Aldara
Aldara is imiquimod 5% cream in single-use sachets, sold in packs of 3 to 36 for actinic keratosis, superficial basal cell carcinoma and genital warts.
All strengths and pack prices
| Strength | Pack | Price | Per sachet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | 3 sachets | $46.74 | $15.58 |
| 5% | 6 sachets | $89.28 | $14.88 |
| 5% | 9 sachets | $126.63 | $14.07 |
| 5% | 12 sachets | $158.88 | $13.24 |
| 5% | 15 sachets | $187.05 | $12.47 |
| 5% | 18 sachets | $210.78 | $11.71 |
| 5% | 24 sachets | $261.84 | $10.91 |
| 5% | 36 sachets | $364.68 | $10.13 |
Details
- Conditions
- Actinic keratosis · Superficial basal cell carcinoma · Genital warts
- Therapeutic Class
- Immune response modifier
- Pharmacological Class
- Topical immunomodulator
- Minor Side Effects
- Redness, Itching, Burning at site
- Moderate Side Effects
- Scabbing, Flaking, Soreness
- Dosage Forms
- Cream
- Administration Route
- Topical
- Originator
- 3M
- Storage Instructions
- Store at room temperature.
What you will receive
Aldara is the originator brand name, made by 3M. We use it to identify the medicine; the pack you receive is a generic equivalent, not the original Aldara.
- The same active ingredient (Imiquimod) at the same strength.
- The exact brand supplied depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
FAQ
Which generic Aldara strengths and pack sizes can I order?
Generic Aldara comes as 5% sachets in packs from 3 to 36. It is generic imiquimod, not the original Aldara. Larger packs cost less per sachet.
How is generic Aldara delivered to Hong Kong?
Generic Aldara sachets ship in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing on the outside about the contents. Tracked courier takes 5 to 9 business days with online tracking, or standard airmail takes 14 to 21 business days, up to 30, and is untracked.
What are the alternative names for Aldara and imiquimod?
Aldara is a brand name of imiquimod, which is also sold as Zyclara and Imiquad. Here, imiquimod can be bought online as generic Aldara, and also as imiquimod tubes. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long is a course of Aldara?
It depends on the condition. Actinic keratosis is usually treated twice a week for around 16 weeks, superficial basal cell carcinoma five times a week for about six weeks, and genital warts three times a week for up to 16 weeks. Skin reactions often build up as the course goes on.
Can I shower with Aldara cream on?
No. The cream needs around eight hours on the skin, and washing it off early stops it working for that night. Leave showering, bathing and swimming until after you have cleaned the treated area the next morning; only your hands need rinsing straight after you apply a sachet.
Does Aldara affect condoms?
Yes. Imiquimod weakens condoms and vaginal diaphragms, and sexual contact should be avoided while the cream is on genital or anal skin. Wash the cream off in the morning as usual, and treat the area only on the nights set out for it.
Can I use Aldara on my face?
Yes, for actinic keratosis, which tends to appear on the face, scalp, ears, hands and forearms. Keep the cream away from the eyes, lips and nostrils, and rinse with water straight away if some gets in.
What if I forget a night of Aldara?
Put it on when you remember that same evening, then return to your normal nights. A second sachet to make up for it is not needed, and the cream should not stay on beyond eight hours to compensate.
About Aldara
What Aldara cream is for
Aldara is imiquimod 5% cream in single-use sachets. It does not attack skin cells directly; it stirs up an immune reaction in the patch of skin where you apply it, and that reaction clears the problem. Three conditions are treated this way: actinic keratosis (rough, scaly patches built up over years of sun exposure), superficial basal cell carcinoma (a slow-growing skin cancer that sits near the surface) and warts on the genital and anal skin. New warts can appear during treatment, and it is not known whether the cream stops them spreading to anyone else.
Applying a sachet before bed
Put the cream on at bedtime. It stays on for about eight hours (six to ten is the usual range) and comes off with mild soap and water in the morning. Wash and dry the area first, rub in a thin layer until it disappears, then wash your hands. A sachet is single use, so throw away whatever is left in an opened one. Keep the cream off the eyes, lips, nostrils and the inside of the vagina or anus, and rinse at once with water if any strays there. No bathing, showering or swimming while it is on. The number of nights depends on what is being treated: three a week for genital warts, twice a week for actinic keratosis and five a week for superficial basal cell carcinoma. Loose cotton gauze over the area is fine; a tight bandage is best avoided.
What the treated skin does
The skin often looks worse before it looks better. Redness, itching, burning, soreness, flaking, crusting and sometimes bleeding mean the cream is at work, and they fade once the course ends. Some people also feel tired, achy or feverish. Treated skin may stay paler afterwards, and that change may not fade. It also burns more easily in the sun, so cover up, use SPF 30 or higher and stay off sunbeds. Store sachets below 25°C and never freeze them.
Aldara sachets or the imiquimod tube?
Imiquimod is the same 5% cream sold in a tube rather than sachets, for actinic keratosis and genital warts. Sachets give a measured amount for each night and travel easily; a tube is easier for a larger area. While the cream is on genital or anal skin, avoid sexual contact, and remember that imiquimod can weaken condoms and vaginal diaphragms. Uncircumcised men treating warts under the foreskin should pull it back and clean daily and before each treatment.
Sources
- Imiquimod Topical: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine
- Actinic keratoses (solar keratoses) - NHS — NHS