Aldara Special Precautions

Know if the patient has previously used Aldara cream or other similar preparations prior to treatment initiation.
Patients who have problems with the immune system.
Do not use Aldara cream until the area to be treated has healed after previous drug or surgical treatment.
Avoid contact with the eyes, lips and nostrils. In the event of accidental contact, remove cream by rinsing with water.
Do not apply the cream internally.
Advise patient to not use the cream more than the prescribed.
Do not cover the treated area with bandages or other dressings after Aldara cream has been applied.
If the treated site becomes too uncomfortable for the patient, advise patient to wash the cream off with mild soap and water. As soon as the problem has stopped, the patient may restart to apply the cream.
Patients who have an abnormal blood count.
Because of the way Aldara works, there is a possibility that the cream may worsen existing inflammation in the treatment area.
Additional precautions for patients treated for genital warts: Men with warts under the foreskin should pull the foreskin back each day and wash underneath it. If not washed daily the foreskin may be more likely to show signs of tightness, swelling and wearing away of the skin and result in difficulty in pulling it back. If these symptoms occur, stop the treatment immediately.
Patients with open sores: Advise patient to not start using Aldara cream until after the sores have healed.
Patients with internal warts: Advise patient to not use Aldara cream in the urethra (the hole from which urine is passed), the vagina (birth canal), the cervix (internal female organ), or anywhere inside the anus (rectum).
This medication should not be used for more than one course if the patient has problems with the immune system, either due to illness or because of the current medications.
Aldara cream has not been shown to be as effective in HIV positive patients.
Advise patient to apply Aldara cream after - not before - sexual activity. Aldara cream may weaken condoms and diaphragms, therefore the cream should not be left on during sexual activity. Remember, Aldara cream does not protect against giving HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases to someone else.
Additional precautions for patients treated for basal cell carcinoma or actinic keratosis: Do not use sunlamps or tanning beds, and avoid sunlight as much as possible during treatment with Aldara cream. Wear protective clothing and wide brimmed hats when outdoors.
Whilst using Aldara cream and until healed, the treatment area is likely to appear noticeably different from normal skin.
Aldara cream contains methyl hydroxybenzoate, propyl hydroxybenzoate, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol and benzyl alcohol: Methyl hydroxybenzoate (E 218) and propyl hydroxybenzoate (E 216) may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed). Cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol may cause local skin reactions (e.g. contact dermatitis).
This medicine contains 5 mg benzyl alcohol in each sachet. Benzyl alcohol may cause allergic reactions and mild local irritation.
Driving and using machines: This medicine has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.