Representatives of the fair sex very often encounter various fungal diseases of the genitourinary system. Some people start taking expensive medications, while others plunge headlong into traditional medicine.
- Quick navigation through the article:
- What is Clotrimazole used for (ointment, suppositories, cream)
- Clotrimazole ointment (cream): instructions for use for women
- Clotrimazole ointment or cream, which is better?
- Features of using Clotrimazole ointment during pregnancy
- Clotrimazole ointment: composition
- Clotrimazole Akrikhin ointment for thrush
- Clotrimazole ointment: reviews
- Reviews
Many have simply forgotten about one of the most accessible and effective remedies recommended by doctors - Clotrimazole ointment. Instructions for use for women and a complete guide to this product can be found in this article.
What is Clotrimazole used for (ointment, suppositories, cream)
Clotrimazole is a broad-spectrum drug that is used in drug therapy aimed at treating fungal infections caused by dermatophytes, yeast-like fungi and molds.
Clotrimazole is a broad-spectrum drug that is used in drug therapy
The product also actively fights the pathogens of erythrasma and lichen. The active substance has antibacterial properties, covering gram-positive microorganisms. The list includes: streptococci, staphylococci and corynebacteria.
The presented drug is prescribed if:
- balanoposthitis;
- vaginal infection;
- candidal vulvitis;
- depriving;
- mycosis of the skin (including secondary infection);
- urogenital candidiasis;
- fungal diaper rash and erosion;
Clotrimazole ointment copes with all this. For women, the instructions for use are expanded. This is because it is prescribed to prevent relapses of various fungal infections of the genitourinary system. Most often this occurs due to constant (long) courses of antibiotics.
It is worth noting that the presented product is available in different forms for ease of use and active zone of action. Women are prescribed several medications with the same active ingredient at once, as this speeds up the healing process.
Vaginal tablets and suppositories are prescribed to women for the treatment of genital tract infections, thrush , and are also used to sanitize the vagina in preparation for childbirth.
Before use, they must be slightly soaked in water. They have a minimal risk of side effects and are used exclusively at night.
Instructions for using Clotrimazole ointment for women are very simple. Apply a thin layer to the affected areas of the skin twice a day. An overdose is not typical for this form of release. It should be stored in a dry and cool place.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW! The minimum course of treatment is 7 days. If a fungal disease is detected in a woman (thrush), then her partner also needs to undergo a course of treatment. Clotrimazole cream is best suited for men, as it has a 2% concentrate.
Rules of application
To increase the effectiveness of treatment, the product must be used strictly according to the instructions. It lists several steps to follow:
- Soak affected limbs in hot water. It is also recommended to add grated laundry or tar soap or baking soda. This procedure lasts about 10-15 minutes.
- Before treatment, you need to trim your nails and remove dead skin particles.
- Dry your feet with a paper towel.
- Apply the ointment carefully, but do not rub the product in. Give it time to absorb.
On average, treatment lasts 2-4 months, much depends on the stage of the disease, the area and area of the fungal infection. If the fungus appears on the nail plate, then therapy will require more time - from 5 months. In this case, after recovery, it is necessary to continue the course and use the antifungal drug for another 2-3 weeks to prevent relapse.
In order for recovery to occur a little earlier, it is advisable to carry out complex therapy: combine the use of antifungals with vitamins. Good immunity is the key to health. In addition, this will protect a person from mycosis infection in the future.
The fungus is very contagious . To protect loved ones from infection, you must adhere to the following rules:
- Wash your feet thoroughly and then rinse them so that no foam from soap or gel remains on the skin. This is due to the fact that the alkali contained in detergents does not allow the antimycotic to penetrate deeply.
- Use only personal items: robe, towel. However, they must be washed every five days. As a last resort, you can use disposable paper towels.
- When treating nails and keratinized particles, work only with a personal manicure set and be sure to disinfect the devices, and after recovery, purchase new ones.
- During treatment, you should not visit public places - swimming pool, sauna or bathhouse.
- Do not use someone else’s shoes; be sure to wear slippers at home and change your socks daily.
- After washing your feet, you need to dry them thoroughly: a humid environment is most favorable for the reproduction and development of fungi.
- Be sure to complete the entire course without any breaks.
- Do not exceed the dose stated in the instructions, otherwise some side effects may occur in the form of hives and watery blisters.
- After handling activities, be sure to wash your hands with soap or use any antiseptic. These basic actions will prevent the fungal infection from spreading to healthy areas of the body.
In addition, before use, it is still better to consult a specialized doctor, since the fungus has different forms and the use of Clotrimazole may not have the desired effect. It is better to get tested, diagnose the disease, and only then begin proper treatment.
https://youtu.be/Dt_vEVoH1Go
Clotrimazole ointment (cream): instructions for use for women
When using an ointment or cream, a girl must take certain precautions!
The drug has contraindications:
- Increased sensitivity and individual intolerance. It is best to do a skin test before use.
- If you have pathologies of the hematopoietic organs, then Clotrimazole cannot be used.
- Serious liver diseases.
- First 3 months of pregnancy.
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IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER! There is also a creamy form of the drug, which is not intended for external use. If the kit comes with an applicator, then you need to insert the cream inside the vagina.
It doesn’t matter what form of release you use for applying to the skin (cream or ointment). In both cases, it is necessary to properly prepare the skin before use.
It doesn’t matter what form of release you use for applying to the skin (cream or ointment). In both cases, it is necessary to properly prepare the skin before use.
The procedure for applying the cream to the skin:
- Wash the affected area of the body with warm water and a mild soap solution. You can use PH-neutral intimate gels.
- Apply a thin layer (5 mm strip of the substance) to the painful area, lightly covering healthy areas of the skin.
- Rub the product in with light movements.
- Until Clotrimazole is absorbed, you should not wear underwear.
Use the medication 1 to 3 times a day. The exact dosage and instructions for use for women of Clotrimazole (ointment or cream) can only be given by the attending physician!
Side effects, contraindications
The medicine is usually well tolerated. Due to the lack of systemic absorption, only local side effects are possible, which manifest themselves in the form of itching, red spots, rash, tingling, burning. Most often, burning and itching are observed with intravaginal use. Usually, discontinuation of therapy is not required, unpleasant phenomena quickly pass. In rare cases, a local form of urticaria may develop. Also rarely observed among unpleasant reactions are:
- severe irritation;
- blisters;
- peeling.
When treating candidiasis, women sometimes experience increased urination. In case of overdose during intravaginal application, there is a risk of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and headaches (in isolated cases).
During pregnancy in the 1st trimester, it is better not to use any medications, only if absolutely necessary. But according to indications, treatment in pregnant women is possible, since in experiments clotrimazole did not have a negative effect on the fetus. During lactation, it is prohibited to smear the skin of the mammary gland; therapy on other parts of the body is permitted. Children under 2 years of age are not treated with ointment, as is the case with end-stage liver diseases. It makes no sense to treat herpes with this remedy - the ointment does not help with viral pathologies.
Clotrimazole ointment or cream, which is better?
Of course, there is no point in comparing a cream for vaginal administration with an ointment for external use. After all, such a remedy is a mild dosage form. At the same time, this is the only way to control the exact individual dosage and the syringe applicator helps with this.
Only he will be able to deliver the substance to the most inaccessible places. You should compare ointment and cream for external use. Is there a difference between them? The composition, indications for use and contraindications are the same! Then what is the difference and does it exist?
Ointment – made on the basis of Vaseline! It is thanks to him that such a fatty structure is observed
Ointment – made on the basis of Vaseline! It is thanks to him that such a fatty structure is observed. The ointment takes longer to absorb, and therefore it is prescribed to those with sensitive and irritated skin.
The cream has a very light structure , which allows it to be quickly absorbed, does not stain clothes, and you can quickly get back to your normal activities. In addition, it is considered more convenient to use against fungal infections.
It was already mentioned above that any form of Clotrimazole is contraindicated for use by women during the 1st trimester of pregnancy.
In the 2nd and 3rd trimester, before prescribing Clotrimazole, doctors weigh the pros and cons and prescribe the drug only if absolutely necessary.
Features of using Clotrimazole ointment during pregnancy
As for Clotrimazole ointment, the instructions for use for pregnant women are no different from the above instructions. However, very often, for better results, vaginal tablets are also prescribed in conjunction with a topical drug.
In this case, tablets (suppositories) should be administered without an applicator! During breastfeeding, the drug is used with great caution, since today it is not known whether the components penetrate into breast milk!
As for Clotrimazole ointment, the instructions for use for pregnant women are no different from the above instructions
Release form
- gel 1% (pack of 20 and 40 g);
- cream 1% (tubes 15, 20, 30 and 50 g);
- ointment 1% (tubes 15, 20, 30 and 40 g);
- 1% solution (15 ml bottles);
- vaginal suppositories 0.1 g (package No. 6);
- vaginal tablets 0.1, 0.2 or 0.5 g (packaging No. 1, No. 3, No. 6; tablets are equipped with an applicator).
Clotrimazole tablets and vaginal suppositories have an ATC code different from other dosage forms of the drug - G01AF02.
Clotrimazole can also be produced in the form of granules, powder for external use, or spray.
The drug is intended for local (including intravaginal) and external use; tablets for oral administration are not available.
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Clotrimazole ointment: composition
In some cases, the composition of the ointment may differ: the manufacturers are different and, naturally, there may be other additives or the concentration of a particular substance may vary.
The most common indicators are:
- 1% ointment for external use
- It has a white color and a homogeneous mass.
- 1 g contains 10 mg of the active substance Clotrimazole.
- Auxiliary components include: polyethylene oxide 400 and 1500, propylene glycol, methylparaben or nipagin.
Most often they are produced in aluminum tubes weighing 30 g. The packaging is cardboard.
Cost of Clotrimazole ointment: price Russia, Ukraine, Belarus
We have already mentioned that Clotrimazole is one of the most affordable drugs in the treatment of fungal diseases.
In order for you to be convinced of this, we provide a comparative table of the minimum and maximum costs in three neighboring countries:
A country | Minimum cost | Maximum cost |
Russia | 34 RUR | 72 RUR |
Ukraine | 7.59 UAH | 28.87 UAH |
Belarus | 2.10 RUR | 2.75 RUR |
Why do prices vary so much? It all depends on the region and manufacturer! Domestic development will cost you less than the same Clotrimazole produced in Poland.
Clotrimazole Akrikhin ointment for thrush
Many doctors advise using Russian-made ointment. It is cheaper, but at the same time it fights thrush 2 times more effectively . We all know that after the birth of a child, any woman forgets about her problems and completely devotes herself to her baby. However, thrush can affect not only the mother, but also her baby!
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Clotrimazole Akrikhin in just a few days helps get rid of Candida fungi that can settle in the baby’s mouth. The ointment does not have an unpleasant odor or strong taste, which is very important when used for children.
How to cure thrush Clotrimazole Akrikhin ointment:
- Soak a cotton pad in a light soda solution.
- Carefully remove white plaque from the child’s mouth.
- Apply a very thin layer of ointment to the affected areas.
Signs of thrush
Should be used 2 times a day. You will notice an improvement already on the 2nd day of use. If the plaque completely disappears, it is necessary to continue treatment for another 2 days to consolidate the result.
It is worth noting that the instructions for this drug do not say a word about the treatment of thrush in women. Therefore, only a doctor can determine the advisability of use in this direction.
special instructions
In order to use Clotrimazole ointment for thrush, a doctor's prescription is not required. The drug is freely available in pharmacies.
When Clotrimazole (ointment) is used, the instructions for thrush in women do not recommend combining it with other antimycotics, primarily those containing nystatin and natamycin. This is contraindicated due to the reduced activity of clotrimazole.
Sexual life with candidiasis should be interrupted during treatment, since the antifungal agent can provoke an allergic reaction in the partner, and when protected with condoms, it reduces their contraceptive properties.
Clotrimazole ointment: patient reviews
High efficiency of the drug and affordable price - these two factors become decisive! This is why Clotrimazole ointment is so popular today. Simple instructions for use for women, minimal contraindications and no serious side effects.
This medication currently has a huge number of positive reviews. 96% of patients are satisfied with the effect of Clotrimazole, since the substance has a rapid effect and after several uses an improvement in the condition is observed.
Among other things, this medicine has a balanced consistency, which makes it easy to treat the skin.
NOTE! The drug must be used exclusively as prescribed by a doctor. In case of self-treatment, you will be among those who complain about ineffectiveness. This is because it is necessary to correctly adjust the dosage and duration of treatment, and only a specialist can do this!
Sometimes in reviews of the drug there are references to the occurrence of redness and burning of the skin after applying the ointment. This information should not be considered a real negative, because in this case such incidents are explained by individual intolerance to the active substance.
When prescribed correctly, Clotrimazole can easily cope with various fungal diseases in the female body.
The main thing is to choose the right treatment regimen, dosage and not use the product without a doctor’s prescription. The drug is in a low price range, which means it is available to everyone. At the same time, it is not inferior to any expensive medicine, but only exceeds all expectations.
Watch all about the use and side effects of the drug Clotrimazole in this video:
In this video, an obstetrician-gynecologist talks about the drug Clotrimazole:
https://youtu.be/lCOD_xznLmk
About clotrimazole during pregnancy, watch this video:
Overdose
When applied to the skin and intravaginally, there is no risk of acute intoxication, since clotrimazole enters the systemic circulation in very small quantities.
In case of accidental ingestion of Clotrimazole, nausea, anorexia, vomiting, gastralgia, and liver dysfunction are possible. In rare cases, pollakiuria, hallucinations, drowsiness, and allergic skin reactions are observed.
In this case, the patient is prescribed enterosorbents and symptomatic treatment. Gastric lavage is performed in situations where a life-threatening dose was taken within the previous hour, as well as in the presence of visible symptoms of an overdose (nausea, dizziness, vomiting).