podophyllotoxin at a glance
Medicine class
Topical antimitotic treatment
Licensed use
External genital warts on the penis or external female genital area
Application
Apply only to visible wart tissue, avoiding healthy, broken or bleeding skin
Important limitation
Not for internal vaginal, urethral or rectal warts
What is podophyllotoxin used for?
The selected products are licensed for topical treatment of condylomata acuminata at specified external genital sites.
Warts affecting the penis
Warts affecting the external female genital area
How does podophyllotoxin work?
Podophyllotoxin binds to tubulin and prevents microtubules from forming. This stops dividing wart cells from progressing through mitosis, causing treated wart tissue to break down.
How to take podophyllotoxin
Use only on external wart tissue and follow the product-specific instructions from the prescriber.
Wash the affected area with soap and water, then dry it gently before application.
Use a fingertip for the cream or a fresh supplied applicator for each solution application.
Use only enough product to cover each wart; wash it off if it reaches healthy skin.
Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.
Let the solution dry before treated skin touches other skin.
Do not cover the treated area with an occlusive dressing.
Keep the solution away from flames, heat and smoking during and immediately after application.
podophyllotoxin side effects
Common or expected effects
- Redness, itching or burning at the application site
- Erosion or wearing away of treated skin
- Mild local irritation as wart tissue breaks down
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe burning, stinging or pain
- Marked swelling, bleeding or intense itching
- Ulceration, blistering or a weeping wound
- Suspected hypersensitivity at the application site
podophyllotoxin in pregnancy
Podophyllotoxin is not recommended during pregnancy or for someone who could become pregnant and is not using contraception. Although absorption through the skin is usually low, its antimitotic action may harm an embryo; contact the prescriber if pregnancy occurs during treatment.
podophyllotoxin while breastfeeding
There is insufficient evidence about passage into breast milk, and risk to a breastfed infant cannot be excluded. The prescriber should discuss whether to avoid podophyllotoxin or interrupt breastfeeding, considering the benefits of each.
podophyllotoxin interactions
The selected product information reports no known medicinal interactions, but duplicate podophyllotoxin treatment must be avoided.
Other podophyllotoxin-containing preparations
Concurrent use is contraindicated because it may increase local exposure and toxicity.
Common questions about podophyllotoxin
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Does podophyllotoxin cure HPV?
It destroys treated visible wart tissue, but genital warts can recur and HPV may still be passed on when no warts are visible.
Can podophyllotoxin be used for hand warts or verrucas?
The selected products are licensed for specified external genital warts, not ordinary hand warts or verrucas.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.