Imiquimod topical and Swelling: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Boo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 12, 2020

Imiquimod topical for Human Papilloma Virus "Tomorrow will be my 4th day of using Aldara. I had extreme body aches, headaches, and horrible nausea. While doing my research, I found that Aldara has this side effect, but I do also have a bladder infection (not related). My vagina is extremely red, swollen, itchy, and it looks as if my skin is melting. Let me not even get started on the burning when I pee, bear in mind I have a bladder infection, so my urine is very concentrated, so it burns so bad! My warts are going down, and I only take it every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, skipping the weekend. My treatment should last 4 weeks, but this pain is worse than a bad case of thrush. I hope it gets rid of all of my warts."

• Sta...
• June 23, 2017

Imiquimod topical for Keratosis "I am currently using Zyclara for a basal cell in my ear. I have had this before about 7 years ago and used Aldara at the time that completely cured it. I was prescribed this cream this time at my doc's recommendation because it is a little milder than Aldara and the skin is thinner in the ear. I have been using this now for 3 weeks without any breaks and have 3 more weeks to go as per my derm. I haven't had any flu-like symptoms, and side effects are just on the treated area: extreme swelling, raw skin, oozing, redness, slight burning, and scabbing. I started with one spot that looked like a pimple, and with the cream came many more. Once I'm done, I am hoping, obviously, that my basal cell is gone and my ear looks like an ear again."

• AGa...
• May 13, 2021

For Human Papilloma Virus "So when I started it, the area around the wart started getting inflamed on the second use only. By the third use, I noticed some yellow stuff coming off of the skin touching the wart, and it had become painful, so I gave it a break of 3 days. After a week, it healed. In week 2, it had become even bigger than I first started, probably because I started using it while it was still growing. I also started covering my extremely sensitive area with doctor tape so that when I apply the medicine on the wart, it doesn’t touch the sensitive area, which helped A LOT. However, the wart was still there. Fortunately, on the 3rd day of the 2nd week, half of it was gone, and by the 3rd week, it was gone like it was never there. This cream definitely works, and the pain was bearable and temporary. It needs to be used in a very small quantity, and if you feel that the pain is getting unbearable, just give yourself a break of 2-3 days after every week. Vaseline can be used in areas surrounding the wart to protect the good skin."

• Bar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 8, 2022

Imiquimod topical for Human Papilloma Virus "I got diagnosed with genital warts a few weeks ago. My doctor recommended Aldara. I thought the cost was unbearable for me, but I had to try it out as I had been told it's the best you can have for sensitive areas. I applied as the doctor had recommended, ensuring I maintained cleanliness down there to avoid infection. I had a really bad reaction to it (sores, itching, inflammation, and pain), but I knew I wanted to clear the warts. By the second week, the small warts had cleared, and now I'm only dealing with the warts on my labia minora. This cream is doing wonders. I'd thought my life of intimacy had come to an end, but now I'm hopeful to also clear the virus."

• Tpm...
• August 10, 2016

Imiquimod topical for Keratosis "I have been using this cream on the front of my ear for a week. There is swelling, itching, crusting, and so much oozing it will drip down my face. Around day 5, I started feeling tired and weak. Then, day 6 and 7, I have felt like I have the flu. I feel awful. Lymph nodes seem swollen, and my throat is sore. My lower back hurt as well one day, but not every day. I was worried the fluid dripped down into my ear canal. My doctor told me to stop using it and come back to see him in 3 weeks."

• CDW...
• February 10, 2018

For Keratosis "I am on day 11 and had to call 'uncle' last night. My doc had different instructions than what I am reading. It was for every day for 2 weeks. At day 7, he saw me and stated that I look like I may be one that has the more severe reaction. He stated for me to try and make it to the two weeks, but if not, just as long as I could stand it. It was for a lesion on my nose. I look like Rudolph, yes. It is very red, swollen, and blistery, yes. The skin is also thickening, and I look horrendous. I do have the flu-like symptoms and the very swollen glands, but what is making me stop is I started getting that histamine reaction you get when you are having an allergic reaction and everything got super itchy. With my nose already super swollen and my neck swollen from the swollen glands, I am not going to take any chances with breathing difficulty. My hope is that I have done enough treatment for this to work. If it works, it will be worth it, but I will be very reluctant if I have to do it again."

• Van...
• March 22, 2016

For Human Papilloma Virus "Recently, I have been told I have HPV because of the warts I got. The warts were extremely small but noticeable. The doctor gave me Zydara, I believe that's what it's called. It worked, but in the process, I was burning so bad. Come to find out, I burned my lips and they became swollen, it's so hard to walk. Please be careful."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 9, 2019

For Human Papilloma Virus "Most horrifying experience I’ve ever had. All started with a yeast infection, and I continued to have pain during sex after a month. Doctor found a small bump on my inner labia and assumed it was a wart, although all Pap smears were negative for HPV. Started using this cream, three nights a week. By my fifth application, I was in so much agonizing pain I couldn’t take it anymore. Extremely swollen. Very red. Sores all over inner labia. Hurts to walk, sit, shower, pee. Basically, any normal activities, I am now crying just to get through. I would NEVER recommend it to anyone. There is no way this should be on the market. Who knows what kind of damage this is doing to my vagina at this point? I can’t get any relief from the pain."

• sue...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 28, 2018

For Human Papilloma Virus "Lying in bed, up at night because of this medication. Was originally using apple cider vinegar to treat the few warts I had, but the process was slow and I wasn't sure if it was working. I went to my doctor and was prescribed this medication with zero information given to me on the possible side effects. I literally had to research them myself. Week 1 was good, but after week 1 I started feeling pain around the urethra opening, but it wasn't that bad, so I didn't think much of it. I continued taking the medication, but after 2 weeks I had to stop. I had developed blisters, swelling, and redness. My warts were starting to fade away up until that point, but I couldn't continue because of the pain. My vagina feels like a war zone. I just want it to clear up so I can go back to my normal life."

• Dan...
• February 4, 2016

For Human Papilloma Virus "I have 4 to 5 days using the imiquimod cream. The first days that I started using it, it was working pretty well and without pain. The cream even removed some of my flat warts that I have. But now it's very painful and I cannot walk. It burns when I'm going to take a shower or wipe in that area. Now, because I probably used too much in the area I wasn't supposed to be applying the imiquimod cream on, some parts of my inner vagina swell."

• Jea...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 11, 2015

Imiquimod topical for Keratosis "I've been on Zyclara close to a year. Only off of it for about 3 weeks in a year. My limbs are covered with hundreds of actinic keratosis, and I also have had squamous cell carcinoma removed. I am now experiencing swollen and tender lymph nodes under my arms and in my groin. Is this a side effect of the Zyclara, or is this a sign that the cancer, squamous cell, has spread? Any info would be appreciated."

• Joh...
• October 16, 2015

For Human Papilloma Virus "I just started using this cream, today is my third day. Funny thing is I have not one side effect like everybody talks about, no itching, no swelling, maybe 2% red but nothing. I'm starting to think maybe it's doing nothing for me. But let me give you a little background: I had these tiny bumps on the head of my penis for over 12 years, and since I can remember. No doctor ever told me that these were genital warts. I then went to this dermatologist last week, and he told me he wanted to do a sample on one of the bumps, and he said the lab came back that it was HPV. So now I'm taking this cream...hope it works."

• Not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 14, 2018

For Human Papilloma Virus "48 years old, married 15 years and a mom. Never had this and all of a sudden noticed 2 GW. Neither of us has been outside our marriage and was told this could have been in one of our systems for years. Used this medication, feel a burn, really red and swollen, but may have applied too much. Will use less and give another week to see any difference. This has really turned me off from sex!! HATE this."

• Don...
• January 25, 2018

For Human Papilloma Virus "I was instructed to apply Monday, Wednesday, Friday. I went to the doctor on Tuesday and applied Wednesday, Friday as prescribed and had mild irritation. I took the third dose on Monday and the one small wart I had significantly shrunk, but three days later I have sores on either side of the lips of the vagina and am in so much pain. It is raw and swollen and has created these ulcer-like lesions that burn terribly while urinating. I only used the medicine three times, always applying to only the wart using the smallest amount and still am having a severe reaction. My doctor prescribed me lidocaine gel, which helps the burn slightly. If you have a wart that is along the lining of your lips or inside the vaginal opening, avoid this medicine. Worst pain ever."

• Lou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 26, 2025

Imiquimod topical for Condylomata Acuminata "Four weeks and my warts are pretty much gone! Yes, you have to be incredibly patient, and it can be incredibly uncomfortable, but it does what it says. Key things I noticed - inflammation, red, raw, and cold-like symptoms. Always felt fatigued the next day during weeks 2-3. But I really saw a difference from week 3 to week 4. Noticed I have some internal warts that I don’t think are appropriate for Aldara, so getting those frozen off, but the combination I think is great. I would use this again - especially if I catch them early and they don’t morph into anything bigger. Unfortunately, I was traveling, so I let them grow quite considerably."

• Cru...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 10, 2022

Imiquimod topical for Human Papilloma Virus "This treatment regimen was a real test of endurance. I used this to treat some small warts around the anus and the groin, which appeared after I had a large wart in the groin removed through surgery. This treatment was really tough going and only really started to work after 11 weeks. To be honest, I thought it would work sooner if it was going to work, and also because I had a lot of inflammation, weeping, and rawness. I also bled quite a bit and had to repeatedly stop the treatment. I got to about 14 weeks before I had to quit because I wasn’t healing anymore and the pain was too much, but after a few weeks of stopping, I am pretty much back to normal, which I honestly never thought would happen, especially as treatment caused one of my small warts to get quite swollen. Because of the location, it was difficult to be sparing with application, which probably contributed to symptoms. I used one sachet per week and kept it in a zip lock bag in the fridge because it's not cheap, and this worked for me."

• ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 13, 2023

For Human Papilloma Virus "I was diagnosed with GW after a single unusual 'growth' just inside my vaginal opening that was causing a lot of itching. First saw a doctor for it a year ago, had it biopsied 6 months ago, and still have several months before I can see a GYN. With a couple more warts in the same location and the itching getting unbearable, I finally got Imiquimod Rx through a telehealth site. I have been using it for a week (3rd application was tonight). The day after the first application, I had a strong reaction: swelling, soreness, sensitivity. After the second, I had some burning and more swelling. Got some benzocaine to relieve it. I've applied liberally, which I realize I shouldn't now. But the first stubborn wart that started it all is GONE. Totally gone! I am shocked. So worth the irritation! I do seem to have some more popping up but will keep using it, just a little more carefully. Freaking amazing!"

• bea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 27, 2019

Imiquimod topical for Human Papilloma Virus "Used Aldara for genital warts, three times a week, and all was well at first. Wart size was beginning to decrease, and after a couple of months, I started burning down there. Looked only to see how swollen and red it was. Not using it again."

• ami...
• March 8, 2016

For Human Papilloma Virus "I'm using aldara and now it's my 4th day using this. I hope it works, but I feel inside is swelling and reddish and a little bit itchy in my labia. I have also... I hope it works."