Aldara (Imiquimod)

Aldara Review

Aldara Cream is used to treat external genital and perianal warts and is different from most other treatments. It is a patient-applied cream that helps the body fights the virus instead of just getting rid of the warts. So Aldara Cream actually treats warts from the inside out.

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Aldara Drug Class and Mechanism

The exact mechanism of action in which imiquimod and its analogs activate the immune system is not yet known. Nevertheless, it is known that imiquimod activates immune cells by ligating the toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7), commonly involved in pathogen recognition, on the cell surface.Cells activated by imiquimod via TLR-7 secrete cytokines (primarily interferon-? (IFN-?), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-? (TNF-?)). There is evidence that imiquimod, when applied to skin, can lead to the activation of Langerhans cells, which subsequently migrates to local lymph nodes to activate the adaptive immune system. Other cell types activated by imiquimod include natural killer cells, macrophages and B-lymphocytes.

Aldara Uses

Imiquimod is a patient-applied cream used to treat certain diseases of the skin, including skin cancers (basal cell carcinoma, Bowen's disease, superficial squamous cell carcinoma, some superficial malignant melanomas, and actinic keratosis) as well as genital warts (Condylomata acuminata). Imiquimod comes as a topical cream in unit-of-use packages. It is important to wash your hands before and after applying imiquimod to your skin. One packet of imiquimod is used to apply a thin layer of cream to the wart area three times per week, just before going to sleep. A schedule of Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday is suggested. Rub the cream into the skin until no more cream is visible. Do not put any covering on the area. Imiquimod should be left on the skin for 6 to 10 hours. Upon waking, wash the area with mild soap and water to remove excess cream. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use imiquimod exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Aldara Side Effects

The most common side effects with Aldara Cream are skin reactions at the treatment site including:
- redness,
- swelling,
- a sore, blister, or ulcer,
- skin that becomes hard or thickened,
- skin peeling,
- scabbing and crusting,
- itching,
- burning,
- changes in skin color that do not always go away.

Aldara Pregnancy

Aldara Overdose

Topical overdosing of Aldara Cream could result in an increased incidence of severe local skin reactions and may increase the risk for systemic reactions. The most clinically serious adverse event reported following multiple oral imiquimod doses of > 200 mg (equivalent to imiquimod content of > 16 packets) was hypotension, which resolved following oral or intravenous fluid administration.

Aldara More Information

Keep all appointments with your doctor. Imiquimod is for external use only. Avoid sexual contact while the cream is on the skin. Imiquimod may also weaken condoms and vaginal diaphragms.