User Reviews for Imiquimod topical

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

I had a very severe allergic reaction to Imiquimod. I was prescribed the cream to apply to a mole on my right arm that my dermatologist had diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma. I applied the cream on the mole as directed- once a day, five days a week. About two weeks into treatment, my arms and calves began to feel itchy. Within a week, the itchiness had spread to my chest. I was also developing small bumps that looked like white head pimples on my chest. The third week I discontinued using the cream, but now the bumps had spread up my chest to my neck and face, as well as to my upper back. The iching became more frequent, to the point where I was so uncomfortable that I could not sleep at night without a sedative. After about two weeks of stopping the use of the cream, my face and neck cleared up and the bumps began to fade. However the itchy skin persisted, as did a few of the bumps on my chest and back. My allergist prescribed prednisone to try to clear these final effects, and it worked- the itching and bumps went away. However, once the steroid was gone, the bumps and itchiness came back. I am now eight weeks from the last time I used imiquimod cream, and the bumps and itching are still here. Planning another visit to the allergist to see what other options I might have.Read More Read Less

Cleared up the Actinic Keratosis on my lip. It is very easy to apply. The side effects for me were terrible. I have aching joints and fatigue. My lip is a mess. My bottom lip is one big scab. I have oozing sores and very painful on my lip...top and bottom. I wake up to my lips stuck together and blood and fluids on my pillowcase. I'm trying to remind myself it's better than the other options, laser and surgery.

Superficial BCC, small spot on chest. Taking this 5 days a week for 6 weeks. Im on week 3 and hadn't really noticed any major side effects until now. Currently experiencing nausea & diaherrea and VERY dry lips. Cant put enough chapstick on! Headaches daily since the day I started the cream. No darkening or scabbing yet as others have reported. Not sure if that means it isn't "working" yet or not. I will update review at the end of my 6 weeks.

I had actinic keratosis on chest, face, shoulders, lips. I have been using imiquomod for over a year, off and on as tolerated, restating sites of treatment. I have a strong reaction, including open lesions with bleeding. However, it cleared up over 100 lesions. I have had recurrence as 10% of lesions recur. I have excepted this is lifetime treatment. The worst is on my lips, and treatment is painful.

Perscribed for two nearly invisible AK spots on face. Now done 12 days of first round. As advertised: starts working day 1 with very mild pain, redness, progresses to VERY pronounced darker area, then scab-like. DEFINITELY an immune reaction working, affecting only the AK tissue even deep under the surface. Doing the job so far. Amazing action for a topical. Downside: looks like I was hit with a tire iron. That part not explained to me. Otherwise might have just gone for the freeze thing, if it's going to scar.Read More Read Less

Been on Imiquimod 5% cream for BCC on face fwd of LH ear for a little over 1 wk. Following prescription schedule of 5 days on, off Sat Sun. Will continue for another 5 weeks. Apply nightly with Q-tip. Area is slightly swollen, redness, slight pain, itching, scabbing, tender to touch, and looks horrible. Must be working as planned, effects match expectations.

Have been using 5% for a month now,and have yet to see any results on my warts.

I was prescribed Imiquimod (Aldara) in 2009 for several genital warts 3 times weekly for 6 weeks by my gynekologist. After the 6th treatment I became very weak, my vagina swell up to the size and colour of half a capsicum and I became severe sinusitis (in summer!). Therefore I stopped the treatment. It took several weeks for my sinuses and vaginal swelling to dissappear. Since then I am permanently left with LOSS OF SMELL! In order to find out whether this was a coincident I started treatment again in 2011. When I became the same symptoms again within 2 days of the first application I stopped. I CAN NOT RECOMMEND this drug. Doctors and Pharmacists were not able to warn me of this drug due to lack of necessary information.Read More Read Less

Treating 2 BCC on leg. Itches, burns, shock like feeling thru leg. Leg aches. Had to take tylonal too often for pain & discomfort. Dr says it is working good, and will not leave a scar. It is horrible looking and starting to smell. Don't know if I would go through this treatment again.

Within 2 days of using this on my chest it starts reddening. Third day it starts itching and gets worse from there. I used it on my right chest first and had to quit after 1 week due to blistering SO bad. If I can afford more I'll keep trying --maybe!

I used it 7 days a week for 5 weeks and it had absolutely no effect on my skin. I had blocked the time on my calendar, now I have to redo for another 6 weeks with fluoroplex and have a busy schedule.

This drug has causesd nausea, diarrhea, and weakness.

I have been on this for 3 weeks now, every night on warts on my hands. I have seen absolutely NO change at all. Very frustrating. I will be calling my dermatologist on Monday! :(

PAIN, SWELLING ITCHING, STINGING, IN A MASK LIKE AREA OF MY FACE, PLUS A FEW ISOLATED AREAS. FLU LIKE SMYPTOMS, HEADACHE -DIZZY, FATIGUE.

$645--My face is now blistered and I have 11 more nights to use it. What will I look like them?--Burns

well lets put it this way! it cost me 400$ for 12 tiny single pkgs and there was absolutely no sign of shrinkage or disappearance of any kind. i myaswell have put jerkins lotion on and enjoyed it for 2$. word of advice get them frozen off first then burned off if cryopen is not available. i got screwed out of 400$ this stuff does not work dont waste your money trust me. you can take that advice to the bank. if you dont believe me go ahead and waste your money on it. i cannot believe the drug companys would create smthn so expensive that they know doesnt work i do not believe it was experimented on an actual human maybe under a microscope not attached to a human body where virus is stored.Read More Read Less