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ALDARA
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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.
How Taken
Aldara cream is easy to use at home. It's rubbed on the warts and left on during sleeping hours. Then it's washed off after waking. Use Aldara Cream exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Aldara Cream is for skin use only. Do not take by mouth or use in or near your eyes, lips or nostrils. Do not use Aldara Cream unless your healthcare provider has taught you the right way to use it. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any questions. Aldara Cream is used for several skin conditions. Use Aldara Cream only on the area of your body to be treated. Your healthcare provider will tell you where to apply Aldara cream and how often and for how long to apply it for your condition. Do not use Aldara Cream longer than prescribed. Using too much Aldara Cream, or using it too often, or for too long can increase your chances for having a severe skin reaction or other side effect. Talk to your healthcare provider if Aldara Cream does not work for you. For external genital and perianal warts Aldara Cream is usually used once a day for 3 days a week. For these conditions, Aldara Cream is usually left on the skin for 6 to 10 hours. Treatment should continue until the warts are completely gone, or up to 16 weeks. For actinic keratosis, Aldara Cream is usually used once a day for 2 days a week. For this condition, Aldara Cream is usually left on the skin for about 8 hours. Treatment should continue for the full 16 weeks even if all actinic keratoses appear to be gone, unless you are told otherwise by your healthcare provider. The area you treat with Aldara Cream should be no larger than approximately the size of your forehead or one cheek (for example 2 inches).
Warnings/Precautions
If you notice severe skin irritation or flu-like symptoms (diarrhea, fatigue, fever, headache, or muscle pain), check with your doctor. It may be necessary for you to reduce the number of times a day that you use the medicine or to stop using the medicine for a short time until your skin is less irritated or your flu-like symptoms disappear. Avoid having genital, oral, or anal sex while the medicine is on your skin. Make sure you wash the cream off your skin before you engage in any sexual activity. Also, the medicine contains oils that can weaken latex (rubber) condoms, diaphragms, or cervical caps causing them not to work properly to prevent pregnancy. Do not use any other skin product on the same skin area on which you use this medicine, unless directed otherwise by your doctor. Do not share your medicine with others, even if you think that they have the same condition you have. If you are pregnant, check with your health care provider.
Missed Dose
Apply the missed dose of cream as soon as you remember and then continue on the regular schedule.
Possible 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.
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