Contains the active ingredient imiquimod
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
Read this leaflet carefully before taking your medicine.
This leaflet answers some common questions about imiquimod. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
The information in this leaflet was last updated on the date listed on the last page. More recent information on this medicine may be available.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist:
if there is anything you do not understand in this leaflet,
if you are worried about taking your medicine, or
to obtain the most up-to-date information.
You can also download the most up to date leaflet from www.apotex.com.au.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you using this medicine against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
Pharmaceutical companies cannot give you medical advice or an individual diagnosis.
Keep this leaflet with your medicine. You may want to read it again.
What this medicine is used for
The name of your medicine is APO-Imiquimod. It contains the active ingredient imiquimod.
It is used to treat:
Solar keratosis on the face and scalp.
Solar keratosis is thickened, scaly patches of skin caused by too much sun exposure. It is also known as actinic keratosis.
Basal cell carcinoma (a type of skin cancer).
External genital/perianal warts (condyloma acuminate). They appear on the surface of the penis or vulva (external female sexual organ) and around the anus.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed this medicine for another reason.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
How it works
Imiquimod is an immune response modifier. It activates immune cells in the body. The immune cells then proceed to kill and remove the virus-infected or cancer cells.
Although the exact way that imiquimod works is unknown, it is believed to be due to its effects on the immune system.
There is no evidence that this medicine is addictive.
Use in children
This medicine should not be used in patients under the age of 18 years.
Before you take this medicine
When you must not take it
Do not take this medicine if:
You are hypersensitive to, or have had an allergic reaction to, imiquimod or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include cough, shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or other parts of the body, rash, itching or hives on the skin; fainting or hay fever-like symptoms.
If you think you are having an allergic reaction, do not take any more of the medicine and contact your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency department at the nearest hospital.
The expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed.
The packaging is torn, shows signs of tampering or it does not look quite right.
Before you start to take it
Before you start taking this medicine, tell your doctor if:
any other medicines
any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.
2.You have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:
sun damaged skin
open sores, wounds or broken skin
inflammatory skin conditions
autoimmune conditions
HIV
organ transplant
abnormal blood count.
3.You have previously used imiquimod cream to treat your condition.
4.You are currently pregnant or you plan to become pregnant. Do not take this medicine whilst pregnant until you and your doctor have discussed the risks and benefits involved.
5.You are currently breast-feeding or you plan to breast-feed. Do not take this medicine whilst breast-feeding until you and your doctor have discussed the risks and benefits involved.
6.You are planning to have surgery or an anaesthetic.
7.You are currently receiving or are planning to receive dental treatment.
8.You are taking or are planning to take any other medicines. This includes vitamins and supplements that are available from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interact with imiquimod. These include:
immunosuppressive medication
medicines containing methyl hydroxybenzoate, propyl hydroxybenzoate, cetyl alcohol or stearyl alcohol.
If you are taking any of these you may need a different dose or you may need to take different medicines.
Other medicines not listed above may also interact with imiquimod.
How to take this medicine
Follow carefully all directions given to you by your doctor. Their instructions may be different to the information in this leaflet.
How much to take
Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine you should take. This will depend on your condition and whether you are taking any other medicines.
Do not stop taking your medicine or change your dosage without first checking with your doctor.
How to take it
Apply the cream as per your doctor's instructions.
Imiquimod cream is provided in single use sachets. A new sachet should be opened for each treatment, and cream from a previously opened sachet should not be used.
One sachet contains enough cream to cover a treatment area of 20 square centimetres (approximately 3 square inches).
1.Before applying the cream, wash the treatment area with mild soap and water and allow the area to dry thoroughly.
2.Apply a thin layer of cream onto the treatment area and rub it gently into the skin until it is no longer visible.
Sufficient cream should be applied to cover the treatment area.
For treatment of basal cell carcinoma, enough cream should be applied to cover the lesion and about 1cm of surrounding skin.
3.The cream is to be applied to the affected area prior to normal sleeping hours and should be left on the skin for approximately 8 hours (6-10 hours). During the 6-10 hours treatment period, showering or bathing should be avoided. Following the treatment period, the cream should be removed by washing the treated area with mild soap and water.
Hand washing before and after cream application is recommended.
Contact with the eyes, lips, nostrils and hairline should be avoided.
The cream should not to be applied to the affected area more than once a day.
How long to take it for
Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you.
Make sure you have enough to last over weekends and holidays.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time to take your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time. Otherwise take it as soon as you remember and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for missed doses.
This may increase the chance of you experiencing side effects.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints to help you remember.
If you take too much (overdose)
If you think that you or anyone else may have used too much of this medicine, or this medicine has been accidentally swallowed, immediately telephone your doctor or go to the Accident and Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
Using too much imiquimod could cause severe skin reactions. If too much cream is applied, wash away the extra cream with mild soap and water.
While you are taking this medicine
Things you must do
Tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine if:
you are about to be started on any new medicine
you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant
you are breast-feeding or are planning to breast-feed
you are about to have any blood tests
you are going to have surgery or an anaesthetic or are going into hospital.
Your doctor may occasionally do tests to make sure the medicine is working and to prevent side effects.
Go to your doctor regularly for a check-up.
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you take this medicine.
Things you must not do
Do not:
Give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours
Take your medicine to treat any other condition unless your doctor or pharmacist tells you to
Stop taking your medicine, or change the dosage, without first checking with your doctor.
Do not apply imiquimod cream to an area greater than 25 square centimetres.
Do not use sunlamps or tanning beds, and avoid going into the sun as much as possible during treatment with imiquimod cream. Wear protective clothing if you go outside during daylight.
Do not cover the treatment area with bandages or other dressings after you have applied imiquimod cream. Cotton gauze dressings are okay to use, if needed.
If you are using imiquimod cream to treat genital warts, avoid sexual (genital, anal or oral) contact. If you decide to have sexual relations, apply imiquimod cream after, not before, sexual activity. If you have already applied the cream, it should be washed off before sexual activity.
Imiquimod cream may weaken condoms and diaphragms, therefore, the cream should be washed off before using a condom or diaphragm during sexual activity. Alternate forms of contraception should be considered.
Uncircumcised men with warts under the foreskin should pull the foreskin back each day and wash underneath it. If daily washing under the foreskin is not carried out, tightness of the foreskin may occur. Early signs of tightness include swelling and wearing away of the skin, or difficulty in pulling back the foreskin. If these symptoms occur, stop the treatment immediately and call your doctor.
Female patients should take special care if applying imiquimod cream at the opening of the vagina, because local skin reactions on the delicate moist surfaces can result in pain or swelling, and may cause difficulty in passing urine.
Possible side effects
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking imiquimod cream or if you have any questions or concerns.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious but most of the time they are not.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following:
Application site reactions including: redness, wearing away of the skin, flakiness, swelling, hardening under the skin, small open sores, crust that forms during healing, small bubbles under the skin, itching, burning, pain, tenderness, irritation, rash, soreness, stinging, sensitivity, skin colour becomes lighter, bleeding, lumps on the skin, infection and pimples.
Most of these skin reactions are mild to moderate, and are signs that the product is working.
If your skin reacts badly or the skin reaction becomes too uncomfortable when using imiquimod cream, wash the cream off with mild soap and water and contact your doctor. Your doctor may recommend that you stop treatment for a few days.
Flu symptoms, tiredness, fever, headache, diarrhoea, back pain, muscle pain, and swollen glands in the neck, armpit and groin.
Some patients have experienced changes in skin colour (lighter or darker) in the area where imiquimod cream was applied. These changes may be permanent in some cases.
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients.
Allergic reactions
If you think you are having an allergic reaction to imiquimod, do not take any more of this medicine and tell your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency department at your nearest hospital.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include some or all of the following:
cough, shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing.
swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or other parts of the body
rash, itching or hives on the skin
fainting
hay fever-like symptoms.
Storage and disposal
Storage
Keep your medicine in its original packaging until it is time to take it.
If you take your medicine out of its original packaging it may not keep well.
Keep your medicine in a cool dry place where the temperature will stay below 25°C. Do not freeze.
Do not store your medicine, or any other medicine, in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep this medicine where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor or pharmacist tells you to stop taking this medicine or it has passed its expiry date, your pharmacist can dispose of the remaining medicine safely.
Product description
What APO-Imiquimod looks like
APO-Imiquimod is a white, soft cream, packed in a single-use foil sachet.
Each sachet contains 250 mg of APO-Imiquimod cream, which is enough to cover a treatment area of 20 cm squared.
APO-Imiquimod cream is available in boxes of 1, 3, 6, 12 and 30 sachets*.
* Not all strengths, pack types and/or pack sizes may be available.
Ingredients
Each 250 mg of APO-Imiquimod 50 mg/g (5% w/w) cream contains 12.5 mg of imiquimod, as the active ingredient.
APO-Imiquimod cream also contains the following inactive ingredients:
isostearic acid
benzyl alcohol
cetyl alcohol
stearyl alcohol
soft white paraffin
sorbitan monostearate
polysorbate 60
xanthan gum
glycerol
methyl hydroxybenzoate
propyl hydroxybenzoate
purified water.
This medicine is gluten-free, lactose-free, sucrose-free, tartrazine-free and free of other azo dyes.
