Clotrimazole cream

• Clotrimazole is an antifungal cream
• Clotrimazole cream is used to treat fungal skin infections, such as athlete’s foot
• Clotrimazole is also available as a vaginal cream

Clotrimazole cream contains the active substance clotrimazole. The cream is available in various forms:

• Clotrimazole hydrophilic cream is used for fungal infection of the feet (athlete’s foot), a condition that causes the skin on the feet to become red and scaly.
• Clotrimazole cream for vaginal use is used for vaginal yeast infections (vaginal thrush). Vaginal thrush is characterised by an increase of white discharge from the vagina and irritation and itching in the vagina/labia area.

Clotrimazole cream kills the fungi and yeasts that cause the infection to reduce these symptoms and allow the skin to heal.

Instructions for dosage and use are as follows:

Hydrophilic cream - for athlete's foot:

• The cream should be applied thinly and evenly to the affected areas, two times daily and rubbed in gently. Use the cream daily without stopping. Keep treating the affected skin until the infection disappears and continue use for some time to prevent the infection from recurring. The symptoms of skin infection should improve within two weeks of treatment. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

• The cream should be applied thinly to the affected areas twice daily for one week. Clotrimazole 10 mg/g cream for external vaginal use can be combined with a cream or tablet for internal use.

Adults and young adults aged 16 and above, for internal use:

• The cream should be inserted into the vagina according to the instructions in the package leaflet, using the disposable applicator provided.
• This is easiest when lying on your back with your legs slightly spread and bent. Carefully insert the applicator into the vagina as deeply as possible to deposit Clotrimazole 10 mg/g cream into the vagina. Treatment consists of one application into the vagina at night for six consecutive days.
• If you feel the effect of your medicine is too weak or too strong, do not change the dose yourself, but ask your doctor or pharmacist. You must contact a doctor if your symptoms worsen or do not improve in seven days.
• Simultaneous treatment of partners with an antifungal cream such as Clotrimazole 10 mg/g vaginal cream is recommended in order to prevent infecting each other again.

For more information on how to use Clotrimazole vaginal cream, please see the package leaflet.

If you use more/forget to use Clotrimazole

Have you used more Clotrimazole cream than you should? No cases of overdose have been reported. If the cream is swallowed accidentally, tell your doctor straight away.

Do not use this medicine if:

• You are allergic to clotrimazole or any of the other ingredients in this medicine (see section ‘What Clotrimazole cream contains').

When should this medicine be used with caution?

There are no warnings or precautions associated with the use of Clotrimazole hydrophilic cream.

For Clotrimazole vaginal cream, the following warnings and precautions apply.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine if:

• You have had more than three infections of thrush in the last 12 months.
• You have ever had a sexually transmitted disease.
• Your partner has a sexually transmitted disease.
• You are pregnant or think you might be pregnant.
• You are under the age of 16.

Do not use Clotrimazole 10 mg/g vaginal cream if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Pain or difficulty passing urine.
• Fever and chills.
• Irregular or abnormal vaginal bleeding.
• Ulcers, blisters or sores of the vagina or vulva.
• Lower back pain.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Diarrhoea.
• A puss-like vaginal discharge.
• A foul-smelling vaginal discharge.

Contact a doctor as Clotrimazole vaginal cream may not be the right treatment for you.

Note:

• Clotrimazole 10 mg/g vaginal cream may reduce the effectiveness of rubber contraceptives, such as condoms or diaphragms. This effect is temporary and only occurs during treatment.
• Do not use Clotrimazole 10 mg/g vaginal cream during your period as it may be less effective.

For more warnings on the use of Clotrimazole vaginal cream, please see the package leaflet.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Clotrimazole cream can be used in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Refer to the package leaflet for instructions or consult a doctor or pharmacist.

Other medicines and Clotrimazole cream

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Clotrimazole hydrophilic cream:

In rare cases, you might develop hypersensitive reactions or skin irritation with itching, redness, burning, stinging, blisters and discharge. A few cases of hives have been reported.

Clotrimazole vaginal cream:

The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine:

• Allergic reactions, which in severe cases may cause swelling of the lips, tongue or throat (angioedema), anaphylactic reactions (which may be accompanied by nausea, diarrhoea, low blood pressure (hypotension), difficulty in breathing (dyspnoea), loss of consciousness).
• Redness of the skin (erythema), itching (pruritus), widespread skin rash (exanthem), burning or tingling sensation on the skin, irritation or reaction at the site of application, swelling that occurs from fluid retention (oedema).
• Vaginal bleeding.
• Use of the cream may cause irritation of the vagina or penis of your partner.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet.

What Clotrimazole hydrophilic cream contains:

• The active substance is 10 mg clotrimazole per gram of cream.
• The other ingredients are: benzyl alcohol (10 mg per gram of cream), sorbitan monostearate, polysorbate, cetyl esters wax, cetostearyl alcohol, octyldodecanol and purified water.

What Clotrimazole vaginal cream contains:

• The active substance is 10 mg clotrimazole per gram of cream.
• The other ingredients are: cetyl palmitate, octyldodecanol, polysorbate 60 (E435), sorbitan stearate (E491), benzyl alcohol (E1519), cetostearyl alcohol and purified water.