Warticon

Warticon cream is made of podophyllotoxin which – simply put – is a plant extract recommended for the treatment of small, soft genital warts. Podophyllotoxin has antiviral properties, which means it can directly attack the virus responsible for your genital warts – the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

The active ingredient in Warticon is a spindle inhibitor, a toxic substance which naturally occurs in the roots and rhizomes of the Podophyllum plant, which can be found in parts of Asia and North America. It inhibits the division of cells and thus prevents the warts from growing and spreading. Over the course of several treatment cycles, the warts should cease to exist.

As genital warts are caused by a virus, it is difficult to say for sure whether the problem will persist. It is very important to begin the treatment as soon as you have been diagnosed. Don’t wait until the warts have spread, as the treatment of large areas usually requires the use of surgical methods. Once you have been infected, you will need to check for warts regularly, as you may suffer repeated outbreaks of the infection.

Make sure you wash your hands before and after each time you use the Warticon cream. Also, clean the infected area with soap and water (and dry it gently) before using the cream. Do not use Warticon on open wounds, sores and bleeding or infected warts, as there can be serious complications if the medication gets into your bloodstream. Avoid contact with eyes, mouth and inner genital areas. Remember to wash your hands after each time you use the cream.

You should avoid having sex while you’re infected with genital warts, as the infection is highly contagious and will easily spread to your partner. It is also important to avoid sexual activity after the application of the cream, as the cream is likely to be transferred to your/your partner’s inner genitals during intercourse, where it can cause severe irritation.

If you do have sex regardless of the disadvantages, please remember to wear a condom. A condom will not prevent the spreading of the virus in 100% of all cases but significantly reduces the risk of infecting your partner. You should continue to use a condom for three months after the end of the treatment, as the virus may still be present.

Never use over-the-counter wart treatments from the chemist to treat genital warts. These types of medication are designed to treat an entirely different type of wart and will have no effect on your sexually transmitted infection. They will however severely irritate the area.

When beginning the treatment, you should apply Warticon twice a day for three days in a row and then wait four days before re-applying the cream. If the warts haven’t disappeared after this first cycle of treatment, you can repeat the treatment. If you require more than 4 such cycles of treatment, you should allow for a week-long break between the treatment periods (instead of 4 days as before).

If you have been diagnosed with genital warts, you can use our online assessment to order a genital wart cream (to be delivered to your house or preferred address) if our doctors find you suitable for treatment. We do not currently prescribe Warticon, but we can offer a prescription for Condyline, which contains the same active ingredient.

Warticon is for external use only. The active ingredient Podophyllotoxin is for the treatment of anogenital warts (i.e. warts on the genitals and around the anus, not inside these areas). The cream is suitable for both men and women. This topical treatment (cream) is applied directly on the surface of the warts and works best on clusters of small warts. Warticon dissolves the warts and prevents a further spreading of the infection.

Tougher, bigger warts however, might have to be removed surgically, by freezing, cutting or chemically burning them off. If your genital warts have spread over a large area, you may require treatment at a local doctor’s surgery or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic.

Warticon contains 0.5% w/v podophyllotoxin, an anti-viral drug. In addition, the cream contains phosphoric acid, ethanol, Patent Blue V (E131) and purified water.

As Warticon is a cream, side-effects primarily involve skin reactions such as burning, itching and soreness. Warticon often causes mild irritation where the cream is applied, usually on the 2nd or 3rd day of application, as the cream is burning off warts. Some patients also experience a burning sensation or tenderness of the skin where warts are being treated. It’s quite rare that Warticon produces strong side-effects. If you experience strong discomfort, you should end the treatment immediately, wash the cream off and contact your doctor.