User Reviews for imiquimod topical

This med seems to be working as the warts are getting smaller. The side effects are not so much fun; slight burning but the flu like symptoms are pretty bad. I'll be glad when the prescription has done it's work.

Pros: The cream worked very quickly for my stage 0 Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma. Cons: I ended up with shingles on my butt cheek. It was not a bad case of shingles however I was treated for the shingles immediately so I’m sure it could have been much worse if had I not seen a doc immediately.

Above lip treated. Second round of treatment daily till I see reaction. On day 5 lower lip began to swell day 6,7 developed full blister across bottom lip that burned like a hot iron. Only ice helped. Stopped use and sleep deprived from pain. Have been given prednisone and Pepcid to help reaction. No more topical for me.

This med has kicked my fanny...have had flu like symptoms and ZERO energy. Have stopped it now for about 2 weeks and still recovering from effects.

Adverse reactions!! Started this four weeks ago to treat sun damaged skin above right temple. Used this before a decade ago without incident aside from hideous red lesion it produces. This time it caused a rash across my chest and back. My arthritis in shoulders, lower back, hands and wrists has flared up since starting this treatment series. Also am experiencing low energy and increased dizziness. Was supposed to continue for another two weeks but I'm feeling so lousy and the redness is spreading down my cheek and towards my eye. I start to feel better during the rest days but then start down the tubes after resuming treatment, where the last day of the cycle is the worst. Am discontinuing this and hopefully the hideous scaly redness will give way to some better looking skin in a few weeks.Read More Read Less

Side effects!! Started using this on a sun damaged patch of skin above my right temple. Nasty rash formed on my chest and back. My arthritic joints have been severely aggravated after starting this. Right hand is nearly unusable. Low energy and dizzy. Noticed these symptoms abate during the two day rest period. Treated area is gross looking as expected but is starting the spread way outside the treated area towards my cheek and eye. Stopping after four weeks. Not worth feeling lousy day in and out. Have used this stuff years before without side effects but was younger then. Read More Read Less

I have used this off andon for 8 years. I respond well and the repeat lesions are much less. I have hundreds of AK lesions on face, arms, chest. We treat one area at a time, so it takes time. I hate the redness, itching and crustiness, but have no systemic effects. Why better than alternatives, i am a very pale skinned person who grew up in sunny CA. Now I never expose my skin to sun and look much better. It works, but has local effects. I mainly treat in winter. Face is all clear, chest has been longer treatment, but had worse disease. Read More Read Less

I have applied 4 times and the area itches and burns. My skin has a rash/reaction. Not sure if this is suppose to happen. Will call my dr on monday.

I had MOHS done on a BCC on the side of my nose about 14 years ago, and the surgeon was down to cartilage in two "shavings". He was a butcher! Then I had another show up on my cheek. I asked my dermatologist if there was another method and he put me on the Aldara. 6 weeks & it was gone - no side effects Fast forward to today. A new BCC on my temple. I am 4 weeks into treatment with same progress, but I am blimping up with water and my blood pressure is thru the roof. Just got a diuretic to see if that will help. Not sure whether or not the Aldara has caused this, but it is listed as a rare side effect. No matter, I will stay the course, because I won't get MOHS or the radiation treatment. This stuff does work.Read More Read Less

I don't yet know if it has worked on the scaly patches on my cheek. At present, after 4 applications, my face is a mess of draining pus-filled sores, swollen hard red bumpy skin. Looks too awful to go out. Plus I am running a fever and feel horrible. Have now discontinued (on doctor's advice).

After one week of using for genital warts, I experienced fatigue, fever, diarrhea, nausea and had no appetite. I felt like I was in a fog. I have missed one dose and now fill maybe 25 percent more normal. Not a good experience for me. At first I thought I had the flu and kept using it but finally realized it had to be the medication.

I wish they were bigger packages of it, pretty hard to use that little pack on half your face.I have some spots that feel like I had a zit on my face but it's the pre cancer. I've been taking it every day till all 48 treatments are done. Skin cancer sucks

I used the medication as directed with caution. Saw absolutely no response of any sort. Thought perhaps it might be a counterfeit and notified FDA. They are investigating.

I had a finger tip sized basal cell on my chest. After biopsy showed invasive basal cell I was given the option of MOHs or Aldara with both outcomes as equal. Dr said this would leave little to no scar. I am just finishing my third of six weeks of treatment. Area is now 6 cm with shingles like vesicles. It aches, itches, burns, and looks awful. Generalized arthralgia with some anorexia and headaches. Hard to believe from just this tiny bit of cream. I guess it's worth it if it works, I suppose this reaction means it's working. I also have one on my ankle but I have had no response to the cream on my ankle lesion. Three more weeks to go. Good to read other's responses, misery loves company.Read More Read Less

I used this cream for treatment of a planters wart. Worked great on the warts! The side effects are crazy though...the first week I was very sick, the second and third weeks I had extremely bad welts on my face. They went away once I stopped using the cream.

While using the medication I experienced many of the side effects enumerated within the article.

I used the cream on my entire face and chest for 9 days before I had to stop. I experienced nausea/vomiting/diarrhea. I have had dizziness and profound tiredness. I have ulcers on my lips which are extremely painful. I feel like I have the flu all the time. Think it is working on the pre-cancerous lesions though!!!

I've used this as needed for the past 15 years. It works as stated, and I've had no side effects with it. You do have to deal with the affected area as your body attacks it. It inflames, it can be itchy. You also have to consider it an open sore, so keep it clean, don't put it in stagnant water. Ointment and a small round bandage might help. I recently got a new prescription, and had 3 packets left over from prev prescript. I coated my forearms and had about 7-9 BCC's light up and faded away. That's 7-9 I would not need biopsied, so that's worth it in my book.Read More Read Less

Treated a BCC in nose bridge (couldn't afford the deductible for Mohs.) Also a small pre-cancerous patch under my lip. After 11 days a large area between nose and eye were ulcerated, inflamed and infected. Eye swollen half shut. Stopped treatment and started wound car/antibiotics but kept treating the lower lip lesion per MD instructions. 4 days later my upper AND lower lips are ulcerated. Paid $300 out-of-pocket for 24 pkts and used 4. My dermatologist says this "exuberant response" is a good thing. I am NOT so sure. Effudex wasn't this bad. Also have had headache/fatigueRead More Read Less