Canesten cream for thrush

Canesten cream is an antifungal skin medication that’s manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Bayer. It contains the active ingredient clotrimazole at 1 to 2% concentration and comes as a thick, white cream.

Most commonly, Canesten cream is used to treat the external symptoms of vaginal thrush, such as:

• vaginal and vulvar itching and irritation
• soreness and stinging during sex or when you pee
• white discharge, looking like cottage cheese, which may smell yeasty but not unpleasant

Canesten cream is also used to treat other kinds of skin infections caused by different types of fungi, including:

• athletes foot
• ringworm
• fungal nappy rash
• fungal sweat rash
• candidiasis (thrush) on the outside of the vagina (vulva)
• candidiasis on the tip of the penis

Thrush is caused by an overgrowth of fungus (also called fungi). The active ingredient of Canesten cream, clotrimazole, works by stopping the thrush-causing fungi from making ergosterol, an important chemical needed to maintain fungal cell structure.

Without ergosterol, fungal cells can no longer maintain their integrity and eventually die. The symptoms of the fungal infection will then improve.

How long will Canesten cream take to work?

The cream will provide some relief when applied, but it may take a few days (usually 1 to 2) for symptoms such as itching and soreness to fully improve. In clinical trials, 42% of people reported improvement in symptoms within 4 hours, and 76 to 88% of people reported symptom relief within 1 day.

How effective is Canesten cream?

Canesten cream is an effective treatment for the external itching, burning, redness, and discomfort of vaginal or vulvar thrush (also known as candidiasis). In a clinical trial, over 90% of women reported improvements in their symptoms and quality of life after using Canesten cream.

When using Canesten cream for vaginal thrush, you should apply the cream thinly and evenly around the entrance to the vagina and rub it in gently. Always wash your hands before and after use. Repeat this 2 to 3 times a day for up to 2 weeks.

The cream should be used along with a product to treat the internal infection. If your symptoms do not improve within 7 days of finishing the product for the internal infection, speak to your doctor.

Always use Canesten cream as instructed by a healthcare professional if it has been prescribed for you. If you are unsure whether you have thrush, it’s always best to seek a professional opinion.

How much Canesten cream to use

A 1cm strip of cream is enough to treat an area the size of a hand. Adjust this depending on the area you are treating. The cream should be applied as a thin layer and rubbed in until it disappears.

How long to use Canesten cream for

Treatment should be continued until symptoms of the infection disappear. Your sexual partner may also need to be treated at the same time. It can be used for up to a maximum of 2 weeks.

What if I miss a dose of Canesten cream?

Apply the cream as soon as you remember and continue using it 2 to 3 times a day as normal.

What if I use too much Canesten cream?

You may find your skin becomes irritated or red if you apply too much Canesten cream. Simply use less cream next time – studies have found no risk of overdose when used on the skin. You can wash it off if you’ve used too much and it’s causing pain or irritation.

Important: Although Canesten cream is an effective thrush treatment, it should only be used without medical advice if you are sure your symptoms are caused by thrush and you have had thrush previously.

A 1% or 2% clotrimazole Canesten cream is usually used for thrush, while 1% clotrimazole is typically used for other skin conditions like athlete's foot and ringworm.

External Canesten cream is not to be confused with internal Canesten cream, which contains 10% clotrimazole and is inserted into the vagina.

If you’re unsure about which Canesten cream to use, ask for advice from a healthcare professional.

Canesten cream is a non-prescription medication and can be purchased from high street pharmacies, shops, and online doctor services like ZAVA.

In some cases, a doctor will prescribe you Canesten cream, although it may be cheaper for you to purchase the cream yourself privately rather than paying for the NHS prescription fee.

It’s also possible to buy unbranded clotrimazole cream that contains the same active ingredient but is manufactured by a different pharmaceutical company and is generally cheaper because it’s generic.

We offer unbranded clotrimazole cream, Canesten cream, and a variety of other thrush treatments that deal with the infection and symptoms.

To order your thrush treatment, simply:

1. Fill in a short medical questionnaire.
2. Select your preferred thrush treatment.
3. Our medical team will check if it’s suitable for you or suggest an alternative.
4. Your product will be dispatched and delivered to your door.

Canesten cream is a safe medication that has very few side effects. Once you apply the cream, you may feel some itchiness or burning. If this does not disappear after an hour or so, do not use the cream again and speak to your doctor.

As with all medications, it’s possible to have an allergic reaction to the cream. This usually happens soon after you use the cream, and signs to look out for include:

• rashes
• facial, lip, throat, or tongue swelling
• breathing or swallowing problems
• weakness, dizziness, or feeling faint
• nausea (feeling sick)

Contact 999 immediately if someone’s breathing is affected, their airway becomes swollen, they become confused, or they lose consciousness.

For more information on potential side effects, you can read the patient information leaflet.

Canesten cream may not be right for everyone. Do not use Canesten cream if you are allergic to any of the ingredients, including clotrimazole, cetostearyl alcohol, or benzyl alcohol.

You should speak to a doctor before using Canesten cream for thrush if you:

• have never had thrush before, or you’re unsure whether your symptoms are caused by thrush
• have had more than 2 thrush infections in the last 6 months
• or your partner have ever had a sexually transmitted infection (STI)
• are younger than 16 or older than 60 years old
• have had an allergic reaction to other Canesten or antifungal products
• have irregular or abnormal vaginal bleeding
• have vaginal or vulvar ulcers, blisters, or sores

Using clotrimazole creams like Canesten while taking other medications is not known to cause any issues.

Avoid using Canesten cream and speak to your doctor first if you have the following symptoms:

• lower abdominal pain
• difficulty passing urine
• fever
• chills
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhoea
• foul-smelling vaginal discharge

These may be signs of another type of infection, so Canesten cream would not be the right treatment.

Canesten cream is for external use only and should not be put inside the mouth or swallowed. Contact your doctor if the cream is swallowed.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Canesten cream can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding if needed, but you should discuss this with a doctor or midwife before using it.

Contraception

As with other creams applied around the vagina, Canesten cream can make condoms and diaphragms work less effectively. You should take other precautions for at least 5 days after using Canesten cream.

Canesten cream is an effective thrush treatment, but it should be used alongside a product to treat internal thrush.

Clotrimazole pessaries, gels, and internal creams

Internal thrush can be treated with a clotrimazole pessary (tablet put inside the vagina), vaginal gel, or internal vaginal cream. These treatments can be used alongside external Canesten cream, which can relieve the external symptoms.

Fluconazole tablets

If you do not respond to treatment with clotrimazole or cannot take it, another antifungal medicine called fluconazole may be used instead. This is taken orally as a tablet and is available over the counter or on prescription.

At ZAVA, we can prescribe:

• Canesten Combi – a combination treatment containing a pessary and Canesten 2% cream
• Canesten Duo – a combination treatment containing a single-dose oral capsule and Canesten 2% cream
• clotrimazole 1% cream – unbranded version of Canesten cream, for external use only and available in 1% strength instead of 2%
• fluconazole – a single-dose oral capsule containing 150mg of fluconazole
• fluconazole 150mg capsule + clotrimazole 2% cream – an unbranded version of Canesten Duo, usually available at a cheaper price