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Clotrimazole

Consumer Medicine Information

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some common questions about Canesten® Clotrimazole Thrush 6 Day Pessary.

It does not contain all the available information. 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 using Canesten® Clotrimazole Thrush 6 Day Pessary 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.

What Canesten® Clotrimazole Thrush 6 Day Pessary is used for

Canesten® Clotrimazole Thrush 6 Day Pessary 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.

What is vaginal thrush?

Candida albicans is a yeast fungus that can multiply rapidly and cause symptoms in 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.

Before you use Canesten® Clotrimazole Thrush 6 Day Pessary

When you must not use it

Do not use Canesten® Clotrimazole Thrush 6 Day Pessary 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.

Before you start to use it

See your doctor if:

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or think you might be. 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. To treat internal thrush, your doctor may recommend that you use the pessary without the help of an applicator.

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 using Canesten® Clotrimazole Thrush 6 Day Pessary.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or using any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking tacrolimus (e.g. Prograf®), a medicine used to prevent organ transplant rejection or to treat certain problems with the immune system.

How to use Canesten® Clotrimazole Thrush 6 Day Pessary

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 below, or on the box, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

How to use it

Wash your hands thoroughly before handling a pessary or using the applicator. To avoid the possibility of re-infection, strict personal hygiene must be observed.

A pessary should preferably be inserted in the evening, just before bed time, with the use of an applicator. Using it before you go to sleep will have the best effect.

Loading the applicator

  • Wash your hands thoroughly.
  • Pull out the plunger until it stops (A).
  • Remove the pessary from the blister. Squeeze the cup end of the applicator (B) between your thumb and index finger to slightly flatten the cup.
  • Place a pessary into the flattened cup end of the applicator.

    • Inserting the applicator

  • Carefully insert the end of the applicator containing the pessary as gently and deeply into the vagina as possible. This is best achieved when lying on your back with your knees bent.
  • Hold the applicator in position and slowly push the plunger with the forefinger until it stops. This places the pessary in the vagina.
  • Remove the applicator from the vagina.
  • Thoroughly wash and dry the applicator.

    • How long to use it

    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® Clotrimazole Thrush 6 Day Pessary by mouth. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need medical attention.

    While you are using Canesten® Clotrimazole Thrush 6 Day Pessary

    Things you must do

    Discontinue treatment and tell your doctor or pharmacist if you develop a local reaction to this product.

    See your doctor if the symptoms do not improve within 4 days or if the problem returns within 2 months.

    Things you must not do

    Do not use Canesten® Clotrimazole Thrush 6 Day Pessary 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.

    Do not stop using this medicine until you have completed the course. If you stop taking it suddenly, your condition may worsen.

    Things to be careful of

    Canesten® Clotrimazole Thrush 6 Day Pessary may reduce the effectiveness and safety of latex products such as condoms and diaphragms if it comes into contact with them.

    Therefore you should prevent Canesten® Clotrimazole Thrush 6 Day Pessary from coming into contact with these products. If Canesten® Clotrimazole Thrush 6 Day Pessary does accidentally come into contact with a condom or diaphragm, replace the condom or diaphragm before using it as contraception.

    Things that may help to resolve Thrush

    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:

    Side effects

    Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you experience discomfort while you are using Canesten® Clotrimazole Thrush 6 Day Pessary.

    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 effects. You may not experience any of them.

    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:

    Tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you experience any of the following:

    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.

    After using Canesten® Clotrimazole Thrush 6 Day Pessary

    Storage

    Keep the pessaries in the protective blister pack until it is time to use them.

    Keep your pessaries in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°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.

    Expiry

    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 e.g. 0817 refers to the eighth month of 2017. The product can be used until the end of this month.

    Disposal

    If your doctor tells you to stop using 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.

    Product description

    What it looks like

    Canesten® Clotrimazole Thrush 6 Day Pessary is 6 white pellet-shaped pessaries packaged in an aluminium blister.

    The package also contains 1 plastic applicator for the insertion of the pessaries. The plastic applicator is for use with Canesten® pessaries only.

    Ingredients

    Each Canesten® Clotrimazole Thrush 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.

    Supplier/Distributor

    Canesten® Clotrimazole Thrush 6 Day Pessary is distributed in Australia by:

    Bayer Australia Ltd
    875 Pacific Highway
    Pymble NSW 2073
    Freecall: 1800 008 757
    www.canesten.com.au

    Canesten® Clotrimazole Thrush 6 Day Pessary is distributed in New Zealand by:

    Bayer New Zealand Limited
    3 Argus Place
    Hillcrest, Auckland 0627
    Freecall: 0800 229 376
    www.canesten.co.nz

    ® = Registered Trademark

    AUST R number 92391

    This leaflet was prepared in August 2017

    Published by MIMS July 2022

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