Imiquimodside effects
imiquimod 37.5 MG/ML Topical Cream
Adverse reactions
The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling:
Local Skin Reactions
Systemic Reactions Most common adverse reactions (≥4%) are local skin reactions (erythema, scabbing/crusting, flaking/scaling/dryness, edema, erosion/ulceration, exudate), headache, application site pain, application site irritation, application site pruritus, fatigue, influenza-like illness, and nausea. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Bausch Health US, LLC at 1-800-321-4576 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
6.1 Clinical
Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Actinic Keratosis The data described below reflect exposure to ZYCLARA or vehicle in 479 subjects with AK enrolled in two double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials (Studies AK1 and AK2) [ Clinical Studies ]. Subjects applied up to two packets of ZYCLARA, 3.75%, ZYCLARA, 2.5%, or vehicle once daily, to the skin of the affected area (either entire face or balding scalp) for two 2-week treatment cycles separated by a 2-week no treatment period. Selected adverse reactions are listed in Table 1.
Table 1: Selected Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥2% of ZYCLARA-Treated Subjects with AK and at a Greater Frequency than Vehicle in Studies AK1 and AK2 Adverse Reaction ZYCLARA, 3.75% (N=160) ZYCLARA, 2.5% (N=160) Vehicle (N=159) Headache 10 (6%) 3 (2%) 5 (3%) Application site pruritus 7 (4%) 6 (4%) 1 (<1%) Fatigue 7 (4%) 2 (1%) 0 Nausea 6 (4%) 1 (1%) 2 (1%) Application site irritation 5 (3%) 4 (3%) 0 Application site pain 5 (3%) 2 (1%) 0 Pyrexia 5 (3%) 0 0 Anorexia 4 (3%) 0 0 Dizziness 4 (3%) 1 (<1%) 0 Herpes simplex 4 (3%) 0 1 (<1%) Lymphadenopathy 3 (2%) 4 (3%) 0 Diarrhea 3 (2%) 2 (1%) 0 Arthralgia 2 (1%) 4 (3%) 0 Influenza like illness 1 (<1%) 6 (4%) 0 Oral herpes 0 4 (3%) 0 Cheilitis 0 3 (2%) 0 Local skin reactions were recorded as adverse reactions if they extended beyond the treatment area, or required any medical intervention, or resulted in patient discontinuation from the trial. The incidence and severity of selected local skin reactions are shown in Table 2.
Table 2: Local Skin Reactions in the Treatment Area in ZYCLARA-Treated Subjects with AK as Assessed by the Investigator in Studies AK1 and AK2 All Grades* (%) Severe (%) ZYCLARA, 3.75% (N=160) ZYCLARA, 2.5% (N=160) Vehicle (N=159) Erythema Mild, moderate, or severe Severe erythema 96% 25% 96% 14% 78% 0% Scabbing/Crusting Severe scabbing/crusting 93% 14% 84% 9% 45% 0% Flaking/Scaling/Dryness Severe flaking/scaling/dryness 91% 8% 88% 4% 77% 1% Edema Severe edema 75% 6% 63% 4% 19% 0% Erosion/Ulceration Severe erosion/ulceration 62% 11% 52% 9% 9% 0% Exudate Severe exudate 51% 6% 39% 1% 4% 0% In the AK trials, 11% (17/160) of subjects in the ZYCLARA, 3.75% arm, 7% (11/160) of subjects in the ZYCLARA, 2.5% arm, and 0% in the vehicle arm required rest periods due to adverse local skin reactions. Other adverse reactions observed in subjects treated with ZYCLARA included: application site bleeding, application site swelling, chills, dermatitis, herpes zoster, insomnia, lethargy, myalgia, pancytopenia, pruritus, squamous cell carcinoma, and vomiting. External Genital Warts In two double-blind, placebo-controlled trials 602 subjects with EGW applied up to one packet of ZYCLARA, 3.75% or vehicle to all warts once daily for up to 8 weeks (Studies EGW1 and EGW2). The most frequently reported adverse reactions were application site reactions and local skin reactions. Selected adverse reactions are listed in Table 3.
Table 3: Selected Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥2% of ZYCLARA-Treated Subjects with EGW and at a Greater Frequency than Vehicle in Studies EGW1 and EGW2 Adverse Reaction ZYCLARA, 3.75% (N=400) Vehicle (N=202) Application site pain 28 (7%) 1 (<1%) Application site irritation 24 (6%) 2 (1%) Application site pruritus 11 (3%) 2 (1%) Vaginitis bacterial* 6 (3%) 2 (2%) Headache 6 (2%) 1 (<1%) *Percentage based on female population of 6/216 for ZYCLARA, 3.75% and 2/106 for vehicle Local skin reactions were recorded as adverse reactions if they extended beyond the treatment area, or required any medical intervention, or resulted in patient discontinuation from the trial. The incidence and severity of selected local skin reactions are shown in Table 4.
Table 4: Selected Local Skin Reactions in the Treatment Area in ZYCLARA-Treated Subjects with EGW Assessed by the Investigator in Studies EGW1 and EGW2 All Grades* (%) Severe (%) ZYCLARA, 3.75% (N=400) Vehicle (N=202) Erythema Mild, moderate, or severe Severe erythema 70% 9% 27% <1% Edema Severe edema 41% 2% 8% 0% Erosion/ulceration Severe erosion/ulceration 36% 11% 4% <1% Exudate Severe exudate 34% 2% 2% 0% The frequency and severity of local skin reactions were similar in both sexes, with the following exceptions: a) flaking/scaling occurred in 40% of males and in 26% of females and b) scabbing/crusting occurred in 34% of males and in 18% of females. In Studies EGW1 and EGW2, 32% (126/400) of subjects who used ZYCLARA, 3.75% and 2% (4/202) of subjects who used vehicle discontinued treatment temporarily (required rest periods) due to adverse local skin reactions, and 1% (3/400) of subjects who used ZYCLARA, 3.75% discontinued treatment permanently due to local skin/application site reactions. Other adverse reactions reported in subjects treated with ZYCLARA, 3.75% included: rash, back pain, application site rash, application site cellulitis, application site excoriation, application site bleeding, scrotal pain, scrotal erythema, scrotal ulcer, scrotal edema, sinusitis, nausea, pyrexia, and influenza-like symptoms.
6.2 Postmarketing
Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of imiquimod. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Application Site Disorders: tingling at the application site Body as a Whole: angioedema Cardiovascular: capillary leak syndrome, cardiac failure, cardiomyopathy, pulmonary edema, arrhythmias (tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, palpitations), chest pain, ischemia, myocardial infarction, syncope Endocrine: thyroiditis Gastrointestinal System Disorders: abdominal pain Hematological: decreases in red cell, white cell and platelet counts (including idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura), lymphoma Hepatic: abnormal liver function Infections and Infestations: herpes simplex Musculoskeletal System Disorders: arthralgia Neuropsychiatric: agitation, cerebrovascular accident, convulsions (including febrile convulsions), depression, insomnia, multiple sclerosis aggravation, paresis, suicide Respiratory: dyspnea Urinary System Disorders: proteinuria, urinary retention, dysuria Skin and Appendages: exfoliative dermatitis, erythema multiforme, hyperpigmentation, hypertrophic scar, hypopigmentation Vascular: Henoch-Schönlein purpura syndrome
Text above is quoted in full from the FDA-approved drug label published by openFDA, effective May 23, 2025. Matched to this product by RxNorm code. Cross-references to other sections of the full prescribing information have been removed, since they point to a document not shown here. Nothing else is changed: no sentence is shortened, reworded or summarised.
Contraindications
None. None.
Text above is quoted in full from the FDA-approved drug label published by openFDA, effective May 23, 2025. Matched to this product by RxNorm code. Cross-references to other sections of the full prescribing information have been removed, since they point to a document not shown here. Nothing else is changed: no sentence is shortened, reworded or summarised.
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