Imiquimod: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Imiquimod is a medicine sold in the U.S. under 3 brand and generic names, for basal cell carcinoma, condylomata acuminata and actinic keratosis. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Treats
- Basal Cell Carcinoma, Condylomata Acuminata and Actinic Keratosis
- Available as
- Topical
- Sold as
- 3 products — Imiquimod, Aldara and Zyclara
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Yes
- What the pharmacy pays
- about $355 for a 30-count supply — not your price
How imiquimod is dosed
From the FDA label for Imiquimod (application ANDA205971). Other imiquimod products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
For topical use only; not for oral, ophthalmic, intra-anal or intravaginal use. (2.1) AK: Apply a thin layer once daily at bedtime to affected area (either entire face or balding scalp) for two 2-week treatment cycles separated by a 2-week no-treatment period. Apply up to 0.5 grams at each application. (2.2) EGW: Apply a thin layer once daily at bedtime until total clearance or up to 8 weeks. Apply up to 0.25 grams at each application. (2.3) 2.1 Important Dosage and Administration Instructions Imiquimod cream is for topical use only. Imiquimod cream is not for oral, ophthalmic, intra-anal or intravaginal use. Instruct patients on proper application technique. Wash hands before and after applying imiquimod cream. Prime the imiquimod cream pump bottle before first use by repeatedly depressing the actuator until the cream is dispensed. It is not necessary to repeat this priming process during treatment. If a imiquimod cream dose is missed, apply the next dose at the regularly scheduled time. Avoid contact with the eyes, lips, nostrils, or inside the anus and vagina. Prescribe no more than 2 boxes (56 packets) or two 7.5 g bottle pumps of imiquimod cream for the entire treatment course for AK or EGW. Discard partially used packets and do not reuse. Discard pump bottles after completion of a full treatment course. 2.2 Dosage and Administration for Actinic Keratosis Use imiquimod…
Imiquimod side effects
The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: • Local Skin Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)] • Systemic Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)] 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. (6.1) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc., at 1-866-923-4914 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. See 17 for PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION and FDAapproved patient labeling. 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 imiquimod cream or vehicle in 479 subjects with AK enrolled in two double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials (Studies AK1 and AK2) [see Clinical Studies (14.1)]. Subjects applied up to two packets of imiquimod cream, 3.75%, or vehicle once daily, to the skin of the affected area (either entire face or…
Who shouldn’t take imiquimod
None. None. ( 4 )
Every imiquimod product we track (3)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 70/100 | Prescription | Topical | Generic | $355 | View → | |
| 2 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Topical | Generic | $355 | View → | |
| 3 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Topical | Generic | $355 | View → |
How long imiquimod keeps
No imiquimod label we read sets a separate limit for after opening, but they do specify how it must be stored — and the stability behind any date assumes those conditions.
Does imiquimod expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labelsWhat people report to the FDA about imiquimod
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 2,167 reports naming imiquimod, and the FDA flagged 53% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- erythema155 reports
- fatigue150 reports
- application site erythema104 reports
- nausea96 reports
- pruritus88 reports
- application site pain78 reports
- headache77 reports
- pyrexia73 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean imiquimod caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved August 25, 2026.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is imiquimod?
Imiquimod Cream, 3.75% is for topical administration. Each gram contains 37.5 mg of imiquimod in an off-white oil-in-water vanishing cream base consisting of benzyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, glycerin, isostearic acid, methylparaben, polysorbate 60, propylparaben, purified water, sorbitan monostearate, stearyl alcohol, white petrolatum, and xanthan gum.
Can you take imiquimod with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run imiquimod against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is imiquimod sold under?
We track 3 imiquimod-containing products in the U.S.: Imiquimod, Aldara and Zyclara. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does imiquimod come in?
Across the brands we track, imiquimod is currently marketed as topical, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic imiquimod?
Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic imiquimod product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Imiquimod: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/imiquimod
- MLA
- “Imiquimod: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/imiquimod.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for imiquimod on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.