Imiquimod (Topical)

Brand Names : Aldara

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For imiquimod, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to imiquimod. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Imiquimod has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in humans. However, studies in animals using doses higher than recommended for humans have shown that imiquimod causes bone problems or low birth weight in pregnancies. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether imiquimod passes into breast milk. However, this medicine has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Children - Studies of this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of imiquimod in children up to 18 years of age with use in other age groups.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of imiquimod in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are using any other topical prescription or nonprescription (over-the counter [OTC]) medicine that is to be applied to the same area of the skin.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of imiquimod. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Skin problems, genital or
• Surgery, genital (recent) - Imiquimod may cause skin irritation and redness of skin for these conditions