Aldara 5% Cream

Genital warts are a sexually transmitted disease that effects the vagina, penis, anus and surrounding areas. The human papillomavirus (HPV) is transmitted by sexual intercourse and personal contact. The virus causes the warts to show on the surface of the body, which are highly transmissible. Genital warts are small and are lumpy sections of skin that can look unpleasant and feel uncomfortable.

You can find the instructions for use on the patient information leaflet inside of the packaging on the medication, alternatively it can be accessed online. You should speak to your doctor or pharmacist about their specific dosage instructions as these can vary for each person, depending on their condition, age, gender etc.

The following steps should be taken when applying the cream:

• Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly.
• Clean the genitals and other areas you have warts with warm soapy water and leave to dry.
• Apply a thin layer of Aldara Cream to the area and run into the skin until it’s gone.
• Make sure to wash your hands afterwards to remove any excess cream.
• Do not shower or bathe until the amount of time instructed by your prescriber has passed.
• Once you reach the time, wash the area with warm soapy water to remove the excess cream.

It’s important that you keep Aldara Cream in a suitable environment. You can find the storage instructions in the patient information leaflet, which comes included with your treatment and can be accessed online.

Aldara Cream must be kept out of the sight of children. You should not store this medication above 25°C. Do not take this medication once it has passed the expiration date.

Do not throw away any leftover medication in usual waste, such as a household bin or via the toilet or sink. You should speak to your pharmacist or GP about how to correctly dispose of any medication.

Yes, all medication that contains pharmaceutical drugs will require a prescription from a medical professional, such as your GP or pharmacist. e-Surgery’s consultation process is designed to be as stress-free as possible. You no longer need to wait hours on hold or weeks for an appointment, or even speak face to face to a pharmacist. Simply choose the treatment you need, complete a short consultation form and one of our prescribers will issue you the treatments if they believe it’s the most suitable for your needs. Make sure to use e-Surgery’s ask-a-pharmacist service for free professional advice.

Whilst you can still have sex when taking the medication, you should always make sure you wash off any excess cream from your genitals, as it could transfer onto your partners skin which could cause irritation and possible allergic reaction. You must always ensure you or your partner is wearing protection, to ensure you are not passing genital warts over. Having sex during treatment is generally not advised as it could make your symptoms worse.

Aldara Cream is one of the most widely prescribed medications for treating genital warts and has had numerous studies carried out to assess its effectiveness. When you start taking the treatment you should expect to see changes in roughly 8 weeks, with some seeing their genital warts clear up fully within 12 weeks, but this can vary from person to person. For some, the medication may not be effective, if so, you should consult your GP or pharmacist to inform them of the ineffectiveness of the treatment.

Any medication can come with side effects including Aldara Cream, which can vary from person to person. If you show signs of allergic reaction to the medication, you should stop taking it and speak to a doctor straight away.

Common side effects of Aldara Cream include:

• Burning sensation
• Redness or itchiness
• Back pain
• Drowsiness
• Skin flaking
• Headache
• Diarrhoea

If you have any of the following side effects, you should contact your GP or pharmacist straight away:

• Flu like symptoms
• Sores that are leaking

There are other possible side effects of this medication, so you might experience one that isn’t listed. If your symptoms continue for an extended period or start to worsen, you should consult your prescriber.

e-Surgery uses Royal Mail delivery with choices starting from; Royal Mail 48 Tracked delivery, Royal Mail Tracked 24 and Royal Mail 1pm special delivery (discover more about e-Surgery delivery). When you buy Aldara Cream online, it will arrive in discreet, recyclable packaging at a delivery address of your choice. Find out how to recycle packaging from e-Surgery.

You can still consume alcohol while taking this medication, as there are currently no known interactions between them to consider it harmful. Alcohol consumption isn’t healthy, and its effects could potentially harm your body’s immune system and therefore prolong or worsen your condition. We do not advise drinking while taking Aldara Cream.

Aldara Cream is not generally advised to take whilst pregnant. You should consult your GP or pharmacist if you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant or are planning on conceiving soon. Your prescriber should discuss the potential risks and benefits of taking this medication, and both you and the prescriber should make an informed decision, though final say will always lie with the medical professional.

It is currently unknown whether Aldara Cream is contained within breast milk, so it is not advised to take this medication if you are breastfeeding your child. You should consult your GP or pharmacist if you are breastfeeding as they will likely want to make a change to your prescription and look for alternative options.