Clotrimazole

A broad spectrum antimycotic having fungicidal properties, Clotrimazole is used for treating yeast and fungal infections such as candidiasis and tinea of the vagina, and skin including athlete's foot, body ringworm and jock itch.

Medications and Prescriptions

Generic name: Clotrimazole

Product Brand Name: Canesten, Candibene, Lotrimin, Mycelex

Product Manufacturer: Merck

Clotrimazole description

Clotrimazole is helps in treating local infections with Candida albicans such as vaginal yeast infections or oral thrush, tinea versicolor, tinea pedis or "athlete's foot", tinea cruris or "jock itch" or tinea corporis. It is effective for all parts of the body and for all the family owing to its high safety profile. Particularly suited for local application, small amounts of Clotrimazole rubbed in assists the best skin penetration of its active ingredient- the clotrimazole. It should not be applied on broken skin owing to a burning sensation. Carefully read the package insert and directions before using this cream. Please consult your physician or pharmacist for further information on benefits, risks and side effects.

Dosage:

You can apply Clotrimazole cream, lotion, or solution gently to the affected and surrounding skin areas, twice daily in the morning and evening generally. The vaginal cream can be inserted by means of applicator once daily, mostly at night, for 7 consecutive days. You can insert the 100mg vaginal tablets once daily, mostly at night, for 7 consecutive days. You can also insert 500mg vaginal tablet once daily, preferably at night.

First infections:

A 3-day treatment for Candida vaginitis will be sufficient in general. 2 clotrimazole Vaginal Tablets are inserted as deeply as possible into the vagina on three consecutive nights as per the directions for use of applicator. It can be done by lying down with the knees bent slightly.

Re-infections:

A 6-day treatment will be sufficient in general. One clotrimazole Vaginal Tablet is inserted as deeply as possible into the vagina on six consecutive nights, even if symptoms fade away. Two vaginal tablets can be used daily if individual cases require it, one in the morning and one in the evening for 6 - 12 days. Even though it is recommended that the treatment should be timed so as to evade the menstrual period, you can use even during menstruation and be finished before the onset of menstruation. The partner should also be treated with clotrimazole cream locally at the same time to prevent re-infection. Being odourless and colourless, Clotrimazole Vaginal Tablets do not stain the underwear.

It is recommended that clotrimazole vaginal cream be used in individual cases where disintegration of the tablet does not occur, such as in dry vagina associated with menopause.

Drug Interactions:

No drug interactions with topical clotrimazole are known so far.

Pregnancy:

Clotrimazole is absorbed poorly into the blood and the body after applying to the skin or the vagina. No ill effects are so far demonstrated with studies in women in their second or third trimesters and no data is available regarding its use in pregnant women during their first trimester. Rats offered with plenty of clotrimazole intravaginally have verified no ill effects.

Nursing Mothers:

Secretion of clotrimazole in breast milk is also not known.

WARNINGS:

Don’t use it for oral use. Use it only after you are diagnosed with vaginal yeast infection by a medical practitioner and you have the same symptoms currently. Consult your doctor for symptoms like itching and burning of the vagina or for probable white discharge. If no improvement in 3 days occurs or if symptoms do not vanish within 7 days, consult a medical practitioner since all vaginal infections are not caused by yeasts.

Talk to your doctor in case of any abdominal pain, fever or a foul-smelling vaginal discharge before or during application of this medication. If symptoms persist within 2 months, consult your doctor. Do not use this medication except on the advice of a medical practitioner when you think that you are pregnant or if you may be pregnant or are nursing. Avoid being used in girls under 12 years of age, except on the advice of a medical practitioner. Discontinue use if skin rash or new irritation occurs. Clotrimazole Vaginal Tablets may decrease the effectiveness and safety of condoms and diaphragms and it is a temporary affect that occurs only during treatment.

Side Effects:

local redness, blistering, stinging, peeling, swelling, hives, itching, or burning at the area of application is the most commonly found side effects related with clotrimazole. All of them are quite unusual.

Local reactions such as burning and irritation may occur. Contact allergic dermatitis is also found. Lower abdominal cramps and increase in urinary frequency or skin rash may occur in cases of systemic absorption. Clotrimazole Vaginal Tablets should not be applied to pregnant women during the first trimester. Clotrimazole Vaginal Tablets should be inserted without using an applicator during pregnancy. Clotrimazole Vaginal Tablets may be used during pregnancy only after the advice of a doctor as the possibility of absorption of clotrimazole vaginally cannot be expelled.

There may be generalised hypersensitivity reactions of varying degrees of severity in isolated cases. Skin reactions like itching and redness, shortness of breath, the circulation or drop in blood pressure requiring treatment or even impaired consciousness or the gastrointestinal tract like nausea and diarrhea may occur.

Infection of the vulva and vagina is the most common gynaecological infections caused by yeast fungi. Infection may occur in most women at least once during their lives, though the number and severity of symptoms can differ. Some of the symptoms are: Itching, Burning, Vaginal discharge (sometimes cheesy), Redness, pain during sexual intercourse, swelling, etc.

Thrush is irritating and uncomfortable. But you need not be embarrassed about it as many women suffer from this surprisingly common medical ailment at some stage in their life. You may have experienced the symptoms like itching, soreness and sometimes a whitish, curd-like, odourless discharge. It is caused by candida albicans which is a yeast-like fungus naturally present in the bowel and vagina. When the acid/alkaline balance of the vagina becomes troubled, the fungus multiplies to large number in the natural acid in the vagina and cannot be kept under control. The imbalance can be triggered sometimes by the following: use of certain antibiotics that kills “friendly” bacteria that maintain the vagina acid, use of perfumed or medicated soaps, or bubble bath, wearing tight clothing as it is created under moist and warm environment, using pill, menstruation (alkalinity of blood reduces the acidity of the vagina) or pregnancy (hormonal changes).

This cream used in combination with pessaries (Canesten Combi) is an effective treatment that treats the cause and the itching. The pack comes with a tube of soothing cream that can be used 2-3 times a day; and single pessaries along with applicator that can while you sleep. Other than the dual action of cream and pessary, both treat the problem exactly.

Clotrimazole notes:

Generic Clotrimazole is manufactured by the Merc in Merckle and is sold in product brand name as Canesten, Candibene, Lotrimin and Mycelex. This antimycotic drug has fungicidal effect that is beneficial in treating infection of yeast and fungus like candidiasis and tinea that occur in the vagina along with other skin allergies like athlete's foot, jock itch, and body ringworms.

Due to the high safety profile, Clotrimazole can be used on all parts of body and by all the members of the family. It is advisable to use Clotrimazole cream for local allergies and infections. It contains the clotrimazole as the most active agent of Clotrimazole based drug and a small portion of the cream when properly rubbed can result in the deep penetration. However, it is best to avoid using Clotrimazole cream if the skin around the infected are is broken as it can cause a burning sensation in the area.

A Clotrimazole cream lotion or solution can be applied on the infected skin area twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evenings. The cream is applied with the help of an applicator once everyday for vaginal infections. It needs to be applied for seven days continuously at night. A 100 mg vaginal tablet and a 500 mg Clotrimazole vaginal tablet also need to be inserted as deeply as possible for vaginal infections, preferably at night.

no major side effects of Clotrimazole cream lotion solution, or tablets are reported. It is even safe for pregnant women owing to its poor absorption into the body’s blood stream, let it be applied on the outer skin or vagina. However, the effect of the cream on nursing mothers is not yet studied. Even though relatively safe, Clotrimazole should still be taken on the advice of a medical professional only.