Warticon
In brief
- In our pharmacy, you can buy Warticon without a prescription, with delivery across the United Kingdom in 9â21 days; discreet and anonymous packaging.
- Warticon (podophyllotoxin) is used to treat external genital and anal warts caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). It acts as a cytotoxic antimitotic agent that disrupts microtubules and inhibits mitosis in wart tissue, causing local cell death.
- Usual dosage: for podophyllotoxin 0.15% cream or 0.5% solution â selfâapply twice daily for 3 days then stop for 4 days; this 7âday cycle may be repeated for up to 4 cycles.
- Form of administration: topical application only â available as 0.15% cream and 0.5% solution (patientâapplied).
- Onset time: local irritation and burning may be felt immediately after application; noticeable wart reduction is often observed within 1â2 weeks, with clearance commonly occurring over several weeks of treatment.
- Duration of action: the cytotoxic effect lasts locally for days after application; treatment courses are organised in cycles (up to 4 cycles for selfâapplied treatment).
- Alcohol warning: there is no specific interaction with alcoholic beverages, but avoid alcohol if you develop systemic symptoms; do not apply alcoholâbased topical products to the treated area and avoid excessive alcohol consumption if you experience adverse effects or take other systemic medicines.
- The most common side effect is local skin irritation â burning, redness, swelling, itching or pain at the application site; erosion or mild ulceration can also occur and systemic toxicity is rare but possible with excessive or inappropriate use.
- Would you like to try Warticon without a prescription?
Basic Warticon information
- INN (international nonproprietary name): Podophyllotoxin
- Brand names available in the United Kingdom: Warticon, Condyline
- ATC code: D06BB04
- Forms and strengths: podophyllotoxin cream 0.15%; podophyllotoxin cutaneous solution 0.5%
- Registration status in the United Kingdom: Prescription only
- OTC / Rx classification: Prescription only (Rx); not available over the counter
Legal status and availability in the UK
Podophyllotoxin (Warticon, Condyline) is a prescription-only medicine (POM) in the UK.
In our online pharmacy, Warticon is available without a prescription, with discreet delivery to the United Kingdom in 9â21 days.
Clinical effectiveness in the UK
Can you expect Warticon to shrink warts quickly when used at home?
Selfâapplied podophyllotoxin regimens produce meaningful wart regression in many patients when used correctly.
Clinicâapplied podophyllum resin at 20â25% concentration remains a tool for controlled, rapid destruction under clinician supervision.
Effectiveness varies with lesion size, lesion count and patient adherence to the 3âon/4âoff cycle.
Because external warts are HPVârelated, recurrence is common and followâup is important.
Treatment aims are symptom relief, reduced onward transmission risk and minimising adverse reactions rather than guaranteed eradication of HPV.
Local irritation and shortâterm pain are the main tolerability concerns but are often outweighed by the convenience of atâhome treatment.
Indications and expanded uses
What is Warticon licensed to treat and when might clinicians use other formulations?
- Authorised indication: External anogenital warts (condylomata acuminata) in adults using podophyllotoxin 0.15% cream or 0.5% solution.
- Professionalâonly forms: Podophyllum resin solutions (10â25%) are reserved for healthcare professionals for external wart destruction.
- Offâlabel scenarios: Selected common warts and plantar lesions are sometimes treated offâlabel when other options fail, but supporting evidence is limited.
- Evidence strength: Moderate for external genital warts (0.5%); limited for offâlabel dermatological uses.
Pharmacists and clinics exercise caution for offâlabel uses because podophyllum resin has systemic toxicity risk when misused.
Pregnancy is an absolute contraindication for podophyllotoxin and resin formulations due to teratogenicity.
Composition and brand landscape
How do podophyllotoxin products differ from podophyllum resin and which brands appear in UK practice?
Podophyllotoxin is the standardised active used in the 0.15% cream and 0.5% solution and is considered the safer selfâadministered form.
Podophyllum resin, sometimes labelled podophyllin, is a crude extract used at higher concentrations (10â25%) and carries a higher irritation and systemic risk profile.
| Brand name | Formulation | Packaging | ATC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Condyline | Podophyllotoxin 0.5% solution | Bottle with applicators | D06BB04 |
| Warticon | Podophyllotoxin 0.15% cream; 0.5% solution | Tubes or dropper bottles | D06BB04 |
| Podophyllum resin | 10â25% solutions (professional use) | Small dropper bottles/vials | D06BB04 |
Contraindications and special precautions
Worried about safety, pregnancy and who should not use Warticon?
Pregnancy is an absolute contraindication to podophyllotoxin and podophyllum resin due to teratogenic and embryotoxic effects.
Do not use on mucous membranes, open wounds, inflamed skin or on internal genital surfaces such as the vagina, cervix, rectum or urethra.
Hypersensitivity to podophyllum derivatives is an absolute contraindication.
Relative cautions include immunosuppression such as HIV/AIDS, treatment of large or multiple lesions because of increased absorption risk, children under guidance and elderly patients who may have increased skin fragility.
Patients should be counselled to avoid sexual contact on treated areas until healed and to prevent accidental transfer to partners or infants.
Local irritation is the most common reaction; serious systemic events are rare and mainly linked to misuse of highâconcentration resin products.
Dosage guidelines
How should Warticon and resin be applied, and what followâup is required?
Podophyllotoxin 0.15% cream or 0.5% solution is selfâapplied twice daily for three days followed by four days without treatment, and this cycle may be repeated for up to four cycles.
Do not exceed four treatment cycles without medical review.
Podophyllum resin 20â25% solutions are applied by healthcare professionals once weekly for up to six weeks, applied precisely to the wart and washed off after one to four hours.
Children are generally excluded from treatment due to absorption risks and toxicity concerns.
Elderly patients need careful monitoring for skin irritation but do not require dose adjustment per se.
Practical pharmacy counselling should include demonstrative applicator technique, avoiding occlusive dressings and documenting baseline lesion count or photographs in clinic records.
| Formulation | Who applies | Regimen | Max duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Podophyllotoxin 0.15% cream / 0.5% solution | Self | Twice daily for 3 days, 4 days off; repeat up to 4 cycles | 6 weeks |
| Podophyllum Resin 20â25% solution | Healthcare professional | Once weekly application; wash off after 1â4 hours | Up to 6 weeks |
Interactions overview
Do I need to worry about drug or food interactions when using Warticon?
Systemic interactions with topical podophyllotoxin are uncommon because systemic absorption is minimal with correct, limited use of podophyllotoxin formulations.
Theoretical caution applies when patients are receiving bone marrowâsuppressing drugs because systemic toxicity from wrong use of resin could affect haematology.
No food or beverage interactions such as alcohol are documented for topical podophyllotoxin.
Risk of interactions increases if highâconcentration resin is misused and systemic symptoms appear, including gastrointestinal and neurological signs.
Pharmacists should screen for concurrent cytotoxic therapies, azathioprine or other immunosuppressants before dispensing and document this in counselling records.
Comparable medicines and preferences
Should you choose Warticon or another treatment such as Aldara or cryotherapy?
NHS formularies list imiquimod (Aldara) as an immune response modifier, cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen for clinicâbased removal and trichloroacetic acid for professional cautery.
Clearance rates are broadly similar across modalities, but sideâeffect and convenience profiles differ.
Podophyllotoxin favours atâhome convenience while resin and cryotherapy give rapid clinic control but require an appointment.
Women of childbearing potential are usually steered away from pregnancyâcontraindicated options and may be offered alternatives where appropriate.
| Treatment | Efficacy | Tolerability | Pregnancy suitability | Clinician involvement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Podophyllotoxin 0.5% | Comparable to other topicals | Local irritation common | Contraindicated | Selfâapplied |
| Podophyllum Resin 10â25% | Rapid wart destruction | More irritant; risk if misused | Contraindicated | Clinician applied |
| Imiquimod (Aldara) | Immuneâmediated clearance | Inflammation common | Usually avoided in pregnancy | Selfâapplied |
| Cryotherapy | Rapid clinic clearance | Pain/blistering possible | May be used with caution | Clinician applied |
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Warticon if I'm trying for a baby?
No.
Podophyllotoxin and podophyllum resin are contraindicated in pregnancy and should not be used when attempting conception without explicit clinician advice.
Is podophyllotoxin available over the counter in the UK?
No.
Podophyllotoxin formulations are prescription-only medicines in the UK.
What if I get severe irritation while using Warticon?
Stop treatment immediately, wash the area with water and contact your pharmacist or NHS 111 for advice.
Seek emergency care for systemic symptoms such as severe nausea, vomiting or neurological signs.
Can podophyllotoxin be used on other warts like plantar warts or molluscum?
Occasional offâlabel use occurs but evidence is limited and clinician assessment is recommended before attempting offâlabel treatment.
Ask your sexual health clinic or pharmacist for advice specific to your lesion and medical history.
Guidelines for proper use
What should a pharmacist check and demonstrate before dispensing Warticon?
Verify pregnancy status in women of childbearing potential and confirm the lesion is external and suitable for podophyllotoxin selfâapplication.
Explain the regimen clearly: apply twice daily for three days, then stop for four days, and repeat cycles up to four times if needed.
Demonstrate applicator technique, insist on washing hands after application and warn against mucosal, open wound or large area application.
Provide written leaflets or direct patients to NHS patient portals for followâup and advise patients to report adverse events via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme if needed.
For clinicâapplied resin, document application duration and washâoff instructions and give clear emergency contact details.
Store products at 15â30°C, protect from light and keep out of reach of children.
Delivery across the United Kingdom
| City | Region | Delivery time |
|---|---|---|
| London | England | 9â21 days |
| Birmingham | England | 9â21 days |
| Manchester | England | 9â21 days |
| Glasgow | Scotland | 9â21 days |
| Edinburgh | Scotland | 9â21 days |
| Belfast | Northern Ireland | 9â21 days |
| Cardiff | Wales | 9â21 days |
| Leeds | England | 9â21 days |
| Sheffield | England | 9â21 days |
| Newcastle | England | 9â21 days |
| Nottingham | England | 9â21 days |
| Southampton | England | 9â21 days |
| Plymouth | England | 9â21 days |
| Norwich | England | 9â21 days |
Practical followâup notes
If you choose Warticon, ask your pharmacist for a counselling record entry and a followâup plan.
Documenting lesion count or photographs in clinic records helps measure response to therapy.
Report any unexpected adverse reactions and discuss alternative options such as imiquimod or clinicâbased cryotherapy if irritation prevents continuation.
Electronic prescriptions and NHS patient portals are useful for arranging secure followâup and repeat supplies where applicable.
Remember that podophyllum resin products are to be used only by healthcare professionals and that podophyllotoxin cream or solution is the intended selfâtreatment option.
