This leaflet answers some common questions about Canesten Thrush Treatment.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your pharmacist has weighed the risks of you taking Canesten Thrush Treatment against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about using this treatment, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.
Canesten Thrush Treatment is used to treat a fungal infection in the vagina and vulval area (thrush).
This medicine belongs to a group of medicines called azole antifungals.
Candida albicans is a yeast fungus that can multiply rapidly and cause damage to the vagina when other micro-organisms aren't present in a normal balance.
Some situations which can increase susceptibility to thrush are:
Thrush may cause the following symptoms:
The symptoms below are not usually signs of thrush:
See your doctor if you experience any of the above symptoms.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about whether this medicine is suitable for you.
This medicine is available without a doctor's prescription, only through your pharmacist.
Do not use Canesten Thrush Treatment if you have an allergy to:
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include swelling to the area to which treatment has been applied; rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should start using this medicine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
See your doctor if:
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. You should see your doctor if you suspect you have thrush in the first three months of your pregnancy. Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved with treatment.
Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding and want to use this treatment. It is not known whether the active ingredient, clotrimazole, is excreted in breast milk. Your doctor will be able to discuss with you the risks and benefits involved with treatment.
Tell your doctor if you are diabetic. Thrush in diabetics can mean that your blood sugar levels are not well controlled. Your doctor will be able to check this for you and advise treatment.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you start taking Canesten Thrush Treatment.
There are no reports of Canesten Thrush Treatment interfering with other medicines.
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
Wash your hands thoroughly before handling the pessary, or using the applicator. To avoid the possibility of re-infection, strict personal hygiene must be observed.
The pessary should preferably be inserted in the evening, just before bed time, with the use of the applicator. Using it before you go to sleep will have the best effect.
Loading the applicator
Inserting the applicator
Insert one pessary, nightly for 6 consecutive nights.
Alternatively, insert two pessaries, nightly for 3 consecutive nights.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
DO NOT TAKE THE PESSARY BY MOUTH
Seek medical advice if you or anyone else has taken Canesten 6 Day pessary by mouth. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need medical attention.
Discontinue treatment and tell your doctor or pharmacist if you develop a local reaction to this product.
See your doctor if the symptoms are not gone within 4 days.
Do not use Canesten Thrush Treatment to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give your treatment to anyone else, even if you suspect they have the same condition as you.
Canesten Thrush Treatment may reduce the effectiveness and safety of latex products, such as condoms and diaphragms. This effect is temporary and occurs only during treatment.
Some self help measures suggested below may help your condition. Your doctor or pharmacist can give you more information about these measures.
Avoid where possible:
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you experience discomfort while you are using Canesten Thrush Treatment. This medicine helps most people with thrush but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects.
Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.
Do not be alarmed by the following side effect. You may not experience it.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
Any of the above may be signs of an allergic reaction. Your doctor or pharmacist may recommend you discontinue treatment if you experience these effects.
Keep the pessary in the protective blister pack until it is time to use it.
Keep your pessary in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Keep the treatment where children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
The expiry date is marked on the end panel of the carton and is also printed on the back of the blister. The date refers to the month and year of expiration eg 0805, refers to the eighth month of 2005. The product can be used until the end of this month.
If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.
Discard the medicine out of the reach of children.
Canesten Thrush Treatment 6 Day Pessary is 6 white pellet-shaped pessaries packaged in an aluminium blister.
The package carton contains a plastic applicator for the insertion of the pessaries. The plastic applicator is for use with the Canesten pessaries only.
Each Canesten Thrush Treatment 6 Day Pessary contains 100 mg clotrimazole as the active ingredient. It also contains:
This medicine does not contain sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Canesten® Thrush Treatment 6 Day Pessary is made in Germany.