Condyline

What is Condyline?

Condyline is a prescription-only topical solution used in the treatment of genital warts. The active ingredient in Condyline solution is 5mg/ml podophyllotoxin, which prevents wart cells from multiplying. This results in wart cells dying and, as they do, new healthy tissue begins to grow in their place.

Genital warts affect both men and women. You can apply the Condyline solution to the affected area as a treatment. It’s a medication that should be used on the skin, so it shouldn't be used for the treatment of warts that are inside the vagina, rectum, or any other mucus membrane in the body.

How does Condyline work?

The solution targets the human papillomavirus. It kills the cells of the virus, making it impossible to multiply or grow. Eventually, all the wart cells will die and become replaced by healthy new cells of the host. It works fast, and its success rate is very high.

Genital warts are common sexually transmitted infections caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They affect both men and women and are one of the most common sexually transmitted viruses. Studies show that a very large proportion of sexually active people will get HPV. In some cases, the human papillomavirus can also be transmitted through non-penetrative, sexual contact.

Although genital warts are not usually painful, they can cause some discomfort like itching, which can cause bleeding if excessive. Research shows that the most common genital warts are caused by the low-risk human papillomavirus and are often referred to as benign. Only a few types of HPV-causing warts can lead to cancer of the penis, vagina, vulva, or even cervix.

What doses of Condyline are there?

Condyline solution does not have multiple-dose courses. While our clinician will advise you on a suitable treatment plan, there's usually only one dose for Condyline. This equates to five weeks worth of Condyline use. It’s applied in the morning and evening for three days. After this treatment, our clinician will recommend a further course of action if there are no visible changes.

How to use Condyline

Our clinician will advise you on how to use Condyline topical solution. However, the recommended methods are listed below

First treatment

You should take Condyline in the morning.

• Wash the affected area with soap and dry the site as well.
• Dip the end of the applicator into the bottle containing the Condyline solution.
• Apply the solution on visible warts.
• Try not to touch the affected area after applying the solution. Let it dry on its own.
• Wash your hands after applying.
• Repeat all the above steps 12 hours later on the same day i.e. in the evening.
• Repeat all the above steps for a further two days. You should have applied the Condyline solution six times by the end of the third day. You should not use any more of the solution within the next four days of this first treatment.

Extended treatment

If the warts have not visibly disappeared or there are no significant improvements after the first treatment, you should speak to our clinician. Usually, we advise repeating the six treatments (so morning and evening application for three days). In some cases, our clinician might recommend a weekly repetition of the six treatment plans, which might even extend to a fourth or even fifth week, depending on the severity of the infection.

How long does it take Condyline to work?

Experiencing relief or seeing visible positive changes depends on the severity of the viral infection and on how your body responds to the medication. Usually, most people see visible changes after the first week's treatment, with small warts normally disappearing first.

You may not see any warts after subsequent weeks of applying the solution. The length of time it takes to work might also depend on the treatment course our clinician recommends.

Also note that even though you experience significant changes, you can still transmit the virus while you are on the medication. Therefore, if you’re going to be sexually active during your treatment course, you should use a condom or other barrier method for protection.

Furthermore, try to disinfect all sex toys if you use them during your treatment. Condyline will work better if you follow our clinician’s instructions.

What should I do if I make a mistake when taking Condyline?

The most common mistake people make with Condyline solution is forgetting to use it at the right time and applying it to the wrong part of the body. If you miss a dose, you should take it as soon as you remember. If there’s only a short period of time between your missed dose and the next dose, you should skip the missed dose and continue taking the treatment as recommended by our clinician.

If you apply Condyline to the inside of your vagina or anus by mistake, you should wash the area thoroughly with water. And if you swallow any of the solution, you should seek emergency medical assistance immediately.

Medically reviewed by

Dr Daniel Atkinson

GP Clinical Lead

on August 02, 2022.

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