User Reviews for Zyclara topical

This is my 2nd time in 2 years using Zyclara. Much easier than previous meds, but by day 12 I had to stop. My face was painful and full of infected spots from being so raw. Dr. suggested using a washcloth soaked in water and vinegar kept in refrigerator. It works well! Just lay it on sore spots and it takes away the pain and helps heal your face. Just started part two of the latest 6 week round. After just one night my face is already red again and bothering me. It's going to be a long 2 weeks, but it is better than surgery! Trust me, I have had 3 major surgeries on my face for basal cell, and it is much harder than putting up with this. I've had a headache and want to hide in the house, but I force myself to go out. If people stare, just say you have skin cancer and they change their view! Good luck to everyone and I wish us all a happy healthy life without cancer.Read More Read Less

I just finished my second two weeks this morning and I am so glad to be DONE. ;) I had a much stronger reaction this time, however I didn't feel as sick as I did the first two weeks. I ended up with a lot more sores on my face, but I didn't have the nickel sized open sores that I did last time. The old areas reacted again, but they were only raised, red sores instead of open, weeping ones. However, all of the new ones turned into scabby messes and were (are) very, very tender. I have had to take off most of this week from work because my face hurts so badly that it's hard to concentrate on anything else. I have also had the headache again and general fatigue, but I was only nauseous a few days this time. I had a couple of dizzy spells, but it was manageable. After doing this twice, for me at least, the side effects tend to depend on if you have open sores or not. If the medicine ends up in your blood stream, you are really going to feel rotten, but if it just sits on your skin (like it is supposed to), it's not a pleasant experience, but not nearly as bad as it could be. I do look awful, in fact strangers have been giving me looks of horror when I venture out in public. Also, when I went to the dermatologist, no one would sit near me, which is really saying something. If I ever have to do this again, I want to make myself a button that says "I'm not contagious". ;) When I saw the derm doc a couple of days ago and he said that I reacted strongly to the medicine, but he really thought that it would buy me a few years (at least) of not having to have areas cut/frozen off of my face. I sincerely hope he is right! Only time will tell of course, but I am hoping it took care of my trouble spots.Read More Read Less

Doctor told me to put this crap on my face for two weeks then stop..after 6 to 7 days I have red raised bumps on my once clear face except but cryo-ed sun spots. This stuff is crap. I would rather have cryo-ed spots for a few days than these soon to be lesions that this stuff is making. Arghhhhhh!!!

I am a freckled redhead who had a couple of bad burns when I was younger and I'm now dealing with AKs on my forehead, temples and above my lips. I've also had a number of other areas frozen/cut off over the years and it looks like this will be a way of life for me. I've already tried Photodynamic Therapy twice, which helped some of the areas, but didn't seem to work very well for me. (For those of you who want to try PT, it's not a terrible experience, but you REALLY have to stay out of the light for 48 hours.) As far as the Zyclara treatment went, I have only used it for the first 14 days and I'll be starting the second 14 day treatment this weekend. I put it all over the top half of my face at night and was careful to cover my lips with Aquaphor. I also purchased waterproof pillow protectors so that the cream wouldn't get embedded in my pillows at night. The first week, some small red spots popped up and my skin felt raw, but it really didn't too look bad. I did have a terrible headache, felt queasy and had some dizzy spells, but I could still work and do normal things. By the second week, I had quite a few nickel-sized open sores, which would weep (gross) and it really hurt to wash my face. I also felt considerably worse, I had no energy at all and I was freezing all of the time. I also ended up being very depressed, which is really unlike me, so that was another unwelcome side effect. Shortly before stopping Zyclara, I also ended up with flu-like symptoms for over a week, including sinus issues and general malaise. Surprisingly, the sores on my face did heal rather quickly once I was done with the treatment and I used Polysporin on them to help fight infection. I am still dealing with quite a bit of flaking and I have large red areas on my face, but I can easily cover them with makeup. Overall, I think it's an effective way to deal with skin cancer without having to have surgery and I'm glad I had this option.Read More Read Less

Was prescribed for precancerous lesions. I have just finished my first 14 days. I do have various sores on my face, but I feel that they are not too troublesome. What has been bothering me the most is that my lower lip is one giant cold sore. Never had a cold sore before. It is painful!! If not fully healed before I have to do the second round, I may delay the second round. Will be calling my doc for advice.

Well I am at day 14, finally,nausea at night, headaches, and treated areas ( forehead and chest ) have developed sores. Initially started treatment on upper lip as well, but reaction was way too severe unable to continue, developed cold sores???? never had them before, hurts like heck. Hope to heal and continue the second round of 14 days, sorta scared, if its worse than this might not be able to handle it. Looking forward to the end result.

Was prescribed from 4 different dermatologists in Miami area due to past recurring skin cancers on my face. Was afraid this would be too strong a med but finally did treatment of 2wk on, 2wk off, 2wk on. First 4 weeks had little reaction. Small red spots. Last 2 weeks had greater reaction, larger and more red spots which are dry and flaky. Side effects - headache during the night. No other effects. Cant speak to satisfaction until the next few years show no reoccurring of skin cancer.

My condition being treated is actinic ketatosis. I had to stop use after 10 days due to a severe reaction...incapacitating flu symptoms with constant chills and fever for 5 days at this point. My face, neck, and jawline look like a terrible bee sting reaction. My Dr. says it's normal, but I am very concerned about the risks in doing the second two weeks on. I am also very concerned about long-term effects of the 10 days I've already done. I recommend reading very closely the adverse reactions before agreeing to do this regimen...especially with this type of drug being fairly new.Read More Read Less

I'm on my 5th week. I started noticing results on week 3. You have to be careful that you don't leave cream on anything except the wart, or it will burn the skin. I'm lucky because I only have 1 small wart, so I expect another 2 weeks and then I'll be completely clear. I was not advised to use the cream only 3 times a week. Now, I'm only using the cream 3 times a week because it burned my skin around my wart and made a small scab. But overall, it's doing its damn job, so I'm satisfied.

As of this comment I am on day 10 of treatment. After four nights of no sleep I now apply cream during daytime hours. On the fifth day began with blisters on lower lip. If the raw lip and constant headache are the only side affects then I will make it through. The breakouts on my face are from mild to severe, but they do change from day to day. I plan on sticking with the treatment. that's what I get for worshipping the sun.

don't do it. had to stop day 10. back pain was intense. flu-like, body ache, my facem looks like burn victim. not worth it

am rx this for 7 days on and 7 days off. after reviewing the comments by others, I am afraid to use this med. am rx to use this for several months this way.

it's day 12 and my original carcinoma is an open ulcer, with bleeding places all around it...I am discontinuing the zyclara...am under the supervision of a dermatologist...

Treating several AK's on face & forehead. After three days red spots began to show seeming to uncover previously unseen AK's. By 6 days of treatment spots were extremely sore and painfull. I seemed to develop symptoms of being tortured. Whole body nerves affected. Took a day off, which afforded some recovery, then continued. Other symptoms developed as treatment continued; fatigue, flu like sore muscles, pain and itching at sites, whole body discomfort. I'm now experiencing third day after ending 2 wk treatment. lesions turned crusty at first, now itchy and tending to bleed. Sleeping on soft paper towels to absorb. No signs of recovery yet. Haven't decided whether to submit myself to this torture again. Has anyone experienced a second round? Is it as bad as the first? Is there a recovery?Read More Read Less

I made it to day 12 of 14 and called my doctor b/c I had missed work b/c of open lesions. Nausea was bad at night andin morning sometimes throughout the day. bad itching amd mostly these look like blackend bloody sores on forehead and over face that don't seem to be healing. Similar to a ciggarette burn. Today is day 16.I can't put make-up over it..too irritating and I can't leave the house. Wish it would start to heal. I will not do the recomended last 2 week dosing.

after use of product for 14 days, red sores in the afected area, back hurts, bloating, area is sore to the touch, headache.

I started having headaches on the 8yh evening of applications and a running nose and general sineis issues.

After 10 treatments, I experienced nausa, vomiting,fatigue,& back pain.I continued the 14 treatments and have large, red sores all over my face.

I used it for 8 of the recommended 14 days. That was all I could tolerate. Severe skin blisters and severe crusting of the skin. Left bloody open sores in places. Left eye swelled shut. 14 day recommendation is too much.