HPV/GW/Aldara and bad side effects!! - Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Message Board

Neener80 · 11-08-2008, 11:25 AM

Oh man. A week and a half ago, I was diagnosed with genital warts (I had been having abnormal paps for about 2 years and had 2 colpols. After my last pap in summer, I was upgraded but lo and behold...)

I started Aldara last Thursday so last night was my 5th application. The first one went ok but after that, it was all downhill. Almost every night, I've woken up in the middle of the night tossing and turning and experiencing raw burning iching pain. I also get dry mouth and get really hot.

Last night wasn't so bad. I didn't scratch and I guess it helped that I went to bed with out pants or underwear.

I know that it can take a while for Aldara to start working, that it can cause irritation, and that it doesn't stop new warts from appearing. But when I applied the cream last night, I was horrified by how many new ones i had. When I first started I had a couple on my lips and the majority were sort of closer to my rear. Now the ones on my rear have gone down but I have some really red ones all over my lips. Needless to say, I was upset.

But the worst is how I feel the day after a cream night. I am extremely fatigued, feel headachy, and my joints and muscles ache (mostly my knees and my hips). Last time I took some Aleve and a nap and I was better after an hour.

I don't think I can live with this for the 16 weeks (or longer) it may take for my GW to go away! I've left a couple of messages for my doctor and am still waiting to hear back.

Has anyone had this problem? Not only is it painful and literally sickening, I can't even sleep non-sexually with BF because I'm tossing and turning so much.

calidreaming · 11-08-2008, 06:31 PM

yeah, im having similar effects. Its a very aggressive medication, on a very sensitive area.

Let me know what your dr. says about it. I've read online, and pretty much everyone says its extremely painful!

Bwarr005 · 11-09-2008, 04:53 PM

Hello! I also used aldara.. I want to comment on a quote you mentioned.. "have gone down but I have some really red ones all over my lips."... that could be blisters forming.. the warts really wouldn't be red.. these red bumps are probably blisters.. because I had it too. When my doctor first saw them she told me I had herpes and come to find out I didnt.. it was blisters from the cream.. so just be careful and only apply it in the area of the warts. I also had more warts appear but I stopped the aldara treatment and started on the home remedy of apple cider vinegar.. it has totally made my warts go away in like not even a weeks time.. i posted how to do this treatment if you are interested.. but do as your doctor has told but youcan stop your aldara treatment if it is causing problems because you dont want them to get worse! i posted something on my ACV treatment.. so look down a few posts and you should see it!

calidreaming · 11-10-2008, 11:46 AM

I agree, I just started the treatments and I noticed those blisters too. I think its from putting too much cream on. I was just putting it where ever and a thick layer. I guess you only need a very thin layer.

Since, I started just using the thin layers... not as much blistering. Its still gonna irritate that area though, its the nature of the medicine. The area where the warts are is very red. But I think that is expected. If you go to the Aldara website, it shows some pic.s of what its supposed to look like during treatments.

Neener80 · 11-10-2008, 07:20 PM

Well, I don't want to frighten anyone but what I read from other people in other threads could happen, did happen. I went back to the doctor's today about my worsening warts and flu-like symptoms and it turns out to be herpes.

Not what I wanted to hear, obviously. so, if anyone out there is experiencing the same, I recommend you go back to the doctor.