Daktarin cream

How does it work?

Daktarin cream contains the active ingredient miconazole. Miconazole is an antifungal medicine used to treat infections with fungi and yeasts.

Miconazole kills fungi and yeasts by interfering with their cell membranes. It works by stopping the fungi from producing a substance called ergosterol, which is an essential component of fungal cell membranes. The disruption in production of ergosterol disrupts the fungal cell membrane, causing holes to appear in it.

The cell membranes of fungi are vital for their survival. They keep unwanted substances from entering the cells and stop the contents of the cells from leaking out. As miconazole causes holes to appear in the cell membranes, essential constituents of the fungal cells can leak out. This kills the fungi and treats the infection.

Miconazole also has some antibacterial action and kills certain bacteria that may also be present in the infection.

Daktarin cream is used to treat fungal infections of the skin and nails.

What is it used for?

Fungal infections of the skin, eg ringworm, candidiasis, athlete's foot, scalp infections, fungal nappy rash, groin infections

Fungal infections of the nails

Warning!

This medicine is for external use only. It should not be taken by or used inside the mouth. Avoid contact with the eyes.

Wash and dry the skin thoroughly before applying the cream. Unless the infected skin is on your hands, wash your hands after applying the cream to avoid spreading the infection to other areas of the body, or to other people.

It is important to keep using this medicine for ten days after the symptoms of the infection have cleared up. This is to ensure that the infection is fully treated and thus prevent it coming back.

If symptoms persist consult your doctor.

Not to be used in

Allergy to any ingredient.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

This medicine should be used with caution during pregnancy, and only if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than any possible risk to the foetus. Miconazole is unlikely to be absorbed through the skin in sufficient amounts to affect the baby. However, as with all medicines, you should seek medical advice from your doctor before using this medicine if you are pregnant.

It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk. It should be used with caution by breastfeeding mothers, and only if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than any possible risk to the baby. As with all medicines, you should seek medical advice from your doctor before using this medicine if you are breastfeeding. If you do use the cream while breastfeeding, you should not apply it to the skin of the breasts before giving a feed, to avoid it being ingested by the nursing infant.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Skin irritation in area of use

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

Tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already using, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any new medicines while using this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.

Miconazole is unlikely to be absorbed through the skin in sufficient amounts to affect other medicines that you are taking by mouth. However, if you are taking warfarin to prevent blood clots, there is a very small chance that this medicine may enhance the effect of the warfarin. If you are taking warfarin your doctor may therefore want to monitor your blood-clotting time (INR) during and after a course of this medicine.

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