| Strength | Quantity | Price | Stock |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500mg / 2% | 1 pack | £12.95 |  |
| 500mg / 2% | 2 packs | £23.95 | |
Canesten soft gel pessary and cream combi is a complete antifungal treatment for vaginal thrush as it targets both the internal cause and external symptoms. Thrush is a common type of yeast infection characterized by vaginal inflammation, more specifically, intense itching, soreness, and swelling of the vagina and vulva, accompanied by a white, clumpy discharge.
Canesten contains clotrimazole, an antifungal agent that effectively kills the fungus causing the yeast infection. Fungus (candida) and bacteria (lactobacilli) are naturally-occurring in warm and moist areas of the body, including the vagina. When this delicate balance is disrupted, the lactobacilli are unable to keep the candida in check, thereby leading to an overgrowth of yeast and resulting in thrush. Thrush occurs inside the vagina, but often the symptoms spread to the external areas, such as the vulva.
Canesten combi is used to treat both the cause and symptoms of vaginal thrush. The pessary is inserted inside the vagina to target the root cause of the infection; it attacks the cell membrane of the fungus by puncturing holes and causing the contents to leak out. The cream is applied to the outside of the vagina and works by immediately relieving the uncomfortable external symptoms such as itching, burning, redness, and swelling.
The amount of time it takes for Canesten to take effect varies in each individual. The medication can begin to work in as little as a few hours of its first use, but typically, external symptoms should start to improve within 3 days. However, it can take up to a week for the internal infection to clear away completely. It is important that the treatment is used continually until the symptoms of the infection have fully disappeared.
Dr Felix is able to offer Canesten on prescription. Through the online consultation service, our doctors will assess your symptoms and subsequently advise you on the most suitable treatment and dosage for you.
The active ingredient in the Canesten pessary is 500mg of clotrimazole BP.
The active ingredient in the Canesten cream is 1% clotrimazole BP.
The inactive ingredients in the Canesten pessary are lactose mircrocrystalline cellulose, lactic acid, maize starch povidone, calcium lactate, magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide, and poly (o-hydroxypropyl-o-methyl) cellulose.
The inactive ingredients in the Canesten cream are benzyl alcohol, polysorbate 60, sorbitan stearate, cetyl esters wax, cetyl stearyl alcohol 2-octyldodecanol, and purified water.
To treat the external symptoms of vaginal thrush with Canesten cream, follow the steps below:
Each Canesten pessary comes in a foil package with an applicator to help insert it into the vagina. The pessary is not for oral use, and you must ensure that the packaging is not damaged or broken before use.
The following steps demonstrate how to correctly insert the pessary and treat the underlying causes of vaginal thrush:
The pessary should be inserted at bedtime and requires moisture in the vagina in order for it to dissolve completely. Women who experience vaginal dryness may notice pieces of the pessary crumbling and falling out.
To help the pessary dissolve completely, make sure you insert it as far into the vagina as possible.
Do not use a pessary while on your period; wait until it is over. Do not use tampons or other vaginal products at the same time as the pessary.
Canesten pessaries come in three different strengths: 100mg, 200mg, and 500mg.
As with all medications, some users may experience side-effects from clotrimazole, although not everyone will get them. The most common side-effects from the cream include:
The most common side-effects from the pessary include:
These effects may occur as your body adjusts to the medication, but if they continue after 7 days, try using a smaller amount of the cream. If the problems persist, discontinue use and contact your doctor or pharmacist.
The above is not a comprehensive list of the side-effects. For full details, refer to the patient information leaflet inside the medication package.
For those experiencing vaginal thrush for the first time, you must consult your doctor or pharmacist before treating with Canesten.
Vaginal intercourse should be avoided during treatment as the infection could be transmitted to the partner.
If you do have sex, it is important to note that clotrimazole may damage latex condoms and diaphragms, and reduce the efficacy of spermicides, so it is recommended to use alternative forms of contraception during treatment and for at least 5 days after.
Before using the pessary, seek medical advice if any of the following are applicable:
During pregnancy, Canesten cream can be used but only under the supervision of a midwife or physician; the pessary should be inserted without the applicator.
If you experience abdominal pain, fever, and foul-smelling vaginal discharge, or if your condition does not improve or disappear within 7 days, then your symptoms may be due to a health issue other than a yeast infection. If so, you should discontinue using Canesten and seek immediate medical advice.
Do not use Canesten soft gel pessary or cream if you are allergic to clotrimazole, other antifungal agents, or any of the inactive ingredients in the products.
The pessary is not recommended for children under the age of 12 years.
Clotrimazole is not known to have any adverse interactions with other medications. However, before using Canesten, you must inform your doctor of any medications or vitamin or herbal supplements you may be taking, specifically:
There are a number of other treatment options available for vaginal thrush, that are similar to clotrimazole.
The following medications are available as creams and pessaries to treat thrush, but you will need a prescription from a doctor to obtain them:
If you prefer not to use creams or pessaries, single-use oral capsules are also available to clear the infection effectively; however, these are not recommended during pregnancy as they could harm the baby:
While both the standard and soft gel pessaries have the same efficacy, the soft gel form is an updated version of existing pessary treatments, making it easy and less messy for users to insert into the vagina. The innovative tear-drop mould of the capsule is designed to seamlessly fit the vaginal contours and avoid leaving a chalky residue.
If your thrush does not improve within 7 days of treating with Canesten, you must talk to your doctor. You may need a longer course of treatment or a stronger prescription medication to relieve the symptoms and address the root cause.
You should not use clotrimazole or other antifungal medications for longer than 7 days at a time unless specifically instructed by your doctor; this is because the infection will eventually become resistant to the medication, making it ineffective.
If you find no improvements in your condition from using Canesten for the prescribed period, then you may need to consider using an alternative treatment option – speak with your doctor, who will advise you accordingly.
If your vaginal thrush improves within 7 days of treating with Canesten but then returns after 7 days or more, you may begin treatment again with another pessary or cream.
However, if you experience frequent bouts of thrush throughout the year, speak with your doctor who may run some tests to diagnose the underlying cause of your symptoms and prescribe you an alternative, more appropriate treatment to address the problem.
Vaginal thrush is not a sexually transmitted infection, but if you have thrush, there is a risk of it being passed on to your partner during sexual intercourse. For this reason, it is best to avoid having sex until the infection has completely cleared.
There is currently no clinical evidence to suggest that clotrimazole will affect fertility in men or women.
Once you have effectively treated vaginal thrush with Canesten, there are several lifestyle habits you can adopt to reduce the risk of the infection returning:
The soft gel pessary is a unique teardrop-shaped vaginal capsule that is intended to eliminate the cause of thrush in a single use. The soft capsule is specifically designed to insert into the vagina with relative ease and comfort and works right at the site of the infection.
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Quick and discreet
Easy to use website. A straightforward online consultation with a quick response back. Choice of products for your condition, all with clear descriptions and prices. And an amazing super fast dispatch/delivery. I found treatment for a minor problem in 2 days, sure beats trying to get an bob urgent appointment with my local surgery! Thank you all.
Diana