Canesten Duo

Canesten Duo is a thrush treatment that includes two separate medicines:

• a capsule to take by mouth, containing a medicine called fluconazole
• cream to spread on any areas that are affected by thrush, containing a medicine called clotrimazole

Thrush is a fungal infection caused by a type of yeast called Candida albicans. The yeast that’s responsible for thrush is found in small amounts on everyone’s skin. However, you start to get symptoms of thrush when there’s an overgrowth of this yeast.

Both the fluconazole and clotrimazole that is contained in Canesten Duo will treat thrush by killing some the yeast responsible for the infection. The cream contained in Canesten Duo will improve the itching, discomfort, or pain that is caused by thrush.

Canesten Duo is suitable for people who have previously been diagnosed by a doctor as having thrush. You may consider using Canesten Duo if you’d prefer to use a capsule and cream combination rather than other methods, such as pessaries, to treat thrush.

One pack of Canesten Duo contains a single capsule and a tube containing 10g of cream.

To use the capsule:

• Swallow it whole with a glass of water
• You can take it before or after food
• One capsule is enough to cover the treatment for a breakout of thrush

To use the cream:

• Spread it thinly and evenly over the areas affected by thrush
• Rub the cream into the skin gently
• Use the cream two to three times per day until the thrush clears

If you are unsure how much cream you should put on, a strip of cream the length of your fingertip roughly covers an area of skin the size of your hand.

The cream included in Canesten Duo can make barrier methods of contraception, such as condoms or diaphragms, less effective. If you usually use this type of contraception, we recommend that you use an additional form of contraception during your treatment and for at least five days after you stop using the cream.

With thrush treatment, your symptoms should start to improve in a few days and completely clear within two weeks.

We recommend that you make an appointment with your usual GP if you haven’t seen any improvement after using Canesten Duo for seven days. You should also see a doctor if you’ve had more than two thrush infections within six months.

It’s possible to pass thrush on by having sex with a partner, although this is uncommon. Also, thrush symptoms can make having sex uncomfortable. So, it’s best to avoid having sex until you’ve completed your thrush treatment and your symptoms have cleared up.

Both Canesten Duo and Canesten Combi contains cream to apply to the skin, which are identical to each other in ingredients and effectiveness. The difference is Canesten Duo includes a tablet to be taken by mouth, whereas Canesten Combi contains a pessary. A pessary is a small tablet that is inserted into the vagina.

Canesten Duo and Canesten Combi are as effective as each other in treating thrush. However, it’s difficult to predict how individuals will react to the treatment. Some people choose the treatment that is right for them based on their preferences between taking a tablet and using a pessary. Others find that their body reacts better to one treatment style, based on past experiences.