Canesten Duo
Order tablets and external cream for thrush


Prices from £14.99
In stock. Simply fill in a brief questionnaire. One of our doctors will review your order and prescribe a suitable treatment. How to Order
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Canesten Duo is a type of thrush treatment which includes a capsule that is taken by mouth and cream that is applied over the skin. This article covers what Canesten Duo is, how to use it, how soon you can expect it to work, and a comparison to other thrush treatments.



About Canesten Duo
Who can order Canesten Duo online?
You can order Canesten Duo through our Online Consultation Service if you:
- are over 18 years old
- are experiencing symptoms of thrush
- aren’t allergic to the active ingredients in the treatment, called clotrimazole and fluconazole
- aren’t pregnant, and there is no chance that you could be pregnant
- aren’t breastfeeding
- don’t have any health conditions that make Canesten Duo unsafe for you
- aren’t taking other medications that might react with Canesten Duo
How do you order Canesten Duo online?
If you fit the points in the list above, then you can place an order for thrush treatment with us online. Simply follow these steps to place your order:
- Fill out a short online questionnaire about the symptoms you’re experiencing, your general health, and your lifestyle. This should only take you a few minutes to complete
- Place an order for your preferred treatment option
- A Zava Doctor will check your questionnaire to see if your order is right for you
- If your order is right for you, it’ll be posted to your preferred address. Or, you can collect it from a local post office instead
Side effects of Canesten Duo
All medicines can cause side effects. Listed below are the most common side effects experienced by people who’ve used Canesten Duo. A full list of side effects can be found in the leaflet that comes with your supply of Canesten Duo.
The cream included in Canesten Duo can cause:
- itching
- a rash
- blisters
- a burning sensation
- discomfort
- swelling
- redness
- irritation or peeling of skin
The capsule included in Canesten Duo can cause:
- a headache
- stomach discomfort
- diarrhoea
- feeling sick (nausea)
- being sick (vomiting)
- a rash
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Article created: 18 Feb 2019
Last reviewed: 18 Feb 2019
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Bayer Group. Canesten Thrush Combi. [online]. Available from: https://www.canesten.co.uk/en/female/products/canesten-thrush-combi-pessary-external-cream/ [accessed 31st January 2019].
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Bayer Group. Canesten Thrush Duo. [online] Available from: https://www.canesten.co.uk/en/female/products/canesten-thrush-duo-oral-capsule-external-cream/ [accessed 31st January 2019].
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Joint Formulary Committee. Clotrimazole. British National Formulary. London: BMJ Group and Pharmaceutical Press. [online] Available from: https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/clotrimazole.html [accessed 30th January 2019].
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Joint Formulary Committee. Fluconazole. British National Formulary. London: BMJ Group and Pharmaceutical Press. [online] Available from: https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/fluconazole.html [accessed 31st January 2019].
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NHS (2018). Can a man catch thrush from a female partner? [online] Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/sexual-health/can-a-man-catch-thrush-from-a-female-partner/ [accessed 1st February 2019].

GMC: 6149061

GMC: 7074021

GMC: 7155722

