Clotrimazole Ointment - Complete Instructions for Use
Clotrimazole is available in a variety of pharmacological forms, an ointment will be described in the material presented.It represents a mass of white with a specific flavor, having an "even" structure without lumps and fibers.Refers to the category of antifungal drugs.
Composition of the preparation, pharmacological action
The main active substance of the drug under consideration is clotrimazole, the ointment contains auxiliary components:
- Proxanol;
- propylene glycol;
- cetostearyl ether;
- polyethylene glycol.
Ointment clotrimazole has a harmful effect on various pathogens - for example, fungi mold / yeast-like fungi, on dermatophytes.The active substance of the agent is able to penetrate the cell membrane and stop its development.The longer clotrimazole is inside the cell, the more hydrogen peroxide accumulates in it - this substance is capable of destroying microbial cells that cause fungal infections.
Indications and contraindications for use
Ointment Clotrimazole has an antifungal effect, but it can not only kill the fungus - active substances also have a harmful effect on other pathogens that adversely affect the overall health of the person.
Indications for the appointment of clotrimazole ointment are:
- thrush in men and women;
- paronychia;
- stomatitis;
- combined infection of candidiasis + trichomoniasis;
- dermatophytosis and other fungal infections.
Often the drug under consideration is prescribed for the treatment of shingles - fungi that cause this disease are very sensitive to the main active substance of the remedy and are therefore relatively quickly destroyed.Medicine knows cases when ointment Clotrimazole helped to get rid of the expressed pigmentation, despite the fact that it is an exclusively antifungal agent. Not bad copes with the drug and herpes, and streptodermia.
Note: , despite the fact that fungal colonies are very sensitive to clotrimazole, the treatment of diseases with the drug in question is always a long one.This is due to the fact that the pathogenic cells are completely destroyed only after they have accumulated a residual amount of hydrogen peroxide, and this takes some time.
Ointment Clotrimazole is generally well tolerated by patients, but it can not be used in patients who have an individual intolerance / hypersensitivity to the main active ingredient of the agent or the auxiliary components.Do not apply ointment and with damp skin lesions, in this case, it is advisable to use a cream with the same name, since among the auxiliary elements in its composition there are those that have a drying effect.
How to apply Clotrimazole Ointment
Regardless of which disease is expected to be treated with the drug in question, it is necessary to wash and dry the skin at the location of the pathological foci of before using it.Ointment Clotrimazole is applied to the affected areas of the skin in a thin uniform layer 1-3 times a day, it is necessary to take small segments of healthy tissues during treatment, which is the general rule of application of the drug in question. If to speak about individual nuances, they will be as follows:
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if the treatment of the fungus of the nails proceeds, the ointment of clotrimazole should be processed not only by the nail plate, but also the skin around it; - in the treatment of thrush a woman must treat the vulva with a thin layer of ointment once a day, the man applies the drug to the glans penis and foreskin, that is, to specific / visually determined lesions.If the thrush is chronic, then the affected areas of the skin and mucous membranes must be treated at least 3 times a day;
- treatment of the nail fungus lasts at least 4 weeks, although already 2 weeks after the beginning of the use of the drug in question the patient sees a significant improvement in the condition of the nail plate - it's impossible to interrupt the treatment in any case, you need not only to observe the doctor's prescription, but after recovery for2 weeks continue to handle nails and feet.
The median course of treatment with the drug in question lasts 3-5 weeks .If one month after regular application of clotrimazole ointment in prescribed dosages there is no noticeable improvement in the condition, then you should consult your doctor and undergo a repeated microbiological examination - most likely, the specialist will make a replacement for the drug.
Clotrimazole ointment during pregnancy
During pregnancy, a woman often complains of a severe thrush - in principle, there is nothing surprising in this.But the problem is that during the gestation period many medications are simply prohibited, so even treating banal thrush should be under the control of a gynecologist.
As a rule, it is impossible to prescribe women to the first trimester of pregnancy, but if the fungal disease( not only thrush, but others mentioned above) progresses, and the permitted drugs simply do not help, doctors can take risks. By the way, Clotrimazole in the form of an ointment is the most safe for a pregnant woman - it acts locally and practically does not enter the bloodstream, so it can not enter the fetus.
Note: prescribes clotrimazole ointment for a pregnant woman. A doctor should determine the advisability of such treatment, taking into account risks to the patient's health and risks for fetal development.
Features of ointment Clotrimazole
If the patient had an allergic reaction to medications earlier, then ointment should be used only after the allergy test .Since long-term use of the drug in question is implied, the body's reaction should be closely monitored - reddening of the skin / mucous in the application site, rash, itching refers to side effects and requires the immediate discontinuation of clotrimazole ointment and seeking help from the treating doctor.
To conduct therapy for fungal disease, the drug in question should only be taken by the course, and it is impossible to interrupt treatment even if the acute symptoms of the disease have already disappeared. If the next application of ointment Clotrimazole is missed, then it is necessary at any time to carry out the procedure for treating the affected area of the skin or mucosa.But keep in mind that if the time has already come the next procedure, then it is better to skip the previous treatment.
If the treated preparation of a fungal disease of nails and / or feet is being treated, then during this period it is necessary to wear socks / tights and shoes, which allows the skin to "breathe".
Ointment Clotrimazole is a widely used medication that is available on the market.But the application of the ointment should be only on the prescription of the doctor, since it is he who can evaluate the patient's condition and choose effective dosages and duration of treatment.
Tsygankova Yana Aleksandrovna, medical reviewer, therapeutist of the highest qualification category
