 31 | 3 weeks | 4/21/2004 | 1 | hpv | Burning, swelling, open sores on genital area | This was about the most horrible pain I have ever experienced. This is NOT worth it. I was unable to pass urine, or walk, or sit, without crying and screaming in pain for days. I would never willingly take this medication again. | F | 26 | 1 weeks | 4/6/2004 | 5 | For basal cell skin cancer | Sore muscles, general weakness, sore back, easier to pull a muscle or to strain my back, pain when doing my normal exercises, a few pimples on my body. | Aldara seems very effective for removing the basal cell skin cancer. I used it first about 3 years ago and judging visually there has been no reappearance. I have done 7 more cancers since then and all seem to be 100% clear. | M | 47 | 6 weeks | 4/5/2004 | 3 | hpv | fluish and fever. my penis is chaffed and itches. seem to be working not getting the burning that others get i just feel weak. | M | 29 | 21 days | 1/31/2004 | 2 | Kondolymes/worths down there | Agonizing pain. Almost impossible to passe urine. Pain pain pain!!! But worths seems to disappear. | Doctors should be ordrered by the manufacturer to warn and give better information related to how you should react to the side effects and when to throw in the towel. The pain is the worst I ever felt. I wish I had broken my leg or both in stead. | F | 21 | 2 weeks | 9/20/2003 | 1 | HPV | Horrible burning, itching, swelling and open sores on the vulva. Flu like symptoms. Ran a temperature of 104 for 2 days. | when I was prescribed this medication it was not explained that you are to keep the medicine on for up to 10 hours and then the area is to be thoroughly cleansed after those ten hours. | F | 28 | 2 weeks | 10/1/2002 |