Side Effects
Get medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Up to 10% of people experience the following side effects of Imiquimod:
Dermatologic: Localized redness (58% to 100%), including flaking, scaling (18% to 93%) crusted skin ( 4% to 93%), skin scarring (local; 5% to 84%), ulcer ( 4% to 62%)
Infections: Fungal infection (2% to 11%)
Skin: Localized edema (12% to 78%), application site discharge (22% to 51%), local itching (3% to 32%), burning (9% to 26%)
Respiratory: Upper respiratory tract infection (15% to 33%)
Other, less serious side effects include:
- Mild skin irritation, itching, dryness, flaking, scabbing, crusting, redness, or hardening of the skin. This is expected to exert its desired effect;
- Changes in the color of skin;
- Headache,
- Chest pain,
- Back pain
- Cold sores,
- Cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat;
- Nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite
- Vaginal itching or discharge
Actinic keratosis:
2.5% and 3.75% cream: Apply thin layer once daily before bedtime for 2 weeks to the skin of the affected area
5% cream: Apply 2 times per week prior to normal sleeping hours, to a treatment area. Maximum to be prescribed for 16-week
Aldara is usually applied 2 times per week for 16 weeks.
Zyclara is applied daily for 2 weeks followed by 2 weeks without treatment. Use the medicine at night and leave it on for 8 hours. Wash off the medicine in the morning with water and a mild soap.
Superficial basal cell carcinoma:
Usually applied 5 times per week (such as Monday through Friday) for a full 6 weeks. Rub in the cream. Use the medicine at night and leave it on for 8 hours. Wash off the medicine with water and soap.
Drug Interactions
Imiquimod can interact with a number of other drugs. You should let your doctor know if you are taking any other medication and you should avoid combining Imiquimod with any of the following medications:
- Baricitinib: Immunosuppressants
- BCG (Intravesical
- Cladribine
- Coccidioides immitis Skin Test
- Denosumab
- Echinacea
- Fingolimod
- Leflunomide
- Natalizumab: Immunosuppressants
- Nivolumab
- Ocrelizumab
- Pidotimod
- Pimecrolimus
- Roflumilast
- Siponimod
- Sipuleucel
- Tacrolimus
- Tertomotide
- Tofacitinib
- Trastuzumab
- Vaccines (Inactivated): Immunosuppressants may diminish the therapeutic effect of Vaccines (Inactivated). Management: Vaccine efficacy may be reduced.
- Vaccines (Live)