Veregen Ointment: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Veregen Ointment (sinecatechins) is a prescription botanical drug product made from purified green tea leaf extract. It is applied to the skin to treat external genital and perianal warts caused by HPV in adults. The ointment is used three times a day until warts clear, for up to 16 weeks, and common skin reactions such as redness, itching, and burning may occur at the application site.

What is Veregen Ointment

Veregen is a prescription ointment made from a purified extract of green tea leaves. It is applied to the skin to treat warts on the outside of the genital and anal area in adults. Its generic name is sinecatechins, and it belongs to the botanical drug product class, derived from green tea extract.

Veregen Ointment uses

• External genital warts
• Warts around the outside of the anus
• Condylomata acuminata caused by HPV

Benefits of Veregen Ointment

• Helps remove external genital warts
• Helps reduce visible wart growth
• Supports clearance of treated warts
• Provides a topical treatment option
• May help clear warts without a surgical procedure

How Veregen Ointment works

It is not fully known how Veregen clears genital and perianal warts. In lab studies the green tea extract showed antioxidant activity, but what this means for how it works in the body is unclear.

Veregen Ointment dosage

Apply the ointment to all external genital and perianal warts three times a day. Use your finger to dab a small amount onto each wart so it is fully covered with a thin layer. Wash your hands before and after applying the ointment. You do not need to wash off the ointment before the next application; if you wash the area or bathe, apply the ointment again afterward. Do not use in the eyes, mouth, vagina, or anus.

Continue treatment until the warts clear completely, but not longer than 16 weeks. If new warts appear during treatment, they should be treated too. Uncircumcised men treating warts under the foreskin should pull back the foreskin and clean the area daily. Women using tampons should insert the tampon before applying the ointment, and avoid getting the ointment into the vagina when changing it.

Avoid sexual contact while the ointment is on the skin, or wash it off first, since it can weaken condoms and vaginal diaphragms. Do not cover the treated area with a bandage or other covering. Avoid exposing the treated area to sunlight, sunlamps, or tanning beds. Safety and effectiveness have not been studied in people under 18.

Available forms and strengths

• Ointment, 15% w/w
• Ointment, 10% w/w

Side effects of Veregen Ointment

Common

• Redness (erythema)
• Itching (pruritus)
• Burning
• Pain or discomfort
• Skin erosion or ulceration
• Swelling (edema)
• Hardening of the skin (induration)
• Small blisters (vesicular rash)

Serious

• Severe skin reactions such as intense inflammation, open sores, or swollen lymph nodes
• Phimosis (tightening of the foreskin) in uncircumcised men
• Allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use this ointment to treat warts inside the urethra, vagina, cervix, rectum, or anus.
• Avoid using this ointment on open wounds.
• Keep the treated area out of sunlight, sunlamps, and tanning beds, since this has not been tested.
• Do not cover the treatment area with a bandage or wrap, as this can make the ointment work too strongly on the skin.
• This medicine can weaken condoms and vaginal diaphragms, so wash it off before sexual contact.
• People whose immune system is weakened should not use this medicine, since its safety has not been studied in this group.
• It is not known whether Veregen can harm an unborn baby. Animal studies showed effects on the developing fetus when the mother had signs of toxicity. Your doctor will decide if the benefits outweigh the risks.
• It is not known if Veregen passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby, though levels in the blood after use on the skin are expected to be low.
• Systemic absorption is very low, and no routine renal dose adjustment is established.
• Tell your doctor if you have liver problems. This medicine should not be used if your liver function is impaired.
• No major direct alcohol interaction is established.
• No studies have looked at whether this medicine affects your ability to drive or use machines, but it is unlikely to cause problems with these activities.

Storage

• Prior to dispensing to the patient, store refrigerated 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F). After dispensing, store refrigerated or up to 25°C (77°F). Do not freeze.
• Make sure the cap on the tube is tightly closed.
• Safely throw away tubes that are out of date or are empty.
• Keep out of the reach of children.

When to see a doctor

• If you get a severe skin reaction, open sores, or other serious reactions where you applied the ointment, stop using it and contact your doctor right away.
• If you notice blister-like reactions, see your doctor, since this could be a sign of a herpes infection that needs to be ruled out before continuing treatment.
• Uncircumcised men should stop treatment and see a doctor if they notice early signs of tightening of the foreskin, such as sores, hardened skin, or trouble pulling back the foreskin.
• If warts do not clear up, or they come back after treatment, contact your doctor.

Alternatives

• Imiquimod
• Podofilox
• Cryotherapy