Aldaraฎ DRUG INFO
IMPORTANT NOTE: What should my health care
professional know before I take azithromycin? They need to know
if you have any of these conditions:; kidney disease; liver
disease; pneumonia; stomach problems (especially colitis); other
chronic illness; an unusual or allergic reaction to azithromycin,
other macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin), foods, dyes,
or preservatives; breast-feeding
HOW DOES ALDARA WORK: External genital and perianal
warts are cause by a virus called Human Papilloma Virus. These
wart-like growths are oftentimes referred to as condyloma
acuminata. While Aldara itself has not been demonstrated to
have any of its own antiviral activity, Aldara cream is an
immune response modifier that stimulates the body's own immune
response system and helps the body fight this virus. It may
do this via the induction of cytokines like alpha-interferon.
Alpha-interferon is a complex compound normally produced by
the human body that does have potent antiviral activity.
HOW EFFECTIVE IS ALDARA: In a large clinical trial
50% of patients had complete clearing of their warts. The
mean time to complete wart clearing was 10 weeks.
HOW QUICKLY DOES ALDARA WORK: Aldara cream can effectively
clear genital warts as quickly as 4 weeks, although the average
time to healing is 10 weeks and may take as long as 16 weeks.
Results vary from person to person.
HOW DO I USE ALDARA CREAM:
- Wash hands and open a new packet of Aldara cream just
before bedtime.
- Apply a thin layer of cream on the wart(s).
- Rub the cream in until it vanishes.
- Discard the open packet and wash hands.
- Leave the cream on the wart(s) for 6 to 10 hours.
- After 6 to 10 hours, wash the area where Aldara cream
was applied with mild soap and water.
WHEN SHOULD I USE ALDARA CREAM: Typically, dosing
is once a day, 3 days a week:
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, or Tuesday, Thursday, and
Saturday
Apply Aldara cream at bedtime, after bathing, so you do
not wash off the cream. Treatment with Aldara cream should
continue until the warts are completely gone, or up to 16
weeks.
CAN I HAVE SEX WHEN USING ALDARA CREAM: Sexual contact
should be avoided while the cream is on the skin. If you decide
to have sexual relations, apply Aldara cream after - not before
- sexual activity. If you have already applied the cream,
it should be washed off before sexual activity. In addition,
Aldara cream may weaken condoms and diaphragms; therefore
the cream should not be left on during sexual activity. The
effect of Aldara cream on the transmission of genital warts
is unknown.
SIDE EFFECTS ALDARA: Aldara cream doesn't destroy
healthy skin. Most people who use Aldara cream don't complain
of pain. One of the most common side effects is redness. This
may be a sign that your immune system is working. Other common
side effects are peeling of the skin, itching, flaking, and
swelling around the warts.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ALDARA: Because Aldara cream
doesn't cure Human Papilloma Virus, the cause of genital and
perianal warts, new warts may form during treatment.
Aldara cream may weaken condoms and diaphragms, so sexual
contact should be avoided while the cream is on the skin.
How Aldara cream affects the spread of genital warts to
a partner is not known.
A woman who is or becomes pregnant while using Aldara cream
should notify her health care provider immediately.
Do not use Aldara to treat internal (inside the vagina or
anus) warts.
Skin color changes to the application site have also been
reported.
Do not cover warts with bandages or other closed dressings.
Avoid using overly large amounts of cream.
A thin layer that completely covers each wart is enough.
|
