Avoca Wart & Verruca 40% Caustic Pencil Treatment

What is Avoca Wart & Verucca 40% Caustic Pencil Treatment?

Avoca is used for removing warts including verrucas and excess tissue, for example tissue that forms during the healing process of wounds. Avoca contains a medicine called silver nitrate. Read the patient information leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you. Always use this this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor, pharmacist or nurse has told you.  

How to use Avoca Wart & Verucca 40% Caustic Pencil Treatment

Ask your pharmacist if you need more information or advice. If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the patient information leaflet. You must talk to a doctor if you do not feel better or if you feel worse after 3 days for wart treatment or 6 days for verruca treatment. The recommended dose is: Apply once daily for 3 days for wart treatment. Apply once daily for 6 days for verruca treatment.  If your symptoms carry on or do not improve after this number of applications, you should talk to your doctor or pharmacist. You will need the following before you start:

• A small amount of clean water such as tap water. Do not use saline solution or water known to contain salt or chlorides
• A clean non-absorbent surface such as an upturned drinking glass or steel cup
• A paper tissue
• Petroleum jelly

A firm surface to work on such as a table. Spread the newspaper over the table. Do not use your medicine over bathroom or kitchen fittings or carpets. Most surfaces touched by silver nitrate dissolved in water will be stained black or grey.  Newspaper or similar to protect the table from drops of water containing silver nitrate.  

• Put a single drop of clean water on a non-absorbent surface such as an upturned drinking glass or steel cup
• Dip the tip in the drop of water. Gently move the tip in the water for a minute
• The tip is now coated in water containing silver nitrate
• Do not allow the water or tip to touch healthy skin or tissue
• Protect healthy skin around the area to be treated with a thin layer of petroleum jelly

Precautions

• Do not use near your eyes
• Do not use on genital warts
• Do not use on sensitive areas of your body
• Avoca is caustic (can burn) and can cause staining. Do not use
• Avoca over bathroom or kitchen fittings or carpets.