Imiquimod Side Effects

Possible side effects of imiquimod cream are listed below. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects if they are severe or do not go away in a few days.

• Skin reaction with redness, itching, or bleeding in the treated area
• Pain, swelling, burning, or stinging in the treated area
• Bumps, blisters, or scabs on the skin
• Dryness, thickening, scaling, or flaking of the skin
• Tiredness
• Headache
• Back pain
• Diarrhea

Rarely, imiquimod can cause more serious side effects. Call your doctor without delay or seek emergency medical help if the cream appears to cause the following serious symptoms at the treatment site:

• Intense local skin reactions with sores, skin breakdown, and skin weeping or drainage (this is especially likely when you first start imiquimod treatment)
• Flu-like symptoms (tiredness, fever, chills, nausea, muscle weakness, pain)

The above list may not include all the potential side effects of imiquimod. Contact your health care professional if your side effects are unusual or severe or if they do not get better over time. You can also report unusual side effects to the Food and Drug Administration at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Imiquimod (Zyclara) Overdose: In case someone swallows imiquimod, call a doctor immediately. You can also call your local poison control center, provincial poison control center, or national poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If someone has lost consciousness, collapsed, stopped breathing, or had a seizure, call 911.

Source: FDA