Clotrimazole 1% cream

Clotrimazole 1% cream is an antifungal cream used to treat fungal skin infections including:

• thrush
• ringworm (tinea)
• fungal nappy rash
• athlete’s foot
• fungal sweat rash
• jock itch

Thrush, also known as a yeast infection, is commonly caused by a fungus called Candida. Normally, a small amount of Candida lives on your skin without causing any problems. Thrush occurs when the fungus grows more than usual. This can be because of:

• antibiotics
• diabetes
• poor general health
• taking a contraceptive pill

If you have vaginal thrush, you might feel uncomfortable symptoms such as itching and soreness of the skin around your vagina.

Clotrimazole 1% cream is for external use only. Only use it on your skin. Do not use it inside your vagina or inside your mouth for oral thrush. You can get clotrimazole in the form of a pessary (vaginal tablet) to treat thrush inside your vagina.

Clotrimazole 1% cream works by stopping fungus from multiplying and growing on your skin. The active ingredient, clotrimazole, is an antifungal and is absorbed by your skin when you apply it. You need to apply clotrimazole 1% cream more than once per day for it to be effective, so we recommend using it 3 times per day.

When you use clotrimazole 1% cream, your skin will feel less sore and less itchy. Even if you feel better, you need to keep applying clotrimazole 1% cream for 2 weeks to make sure you kill off enough fungus so the infection does not come back.

You can use clotrimazole 1% cream to treat a skin fungal infection such as thrush if you are not allergic to:

• any of the ingredients in clotrimazole 1% cream
• other imidazole medicines such as ketoconazole or miconazole

Talk to your doctor before using clotrimazole 1% cream if you:

• take any other medication
• are pregnant or think you may be pregnant
• are breastfeeding
• plan to get pregnant
• have previously had an allergic reaction to medication containing clotrimazole

If you’re not sure whether you can use clotrimazole 1% cream, get in touch with your doctor or a healthcare professional. You can find more details about who can use clotrimazole 1% cream in the patient information leaflet that comes in the box.

Clotrimazole 1% cream contains the same active ingredient (clotrimazole) as Canesten cream. They’re both used to treat the same types of antifungal infections, such as thrush.

The main difference between clotrimazole 1% cream and Canesten cream is that they have different manufacturers so may contain different inactive ingredients.

When you apply clotrimazole 1% cream you may experience some side effects that may include:

• itching
• rash
• blisters
• irritation
• redness or peeling

If you get side effects, you should stop using clotrimazole 1% cream and speak to a doctor. You may need to try an alternative treatment for thrush, such as a fluconazole 150mg capsule.

You may experience an allergic reaction when using clotrimazole 1% cream. Signs of an allergic reaction include:

• a rash that can come up anywhere on your body
• difficulty swallowing or breathing
• swollen lips, face, throat or tongue
• feeling weak or dizzy
• nausea or feeling sick

You must call 999 if you have an allergic reaction to clotrimazole 1% cream.

For more details about the possible side effects of clotrimazole 1% cream, please read the patient information leaflet that comes inside the box.

Clotrimazole 1% cream may affect how condoms or vaginal diaphragms work as contraceptives. So you should avoid having sex for 5 days after you use clotrimazole 1% cream, unless you have an a different way to prevent pregnancy.

Which active ingredients does clotrimazole 1% cream contain?

The active ingredient in clotrimazole 1% cream is clotrimazole. There is 10mg of clotrimazole per 1g of clotrimazole 1% cream.

The other ingredients in clotrimazole 1% cream are benzyl alcohol, polysorbate 60, cetyl esters wax, cetostearyl alcohol, octyldodecanol, sorbitan monostearate and purified water.

How should clotrimazole 1% cream be disposed of?

You should take any unused or expired clotrimazole 1% cream to your local pharmacy for disposal.

How should clotrimazole 1% cream be stored?

Store your clotrimazole 1% cream in its original tube and box. There’s no need to put clotrimazole cream in the fridge.

What does clotrimazole 1% cream look like?

Clotrimazole 1% cream looks like a smooth, white and opaque cream.

In which pack sizes is clotrimazole 1% cream available?

Clotrimazole 1% cream is available as a 20g tube.

Information on the manufacturer

The manufacturer of clotrimazole 1% cream is Mylan UK Healthcare Limited, Building 20, Station Close, Potters Bar, EN6 1TL.