Canesten oral and cream duo

- You should consult your doctor before using this medicine if you are not sure about the cause of your symptoms, if you or your partner have been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease, if you have had thrush more than twice in the last six months, if you are allergic to other antifungals or thrush treatments, or if you are aged under 16 or over 60 years of age.
- Women should consult their doctor before taking this medicine if they are pregnant, suspect they could be pregnant or are breastfeeding, or if they have any of the following symptoms: abnormal or irregular vaginal bleeding, blood-stained or foul-smelling vaginal discharge, vulval or vaginal ulcers, blisters or sores, lower abdominal pain, pain passing urine, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea.
- Men should consult their doctor before taking this medicine if their sexual partner does not have vaginal thrush, or if they have penile sores, ulcers or blisters, an abnormal penile discharge, if their penis has started to smell, or if they have pain on passing urine.
- Consult your doctor before taking the Canesten oral capsule if you suffer from kidney disease, liver disease, unexplained jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin) or any other chronic illness or disease, or if you are taking any other medicines, particularly those listed at the end of this factsheet.
- Canesten thrush cream is for external use and must not to be taken by mouth.
- Canesten thrush cream may damage latex (rubber) condoms and diaphragms (caps) and so make them ineffective at preventing pregnancy and STIs. You should use an alternative method of contraception for at least five days after using the thrush cream, or preferably avoid having sex until after the infection has cleared up. Remember that having sex while you still have the infection is likely to transmit the infection to your partner, who could then transfer it back to you.
- If your sexual partner also has symptoms of thrush it is important that they are treated at the same time as you, to prevent you being re-infected.
- You can keep using the thrush cream until the symptoms of the infection have cleared up, however, you should consult your doctor if your symptoms have not got better within a week of taking the Canesten oral capsule.

Canesten oral capsule should be used with caution in

.

- Kidney disease
- Liver disease.

Canesten oral capsule should not be used in

- Children under 16 years of age
- Allergy to azole antifungal medicines, eg itraconazole, ketoconazole
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding.

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.

- The safety of Canesten oral capsule for use during pregnancy has not been established. It should not be taken by pregnant women.
- The safety of Canesten thrush cream when used during pregnancy has not been specifically studied. However, it has been used by a large number of women during pregnancy without any apparant harmful effects. As with all medicines, you should consult your doctor before using this medicine during pregnancy.
- Fluconazole passes into breast milk. As a result, Canesten oral capsule should not be taken by women who are breastfeeding. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
- Since very little clotrimazole is absorbed into the bloodstream from the vagina, it is unlikely that any of the medicine will pass into breast milk from Canesten thrush cream. However, as with all medicines, you should seek medical advice from your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine if you are breastfeeding.

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.

Side effects associated with Canesten thrush cream:

- Irritation in area of use
- Burning sensation

Side effects associated with Canesten oral capsule:

- Nausea
- Abdominal discomfort
- Diarrhoea
- Excess gas in the stomach and intestines (flatulence)
- Headache
- Rash (you should not take Canesten oral capsule again if you get a rash after taking it).

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.