Imiquimod topical for Human Papilloma Virus User Reviews (Page 2)

• Pru...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2019

Imiquimod topical "Female, age 53, after an operation to remove the bad cells, I have been prescribed Aldara cream to use 3 times a week. I actually feel like I’m being tortured, the burning and stinging are unbearable in such a sensitive place. It’s making me feel terrible. I have got to use this for 16 weeks for VIN3, and I am going back to my specialist on Thursday. Anyone have any suggestions for what I can do? x."

• liv...
• October 26, 2020

Imiquimod topical "I got prescribed Aldara by my local sexual health clinic to treat genital warts. I thought my warts were the end of the world until I used Aldara. After applying the cream twice (as directed, only on the warts and every other night, washing it off in the morning), boy, did I regret my life choices. My entire vagina swelled up the following day, and ulcer-type sores appeared everywhere in that area. I couldn’t move without being in excruciating pain, and I almost passed out every time I peed. I ended up in the hospital on a 7-day course of antibiotics, as well as dihydrocodiene to manage the pain. Stay away from this cream - it should not be prescribed!!! After doing extensive reading online about Aldara, I quickly realized that so many people had been through the same as me. The warts eventually go away on their own, or there are other treatments such as freezing them off. Please, please stay away from this cream."

• War...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 10, 2014

"I had hundreds of warts all over me. I was advised to use this cream despite the fact that its use on a large scale hadn't been tested. I'll admit that it took lots of packets to complete the whole treatment, but in four months, every single wart was completely gone. There wasn't a single spot left. This cream worked where every other treatment, including surgery, did not."

• Chu...
• May 15, 2015

"I really screwed up with this medication. I put too much on and just thought the burning was it working. I had one small anal wart and thought I would 'go hard or go home.' I went hard with the cream, and I had a horrible reaction to it. My skin was so raw I could not walk. If water touched it in the shower, it was a pain unlike any I have felt. Washing it burned, sitting hurt, walking hurt, sneezing hurt, going to the restroom was painful beyond belief, everything made it hurt. Just be very careful and only apply a tiny amount to the affected area. Don't be stupid like me. It does work great, but can be unbearably painful if used wrong. It will heal if you do go overboard, but it takes a week or so of pampering."

• Eri...
• June 15, 2017

"This drug works well at killing warts, but it's best to start with the tiniest amount to check how your body responds to it and then ramp it up if you don't get a strong response. I didn't follow the boilerplate '3 times a week' usage guidance because this was too slow for me. I used it every day and amply, until after about 1 week when the 'blistering' effect started to kick in, then I backed off. The negative reviews from people who got bad reactions are missing the point a little. The whole idea of the drug is to ramp up an immune response in the area you apply it. The red blistering/rash/swelling, etc. is precisely what you want: this is the immune system doing its work."

• Fre...
• September 12, 2017

"Long story short. Imiquimod is the best thing that ever happened to me! It got rid of my unsightly, nasty genital warts and boosts my immune system to fight them always. I felt strange my first use, my heart beats fast, head hurts, areas of my genitals swelled up and caused warts on other areas. When that happens, your viral load is HIGH! Now I look down there, and my confidence is back, all thanks to this special drug. I wish some people would stop downing it. Without imiquimod, there would be no help for my condition."

• Its...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2017

"I was prescribed Zyclara about 3 weeks ago, instructed to put it on once daily for 8 weeks. Look, I'm not going to sugarcoat it. This cream is meant to take action and get rid of your unwanted skin virus symptoms, so yes, there will be tingles, maybe some burning, and definitely some soreness, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. A little goes a long way, and for me, it takes a couple of days to show results, but the key is it does! I take 'heal days' if needed and take care of myself by eating right and taking multivitamins. I went to weekly freezing prior, which eventually worked but came back, but so far with the cream, no returns! One more stubborn one to go! Don't be scared to try it, and don't give up. Your life is not over :)"

• mal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 20, 2019

Imiquimod topical "I got HPV despite having safe sex from an erotic massage place. The sample analysis resulted in HPV 16 and 56, which are both high risk. The doctor removed them by cauterization - a horrible process. A year later, I realized I still have a couple of small points. I used Aldiq, which is basically another brand of Aldara made in Italy, and it had great results. With one box - 3 times a week, they almost disappeared. I became a bit obsessed with this, and now I'm checking my penis with a magnifying glass and noticed that there is a little bit of affected tissue which is healing very slowly. Aldara basically made the first layer of the skin dry, and I think it's forcing the area to regenerate. I gave it a 9. Important - I used it Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the evening after a shower and after I've let my body cool down. I think it's important for the affected area to be inspected with a magnifying glass, which some dermatologists have. Hang in there. It will take some time, but we'll get over it :)"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 18, 2015

"I have been using this cream for a month now, and I see results, most of my g warts are gone. It takes time and patience. I know it's an embarrassing disease to have, but there is hope, it's not a death sentence. So far, this cream is working for me. I noticed it does cause irritation if you overdo it, but other than that, I recommend it."

• L B...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2014

"It works, but it hurts! This is my fourth day using it, and I'm seeing results. The first three days, it itched and made the warts more pronounced and sore (my doctor told me to use it every day and not three times a week.). Today, I've noticed significant changes. A large cluster of about four is gone, but the skin is really irritated. I think there's like three left, but they're not that big. I'm so sore, but at least they're going away. Suggestions: Take a Benadryl before you apply the cream. Decrease the itching, and it'll knock you out. Protect your skin with Vaseline. Get some sterile bandages to cover your 'healing' areas between applications because you will have some... drainage... I guess that's the right word."

• Anonymous
• May 3, 2019

"Used imiquimod for HPV (a couple of genital warts) for 1 month at three times a week. After applying 2 times, I started noticing an intense itch/burn in the treated area. Aloe gel would cool and soothe the itch/burn, then started using ice packs, quit using toilet paper, and have a bottle of water to rinse with instead. The itch is everywhere. Started applying Emla cream 2.5% lidocaine to all areas (local anesthetic). Freezing it stops the itch and numbs the burn. Realizing the itch is all new warts coming to the surface. I'm well into my 4th week. Been told 6 weeks use from the day started, but with each continuous outbreak, your 6 weeks starts over. No less than 15, with the hood of my clitoris being the center of about 80% of them. I now use witch hazel, calamine, vitamin E, and a 5% lidocaine med called Jampocaine. I still wake in the night scratching from new ones breaking out. Horrible experience right from the start. Need this to be gone. Huge hit to my confidence. The pain literally consumes me. I even went back to the gyno. He looked, said it's bad, but it's doing its job. So I'm sticking it out."

• Ano...
• April 14, 2015

"This cream is one of the most painful and agonizing treatments I have ever received, however, if you are willing to put up with insatiable itching, burning, feeling like you have the flu, and being unable to catch your breath, it is 100% worth it. For me, the few months of pain are worth it to get rid of the embarrassment and self-disgust at having GW. I'm just starting to recover from the treatment and have gone from maybe 30 to around 5 tiny ones (I have an immunity disorder, so I was unable to fight the virus myself and it spread so quickly). Fantastic treatment, absolute agony, but well worth it if you can put up with it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 22, 2016

"This stuff works for GW. I was diagnosed about three months ago, and I tried acid 3x before to burn them off. It seemed like it irritated them, and more would pop up. Started using this cream 3 weeks ago on MWF nights, and all my GW are gone!!! Other things I think helped were taking an immune system booster supplement, drinking water, and rubbing coconut oil for the in-between days (Tues. Thur.) for the itching and the dryness that the cream causes... All together, I'm pleased with the results, and the side effects weren't any worse than the regular itch that you get from general warts.. Sticking with this routine really helped me, and I hope this is helpful to someone else. GW are not forever!!!"

• Pop...
• January 2, 2020

Imiquimod topical "I had a GW 12 days ago, at first, it's small, flat, white warts. So, my OB prescribed me Aldara 3-5 times a day for 10 days and some antibiotics 2 times a day for 10 days. On the 4th day of my application, I felt burning and redness down there until 2 small blisters showed up between the small warts. I also felt side effects similar to the other experience, a fever-like feeling. On the 8th day, the small white wart vanished, but the 2 small blisters still remain. I’m totally freaking out. On the 9th day, 1 blister got bigger and turned out to be white, as well as the other small blister. On the 10th day, when I visited my doctor, she told me to stop the cream and prescribed me multivitamins. She told me to get surgery or burn the warts when I decide. On the 11th day, I stopped using Aldara, but the two white blisters are still there. And still, my V is swollen. I don't know what to do anymore. Will this white blister still go away because I stopped using Aldara already? Any same case as mine? Need help."

• Ele...
• August 20, 2014

"For all people who have genital warts, my only advice is: use Aldara cream. It's amazing. I had three warts, one big and two small ones. I went to see the gynecologist, she gave me this cream. After three applications, everything is gone. I don't have any more. However, I still have some of them inside, that's what the pap smear shows. But the inside ones need different therapy. Aldara cleared all my outside warts in one week. Don't hesitate, use it, but you need to check with your doctor if you have other warts inside."

• Bre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 4, 2014

"I was very nervous using this, reading what other people have experienced with side effects. I decided to try it under advisement from my gynecologist. I have 4 small warts. One on my labia, one just inside of it, 2 around my anus. I've been using imiquimod for about 10 days, 3 times a week, 6 hours at a time. In that time, I have seen SIGNIFICANT changes in the 2 on my vaginal area. They are almost completely gone. The other two are being a little more stubborn. I wanted to share some good comments about this medication after being so worried about it myself before. Zero skin irritation. I've had some 'flu-like' symptoms, but nothing unbearable. I'm very happy to see these 'aliens' shrink away. Try it before you knock it!"

• Spi...
• October 25, 2012

"This cream really is a miracle. The first few times I used it on my warts, I did not pay attention to only putting it on the warts, I applied it to the general area, and the itching was unbearable. But after paying closer attention to my application, my warts have very noticeably gotten smaller or disappeared after only two weeks of treatment. My side effects were itching, slight sting when applying, slight swelling, and just some overall discomfort. But the side effects were nothing compared to being on a wart-free track!"

• Gen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 26, 2019

Imiquimod topical "I had genital warts. I decided to try Aldara and hope for the best. After reading loads of reviews about crazy side effects, I was a bit worried, but my experience has been great. It says to use each sachet only once, but I get at least 3/4 uses out of each. I’ve had no burning and minimal scabbing of the skin, only a slight bit of redness around the affected area. After 2 weeks, the warts began to shrink rapidly and disappeared in the 3rd week! Just ensure you follow the instructions and complete the course (~16 weeks), as I’ve noticed a lot of people have stopped using it once the warts disappear, and then they come back straight away. It cost me £70 for the whole course."

• Lem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 31, 2019

Imiquimod topical "I had genital warts on my anus. I was so terrified when I noticed something strange round the back. When I checked through the mirror, there was a small tiny round thing, and I didn't know what it was. I went directly to check on Google what it was, and I got shocked! I have been so depressed knowing that I have genital warts. I went to the dermatologist, and he did cryotherapy, it worked. Around 3 days, my small tiny thing was gone. I had sexual intercourse, and it came back. I didn't tell my dermatologist, but he told me that it may come back, so he prescribed Aldara to me for 3 weeks every other day. And now I'm 2 years wart-free. This product really works. No pain. No hassle."

• Nor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 30, 2016

"Imiquimod is amazing! I found out I had HPV last week, and I had one small wart plus some textured areas where it seemed as if more were forming. I was prescribed Imiquimod, and one week later, all of the texture is gone, the area is smooth, and the one raised small wart is pretty much gone! I had no side effects other than a little sensitivity and 'rawness' on the site of application, but totally worth it. However, I have been taking very good care of myself: eating well and getting sufficient rest, so I can boost my immune system to help fight the outbreak. It's nice to feel back to 'normal.'"

• Hap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 16, 2016

"So, I have to admit I was really surprised when I was diagnosed with HPV. I had had two sexual partners, kept up to date on regular Pap tests, and even received the most recent vaccines against the virus (Gardasil 9). But it happened. I found one abnormality inside my vaginal opening. It didn't even really look like a wart, it was so small. But it wasn't there before. So I went in to see my doctor, and yep, low-risk HPV. Prescribed Aldara. I was told to apply it daily for one week. After the first four applications, it was almost gone! Very happy. But because of the location, it chemically burned my skin in nearby areas. Very painful. But it works! I also eat healthy and take vitamins. My boyfriend was incredibly supportive as well."

• abc...
• April 11, 2021

Imiquimod topical "Always wondered if I would ever get to leave a review on here. After 8 months, I finally stopped using Aldara. To be honest, I don't even know if it was the cream or just time that got rid of the warts. I never had a huge outbreak, but they were stubborn. It started with two bigger ones. They decreased in size after using the cream but never really went away. I ripped most of them off, to be honest. I know how you guys feel. I was severely depressed during this time. Side effects were nonexistent in the beginning, but after some time they were horrible: my skin got so thin that it ripped all the time (I mean huge tears like after giving birth), I've had constant yeast infections and couldn't pee without being in pain (put your hands on the floor while peeing, thank me later). I don't want to scare anyone, but I was fooled by reviews that promised me that it would all be gone after a month. You're normal, not alone, and you will eventually fight it."

• max...
• March 15, 2017

Imiquimod topical "I'm fighting HPV for a year and a half now. Aldara works, but it takes a long time. Be patient, it might burn you sometimes. Make sure the area is clean and dry. Avoid using tea tree oil or ACV while on Aldara therapy."

• XXX...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 28, 2020

Imiquimod topical "In the first week of using this cream, I felt no difference, although now I’m in my second week (I apply Mon, Wed, Fri for 16 weeks), and I’ve got a sore throat and sneezing, also, down there burns and itches like anything! I’ve noticed swelling around the surrounding area of the wart (I only have one), but I have noticed it’s decreasing in size slowly but surely! To reduce the itchiness, take two showers per day (no scented shower gels) to keep them clean. Also, if you can, don’t wear underwear as the friction can make it more painful. For the pain while urinating, take a cup or jug and rinse off with cool water! Although the pain is unbearable sometimes, try and stick it out. :)"

• Ano...
• March 13, 2016

"I had about 13 small warts around my anus and the opening to the vagina. I was prescribed Aldara (Imiquimod) and told it would fight the virus from within and was better than freezing them off. My doctor had said that it could possibly take up to three months to work. Well, only two applications in and they're almost gone! I cannot believe they are disappearing so quickly. I had read many horror stories about the side effects, itching, sores, etc. My own experience is that, yes, it does get very itchy (I resisted the urge to scratch), but that itch lasted for approx. an hour and then dies down. I had no burning sensation, but I guess it depends on the individual. Overall, I am thrilled with the product. The expense was worth it."