Clotrimazole

Brand names

• Canesten
• Clotrimaderm
• Clotrimazole
• Femcare
• Femzol-7
• Gyne-Lotrimin
• Lotriderm
• Lotrimin
• Lotrimin AF
• Lotrisone
• Mycelex
• Mycelex-G
• Mycelex-7
• Myclo
• Myclo-Gyne
• Neo-Zol
• Scheinpharm

Usage

To treat fungal infections of the vaginal area (yeast infection), and the skin, such as tinea corporis (ringworm), tinea cruris (jock itch), tinea pedis (athlete's foot), and pityriasis versicolor ("sun fungus," a fungal skin condition characterized by fine scaly patches of varying shapes, sizes, and colors).

How it works

Clotrimazole prevents fungal organisms from producing vital substances required for growth and function.

Side effects

Serious

Topical and vaginal: hives, skin rash, itching, burning, peeling, stinging, redness, or other skin irritation not present prior to treatment.

Common

Topical: none reported. Vaginal: vaginal burning, itching, discharge, or other irritation not present prior to treatment.

Less common

Topical and lozenge: none reported. vaginal: Headache, stomach cramps or pain, irritation or burning of sexual partner's penis.

Possible interactions

Other medicaments:

Clotrimazole (oral dosage forms) taken concurrently with:

• amphotericin B lipid complex (Abelcet) may blunt benefits.
• betamethasone (Diprolene, others) may worsen infections.
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune) may result in cyclosporine toxicity.
• dofetilide (Tikosyn) may result in dofetilide toxicity.
• tacrolimus (Prograf) can result in kidney toxicity and increased potassium and glucose.
• trimexate (Neutrexin) may result in trimexate toxicity.

Herbal medicines or minerals:

Echinacea: some patients use Echinacea to attempt to boost their immune systems. Unfortunately, use of Echinacea is not recommended in people with damaged immune systems. This herb may also actually weaken any immune system if it is used too often or for too long a time. Do not take mistletoe herb, oak bark or marshmallow root and licorice.

Discontinuation:

As directed by your doctor.