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Canesten is a product that can treat a variety of fungal skin infections. These include:
Canesten is also an effective treatment for thrush or yeast infections.
This common fungal infection happens when there is an overgrowth of the Candida fungus in the vagina, penis, or mouth.
To treat thrush, Canesten is available as:
Canesten treats thrush by either soothing external skin or by treating the infection internally.
Because of this, it is always best to use an external cream in combination with an internal cream or vaginal pessary.
The active ingredient in Canesten is called Clotrimazole. It works by killing the candida fungus and stopping it from growing.
The treatment should relieve your symptoms within 7 days, but it’s best to continue using Canesten for up to 2 weeks to avoid your thrush recurring.
How you take Canesten depends on which form you are taking. There are different guides for external and internal treatments.
If your treatment has been prescribed by a doctor, follow their guidance on how to take it.
However, a general guide for applying the different forms of Canesten is as follows:
Whilst thrush affects men and women slightly differently, the external cream is used in the same way for all genders.
If your condition hasn’t improved after 7 days, consult your doctor.
Internal creams and pessaries are only used by women, as they must be inserted into the vagina. This directly targets the source of infection.
You will be provided with an applicator to ease the process of inserting the treatment. These work similarly to tampon applicators and are easy to use.
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The cream can cause some discharge, so it might be useful to wear a panty liner.
Your symptoms should disappear within three days of treatment. Consult your doctor if your condition has not improved after 7 days.
The pessary is inserted just like the internal cream. The only difference is that you must place the tablet into the applicator before inserting.
You can purchase ‘combination’ packs containing both external and internal medications. Always read the patient leaflet before starting treatment.
There are several different strengths of Canesten available. It is best to get advice from a doctor about which is the most suitable for you.
Stronger products can only be bought with a doctor’s prescription. However, if you have had thrush before and are familiar with the symptoms, you can purchase lower strengths of Canesten at your local pharmacy.
Only available with a prescription | Available over-the-counter |
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Only use over-the-counter Canesten products if you are sure you have thrush. If you aren’t certain, or you think it could be something else, consult a healthcare professional.
As with all medications, there is a chance that you might experience some side effects. In most cases, these will be mild and will go away by themselves once you stop taking treatment.
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If an allergic reaction occurs, you should stop taking Canesten immediately and seek emergency medical help. Signs of an allergic reaction include:
Speak to your doctor if you have any persisting side effects after finishing the treatment.
You should not take Canesten if you:
You should speak to a doctor before taking Canesten if you:
While treating thrush with Canesten:
Canesten internal cream:
Please note: Do NOT swallow or take orally any of the above Canesten treatments.
Yes, all forms of Canesten are safe to take during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding.
Because you apply the treatment directly to the vulva and/or vagina, there is less chance of your body absorbing the active ingredient and passing it onto your unborn baby or into your breast milk.
Usually, pregnant women will need a longer duration of treatment.
Always consult your doctor or midwife before taking any medications when you are expecting.
Lower-strength Canesten products are available to buy over the counter.
This means you can easily access thrush treatment if you are confident in your diagnosis, or if you have had thrush before and know that Canesten will work for you.
However, buying over the counter means you won’t get a doctor’s medical opinion. The product you decide to choose might not be the optimal treatment.
You can buy Canesten online for thrush here at euroClinix.
By ordering online, you will be prescribed a treatment best suited to your symptoms by one of our UK doctors. You can also access stronger prescription-only medicines such as the 10% cream and 500mg pessary.
Simply fill out the online consultation form before placing your order. Once approved, the right treatment will be sent straight to your door in discreet packaging with free next day delivery.
Note: You must complete a short online consultation so that our doctor can ensure that the treatment is suitable for you. The above pricing should only be used as a reference. The final decision to issue this treatment lies with the prescribing doctor.
Product name | Canesten |
Active ingredient(s) | Clotrimazole |
Manufacturer | Bayer |
Trustpilot rating | - |
Trustpilot reviews | - |
Availability | Out of stock |
Description | Antifungal treatment used to treat thrush |
Exemption | Available over-the-counter with stronger doses subject to prescription |
Administration | Topical |
Presentation | Cream or pessary |
Available dosage | Creams available in 1%, 2% or 10% doses. Pessaries available in 100mg, 200mg or 500mg doses. |
Application | Men and women aged between 16-60 |
Drug class | Antifungal |
Alcohol consumption | No known interaction |
When breastfeeding | Mostly suitable, consult a doctor |
When pregnant | Mostly suitable, consult a doctor |
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