Imiquimod

Last Reviewed: Sep 10, 2024

Pros & Cons


Imiquimod (Zyclara) Pros and Cons

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  • Imiquimod cream is the first choice drug for treatment of external genital warts.
  • You can use the cream at home rather than go in for treatments at your health care professional’s office.
  • There is a lower cost generic available.

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  • You must remember to wash off the medicine with soap and water at the end of the treatment period (usually overnight).
  • Local skin reactions such as skin irritation are common after the use of imiquimod cream.
  • This cream works slowly and is not as quick as laser treatment or surgery.
  • Imiquimod does not cure external warts. More genital or anal warts can appear during treatment. It is unclear if imiquimod prevents the spread of external genital warts to others.