What is the most important information I should know about podofilox topical?
Do not use this medication on any warts or skin growths that have not been checked by your doctor.
What is podofilox topical?
Podofilox prevents the growth of certain types of cells.
Podofilox topical (for the skin) is used to treat genital warts that appear on the outside of the body, but this medicine is not a cure for genital warts.
Podofilox topical may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using podofilox topical?
You should not use podofilox topical if you are allergic to it.
Do not use this medicine on any warts or skin growths that have not been checked by your doctor.
It is not known whether podofilox topical will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.
It is not known whether podofilox topical passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.
Podofilox topical is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.
How should I use podofilox topical?
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Your healthcare provider may show you how to apply this medicine at home.
Using more of this medicine will not make it work better, and may increase side effects.
This medicine is usually applied in the morning and evening for 3 days in a row, followed by 4 days of not using the medicine. This 7-day treatment cycle should be repeated up to 4 times, or until you can no longer see any signs of wart tissue.
Wash your hands before applying podofilox topical. Also wash the skin area to be treated, and allow it to dry completely before applying the medicine.
Apply podofilox topical using the cotton applicator provided or with your finger. Apply the medicine only to the wart tissue and avoid getting it on healthy skin. If the genital wart is in a skin fold, spread the skin apart and apply the medicine. Allow the treated skin to dry before releasing the skin fold.
Wash your hands again after applying podofilox topical.
Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 4 treatment cycles.
Podofilox topical is not a cure for genital warts and it may not keep you from spreading this condition to others through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. You may develop new lesions during treatment with podofilox topical. For best results, keep using the medicine for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not freeze.
Podofilox topical gel is flammable. Do not use it near high heat or open flame, or while you are smoking.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose symptoms may result if you absorb this medicine through your skin by applying too much of it. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, flu symptoms, sores in your mouth and throat, numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, confusion, trouble breathing, or seizure (convulsions).
What should I avoid while using podofilox topical?
Do not have sex on the days you apply podofilox topical.
Avoid getting this medicine in your eyes. If this does happen, rinse with water and call your doctor. Do not place the gel or solution in your rectum, vagina, or urethra. If it does get into any of these areas, rinse with water.
Avoid having unprotected sex. Podofilox is not a cure for genital warts, and it will not protect against sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, HIV, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. Talk with your doctor about safe ways to prevent transmission of disease during sex.
What are the possible side effects of podofilox topical?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Wash off the medicine and call your doctor at once if you have a serious skin reaction such as severe itching, burning, oozing, bleeding, or skin changes where the medicine is applied.
Common side effects may include:
- mild skin irritation (pain, swelling, burning, redness, itching, tingling, blisters, crusting, dryness, peeling) where the medicine was applied;
- headache, dizziness;
- sleep problems (insomnia);
- unpleasant skin odor;
- vomiting; or
- pain during sex.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect podofilox topical?
It is not likely that other drugs you take orally or inject will have an effect on topically applied podofilox. But many drugs can interact with each other. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about podofilox topical.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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