Aldara (generic name: imiquimod; brand names include: Imiquad) is a medicine that acts as an immune response modifier.

Aldara Cream is approved for the treatment of:

Actinic Keratosis: Aldara cream is a skin-use only (topical) prescription medicine to treat certain types of actinic keratosis on the face and scalp of adults with normal immune systems.

Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma: Aldara cream is a skin-use only (topical) prescription medicine used to treat superficial basal cell carcinoma in adults with normal immune systems. It is used when surgical methods of removing the carcinoma are less appropriate. This skin cancer needs to be diagnosed by your healthcare provider.

External Genital and Perianal Warts: Aldara cream is a skin-use only (topical) medicine used to treat external genital and perianal warts in people 12 years and older.

Aldara is available under the trade name Imiquad as 0.25 g sachets containing imiquimod 5% (12.5 mg per sachet). It is manufactured by Glenmark Pharmaceuticals.

Recommendations

Follow the directions for using Aldara provided by your doctor. Use Aldara exactly as directed.

Your doctor will tell you where to apply Aldara cream, and how often and for how long to apply it for your condition.

Aldara should be applied just before bedtime and left on the skin for 6-10 hours.

For the treatment of actinic keratoses

For actinic keratoses, Aldara is to be applied once daily, two days per week, for example Monday and Thursday, or Tuesday and Friday. Treatment should continue for up to 16 weeks unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

For the treatment of basal cell carcinomas

For basal cell carcinomas, Aldara is to be applied once daily for five consecutive days per week, for example Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Sufficient cream should be applied to cover the tumour and one centimetre of skin surrounding the tumour. Treatment should continue for 6 weeks unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

For the treatment of external genital/perianal warts

For external genital/perianal warts, Aldara is to be applied once daily, three days a week or as recommended by your doctor. For three times a week application, Aldara can be applied on Monday, Wednesday and Friday or Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Treatment with Aldara should continue until the warts are completely gone. Aldara should not be used for more than 16 weeks at a time. It usually takes 8-10 weeks for your warts to disappear but warts may clear as early as 4 weeks.

Do not cover the treatment area with airtight bandages or other dressings after you have applied Aldara cream. Cotton gauze dressings can be used if needed.

Do not use more than the recommended amount of Aldara cream. A thin layer that completely covers the treatment area is enough.

Precautions

Tell your doctor before using Aldara, if:

you are allergic to any medicines;
you are or you think you are HIV positive;
you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Ingredients

Active ingredient: imiquimod.