Canesten Thrush Cream (Clotrimazole 2%) – 20g

Canesten Thrush Cream (Clotrimazole 2%) – 20g How does it work? Canesten thrush cream contains the active ingredient clotrimazole, which is an antifungal medicine used to treat infections with fungi and yeasts. Vaginal thrush is the common term for infections of the vagina with Candida species of fungi, in particular Candida albicans. This infection causes inflammation and discharge from the vagina. Clotrimazole kills the Candida fungi causing the infection by interfering with their cell membranes. It works by stopping the fungi from producing a substance called ergosterol, which is an essential component of fungal cell membranes. The disruption in production of ergosterol causes holes to appear in the fungal cell membrane. The cell membranes of fungi are vital for their survival. They keep unwanted substances from entering the cells and stop the contents of the cells from leaking out. As clotrimazole causes holes to appear in the cell membranes, essential constituents of the fungal cells can leak out. This kills the fungi and treats the infection. Canesten thrush cream contains 2% clotrimazole. It is applied to the outside of the vagina (vulva and labia) to help provide immediate relief from the external symptoms of thrush infection, such as itching, inflammation and soreness. It won’t treat the infection inside your vagina, and so should be used in combination with a thrush treatment that does, for example clotrimazole pessaries or cream that are inserted into the vagina, or antifungal medicine taken by mouth. Your doctor or pharmacist can advise you about which products to use. If your sexual partner also has symptoms of thrush (in men these are soreness and redness of the penis, tightness of the foreskin or a white, odourless discharge from the penis), it is important that they are treated at the same time as you to prevent you being re-infected. Canesten thrush cream can also be used for treating the penis. What is it used for? Relieving the external symptoms (candidal vulvitis) of vaginal thrush (candidal vaginitis) caused by infection with Candida albicans or other yeasts. (This cream should be used in combination with another medicine that treats the infection inside your vagina – ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice about which products to use.) Inflammation of the penis and/or foreskin (candidal balanitis) caused by infection with Candida albicans or other yeasts (also known as thrush). Warning! If this is the first time you have experienced symptoms of vaginal thrush, if you have had more than two infections in the last six months, if you are or could be pregnant, or if you are under 16 or over 60 years of age, you should make sure you consult your doctor before using this medicine. You should also consult your doctor before using this medicine if you are allergic to any other vaginal antifungal products, or have any of the following symptoms: irregular or abnormal vaginal bleeding, blood-stained or foul-smelling vaginal discharge, vulval or vaginal ulcers, blisters or sores, lower abdominal pain, pain passing urine, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea. Canesten thrush cream is not to be taken by mouth. Canesten thrush cream may damage latex (rubber) condoms and diaphragms (caps) and so make them ineffective at preventing pregnancy and STIs. You should use an alternative method of contraception for at least five days after using this medicine, or preferably avoid having sex until after the infection has cleared up. Remember that having sex while you still have the infection is likely to transmit the infection to your partner, who could then transfer it back to you. If your sexual partner also has symptoms of thrush (in men these are soreness and redness of the penis, tightness of the foreskin or a white, odourless discharge from the penis), it is important that they are treated at the same time as you to prevent you being re-infected. Canesten thrush cream can be used for this purpose. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for further advice. You can keep using this cream until the symptoms of the infection have cleared up. However, women should consult their doctor if their symptoms have not got better within a week of using another medicine to treat the internal vaginal infection. Not to be used in Known sensitivity or allergy to any ingredient. This medicine is not recommended for use in children. This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately. Pregnancy and breastfeeding Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine. The safety of this medicine when used during pregnancy has not been specifically studied. However, it has been used by a large number of women during pregnancy without any apparant harmful effects. As with all medicines, you should consult your doctor or midwife before using this medicine during pregnancy. Since very little of this medicine is absorbed into the bloodstream from the vagina it is unlikely that any of the medicine will pass into breast milk. However, as with all medicines, you should seek medical advice from your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine if you are breastfeeding. Side effects Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect. Irritation in area of use. Burning sensation. The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug’s manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.