reusing opened packets

[steve james]

Australian using aldara. have used for three weeks but due to very expensive price of aldara am reusing sachels dr said was ok, keep them well wrapped in the fridge. Have had no effect, nothing, no symptoms nothing, is it to early? On official Aldara website it says to not reuse sachels and to throw away after one application (probably for their own profits) but at a $115 for six sachels i couldnt possibly afford to do that, would this affect its performance, has anyone else reused sachels and got results?

[D Child]

My daughter had a rather large wart growing next to her thumbnail. We tried the over the counter freeze kits repeatedly with no result. We tried the over the counter acid treatment with the same result. We then took her to a dermatologist who tried stronger acid and even freezing with nitrogen, no result after repeated visits.
Finally she gave us some sample packets of Aldara and asked us to try it before resorting to other methods of removal which might cause scarring. She told us to use the packets sparingly as it is very expensive. She said to apply it after bathing while the skin was still moist and to cover it with a bandaid. I managed to get about seven applications out of each packet and kept the open, pricked with a needle packets in a film canister (unrefridgerated).
After two weeks of applying every other night, the wart showed definite signs of reduction. Now after an additional week it is almost completely gone. At the doctor visit today, the doctor said to continue it for one more week or until the natural skin lines reappear. I am very impressed with this product. Hope you get the same results.

[Barbara]

steve james wrote:

Australian using aldara. have used for three weeks but due to very expensive price of aldara am reusing sachels dr said was ok, keep them well wrapped in the fridge. Have had no effect, nothing, no symptoms nothing, is it to early? On official Aldara website it says to not reuse sachels and to throw away after one application (probably for their own profits) but at a $115 for six sachels i couldnt possibly afford to do that, would this affect its performance, has anyone else reused sachels and got results?

I have been using Aldera cream for actinic keratosis (type of basil cell)using it twice a week for the last 6 weeks. I have been keeping the sachels in the fridge and they seem to be working as well as when 1st opened. I have been having real "eruptions" on each of the areas where there was only a little rough skin at the beginning.
Although I'm certainly not enjoying the burning, itching, awful red eruptions all over my face, I am hoping it is working as it should.

[Gail Shoalhaven Australia]

steve james wrote:

Australian using aldara. have used for three weeks but due to very expensive price of aldara am reusing sachels dr said was ok, keep them well wrapped in the fridge. Have had no effect, nothing, no symptoms nothing, is it to early? On official Aldara website it says to not reuse sachels and to throw away after one application (probably for their own profits) but at a $115 for six sachels i couldnt possibly afford to do that, would this affect its performance, has anyone else reused sachels and got results?

I also reuse the packet after opening. Like you said, at this price, and to continue using for 6 weeks, is just too expensive. And because it is only a pin prick in the packet, I fold it over straight away so no air gets into it.

[diane]

my dr told me to go ahead and use open packet ...that I cloud probably get TWO applications from one ....my cost here in us is $147 WITH insurance !....I am using for BCC on shoulder 5x a week

[Steve]

I have been using Aldara on BCC on knee and back. Re-using each sachet due to the high price. It seems to be working fine.

Then I started using it on sun damage on my face but am alarmed at the red eruptions and scaling and don't know if I should continue. Will this dissappear?

[Diana]

I used Aldara for HPV and my dr said the same thing, cover the packet after opened it with paper and put on the fridge. I used one packet for two applications. At that price and it worked, I saw no problem. After two months I got totally cleared out but I finish the treatment in 16 weeks as per instructions of my dr.

[Mary]

Steve wrote:

I have been using Aldara on BCC on knee and back. Re-using each sachet due to the high price. It seems to be working fine.
Then I started using it on sun damage on my face but am alarmed at the red eruptions and scaling and don't know if I should continue. Will this dissappear?

Comment: I am now into middle of third week using 5x for BCC. My shoulder is a mess with eruptions and itching but the doc had warned me this would happen. Had she now warned me I might be panicking now it looks so messy. After one week I started reusing packet, getting two uses out of each pack. I do not refrigerate, but it seems to be still working. I will be glad when it is over.

[Elaine]

I have been using Aldara for three weeks now. My Dr told me to use it every night with weekends off. I use a tiny amount and find that I can get two weeks out of one sachet. I don't refrigerate but open it with a pin and then close it up in a small tupperware after use. I still have three weeks to go and am quite alarmed at the affect on my skin - a small scaly spot on my cheek at first has now increased in size and is growing by the day, is very red, itchy, burny and now has a crusty scab on it. My Dr did warm me this would happen but I am wondering if anyone else out there is also applying it as often as I am? Has anyone that has finished treatment been happy with the results -do the marks go away?

[Mary]

I used it for three weeks and was beginning to be concerned that my reaction was like yours but the scabs were way bigger (10 times) it was spreading, itching, stinging, bleeding, weeping. I was "down", fatigued. Checked with doc who said I was getting a good reaction and it seemed as though the Aldara had done its job in fighting the cancer cells and I could stop. That was three days ago. Still scabby, weeping, bleeding but drying up, and am not so down or fatigued. Hang in there.

[Barbara]

I also got two uses out of each packet per my Dr's instructions and did refrigerate. I used it once a day for 5 days a week. I just completed a 5 1/2 week dosage and have stopped putting it on. I had a small spot on my face that is now scabbed, weepy, and pretty disgusting just as everyone else is describing. Hopefully it will heal soon but I think it must have killed everything.

[Mike McGuire]

I keep open packets in the cupboard and cover the opening with a piece of tape. The opened packets are often store that way for 6 months or more. So far I have found no reduction in potency when reusing the medication.

[Cab]

I have applied the cream twice so far, however, as yet, there are no sisible signs of it working. Is this normal or should I be able to see something?

[Kelli]

My son has some warts on his neck and the doctor gave him a script for aldara cream but it is just so expensive. I'm nervous about buying online and would like to know who has bought this online and do you recommend it.......also, what parmacy did you use???

[DCE]

I’ve been reusing the packets and have been able to extract up to 4 applications per packet. The reason for reusing is the high cost of Aldara. I developed Actinic Keratosis on my forehead and used the product to treat it. The faint red spot, became larger, redder, swollen, began oozing, and then formed a crust. Aldara indeed made a mountain out of a molehill. After six weeks of treatment, the redness has subsided. I wonder if it would be better to have the Actinic Keratosis treated with liquid nitrogen as a preventive measure? Any suggestions?

[Diane]

I had surgery for basal cell carcinoma in January for the second time. I have about 60 stitches on my nose altogether. The doctor prescribed 6 weeks of Alodara as a preventative measure (reminded me that there is not a lot of real estate left on my nose to cut on).

I just finished the second week (5 x per week) and woke up this morning with a lump under my jaw line. Swollen lymph nodes are mentioned as a possible side effect -has anyone else experienced this? It is terribly sore to the touch.

In terms of my nose -it is scaly, super bright red but so far my mineral makeup has provided good coverage. By next week I suspect it will be too scaly to cover. Does it get progressively worse over six weeks or will it do its thing and begin to fade towards the end?

[dme327]

Diane wrote:

I just finished the second week (5 x per week) and woke up this morning with a lump under my jaw line. Swollen lymph nodes are mentioned as a possible side effect -has anyone else experienced this? It is terribly sore to the touch.

Diane - Did you ever hear anything with regard to your question? I have noticed a similar swelling under my jaw and was thinking that it might be associated with the Aldara cream that I have been putting on my nose.

[Donna]

I am using the Aldara Cream on basil cell cancer on my chest area. Was 5 times a week for a few weeks now doctor has me using it 3 times a week. Every other day. It is red, scabby, weepy and itchy. My question is... Do I just let it dry out in between uses or do I keep it moist with vasaline until day of use again? I find it hard to not scratch off the scabs as it is so itchy?

[Mary Ann]

Diana wrote:

I used Aldara for HPV and my dr said the same thing, cover the packet after opened it with paper and put on the fridge. I used one packet for two applications. At that price and it worked, I saw no problem. After two months I got totally cleared out but I finish the treatment in 16 weeks as per instructions of my dr.

Hi Diana! Can you please tell me more about how you are using Aldara for you HPV since my doctor told me to aplly the cream into the vagina and this is confusing me as I hear about all these side effects.
Thanks

[Edd]

Try and avoid scratching scabs...causes scarring.
Wash area gently with soap and water once daily, if its weeping cover with gauze, otherwise leave open. As you decrease frequency after prescribed time the lesions will heal, scabs will fall off, etc.

Donna wrote:

I am using the Aldara Cream on basil cell cancer on my chest area. Was 5 times a week for a few weeks now doctor has me using it 3 times a week. Every other day. It is red, scabby, weepy and itchy. My question is... Do I just let it dry out in between uses or do I keep it moist with vasaline until day of use again? I find it hard to not scratch off the scabs as it is so itchy?