During the waiting period for the baby, the defenses of the female body weaken, therefore, many expectant mothers have thrush. This is not just an inflammatory process of a fungal nature, causing a lot of inconvenience and unpleasant symptoms, but also a danger to the child, because the pathogen can harm the fetus - for example, depending on the period of infection, lead to a frozen pregnancy or cause thrush in a newborn.
Therefore, with an exacerbation of candidiasis, doctors prescribe effective drugs for pregnant women against pathogenic fungi, for example, "Clotrimazole". This drug helps to destroy candida, but there are some restrictions for its use in women in the position.
Features of the drug
"Clotrimazole" is available in pharmacies in several dosage forms.
- Crem, which is used for outdoor processing. It is a soft homogeneous white mass with an active substance concentration of 1%. The drug is sold in tubes and jars of 10, 20, 30 or more grams.
- Ointment. This version of "Clotrimazole" is also intended for skin treatment and is characterized by a concentration of 1%. The medication is released in tubes of 15-30 grams.
- 1% gel. This type of medicine is a white, light, homogeneous substance. The drug is packed in tubes of 20-40 grams.
- Solution for external use. Such a liquid is presented in pharmacies in dropper bottles. One bottle contains 15 ml of medicine with a concentration of 1%.
- Vaginal cream. Unlike conventional cream, this version of "Clotrimazole" is distinguished by a higher concentration of the active substance - 2%. It comes in 20 gram tubes.
- Vaginal suppositories... They have a cylindrical elongated shape and a white-yellow tint. Such suppositories are sold in 6 pieces per pack and contain 100 mg of the active substance.
- Vaginal tablets... They are characterized by an elongated convex shape and white color. The content of the active compound in one tablet is 100, 200 and 500 mg, and such "Clotrimazole" is sold in 3, 6 or 10 pieces in one pack.
All types of medicine contain as an active substance the ingredient of the same name is clotrimazole. Auxiliary components in different forms and for different manufacturers differ, therefore, if you are allergic to such substances, you should carefully read the composition of the selected form of "Clotrimazole" in the annotations and on the packaging.
Since "Clotrimazole" is classified as an over-the-counter medication, then any type of drug can be purchased without a prescription. Its price is influenced by the manufacturer, the shape and size of the package, but the cost of the medicine is considered affordable. Storage of "Clotrimazole" is recommended at room temperature, and the shelf life of the drug is often 2 or 3 years.
Operating principle
Clotrimazole has antifungal properties, since such a substance is capable of destroying the cell membranes of fungi. This effect is due to the fact that under the influence of clotrimazole, ergosterol ceases to form. And since this is an important component of fungal cells, the result of the action of the drug will be the destruction of a large number of different fungi, among which there are representatives of the genus Candida - the "culprits" of thrush.
In addition, under the influence of clotrimazole, the vital processes of fungi are disrupted, nucleic acids are damaged and the synthesis of cellular structures stops. In high doses, the drug causes the death of pathogens, and in small doses, it retards their growth, that is, it has a fungistatic effect. In addition to antifungal activity, "Clotrimazole" also has the ability inhibit staphylococci, corynebacteria and some other bacteria, so the medication is effective for mixed infections or bacterial complications.
When treating the skin, the active substance of an ointment, gel or cream penetrates well into the cells and provides a local effect. Moreover, it is absorbed into the blood in a very small amount. The resistance of pathogens to "Clotrimazole" develops in extremely rare cases.
After the introduction of a suppository or tablet into the vagina 3-10% of the active compound is absorbed. In this case, the concentration of the drug in vaginal secretions will be maximum within 2-3 days after use. But clotrimazole that has entered the bloodstream is rather quickly transformed into metabolites that lose activity, therefore the drug does not cause a systemic effect and the list of contraindications for such a drug is small.
Is it allowed during pregnancy?
"Clotrimazole" is not used in the early stages, since such a drug is contraindicated in the 1st trimester. Studies have confirmed a high risk of negative effects on the development of the fetus in the first months of pregnancy, therefore, during this period of gestation, all forms of "Clotrimazole" are prohibited for use. If the thrush began to bother a woman for up to 12 weeks, then she should consult a doctor and choose a remedy that is allowed for the first trimester, for example, "Pimafucin".
As for the late terms, in 2-3 trimesters this drug can be used, but only as directed by a doctor. If the specialist has decided that the potential benefit of treatment with "Clotrimazole" will exceed the potential risk for the baby in the tummy, then the use of this antifungal agent is acceptable. According to studies, the use of "Clotrimazole" in the second and third trimesters did not provoke adverse events in the fetus. The use of the drug shortly before childbirth (for example, at 38 weeks) does not affect labor in any way.
When is it prescribed for expectant mothers?
The main reason for the use of "Clotrimazole" during the period of bearing a child is candidiasis... Most often, expectant mothers with thrush affecting the genitals are prescribed suppositories or tablets. In the 3rd trimester, such forms can be used and with a prophylactic purpose, especially if the patient has already exacerbated candidiasis.
The use of a 1% gel, ointment or cream is indicated with a fungal infection of the skin, for example, if a woman has developed mycosis of the hands, folds of skin, outer ear or feet.
Such drugs are also in demand in the treatment of erythrasma and tinea versicolor.
Contraindications
"Clotrimazole" should not be used in case of hypersensitivity to the ingredients of the selected form of the drug. There are no other contraindications for such a medication in the annotation, but if the pregnancy proceeds with problems or the woman has some kind of chronic pathology, i.e.additional control of treatment by a doctor is required.
Side effects
After the introduction of tablets or suppositories into the vagina, burning, itching or swelling of the mucous membrane may occur. In addition, vaginal discharge that may be pink or white may appear during treatment. Rare side effects of these forms include abdominal pain, headaches, or increased urination.
After lubricating the skin with "Clotrimazole", a burning sensation, redness, rash and other symptoms of allergic dermatitis may appear. The appearance of any negative symptoms should be a reason to stop using the medication and contact your doctor.
Instructions for use
A suppository or pill is inserted into the vagina once a day. It is most convenient to use such forms of "Clotrimazole" at night, so that the dissolved medicine does not flow out during movement. To insert the drug correctly, a woman should lie on her back and bend her legs slightly, insert a suppository or a pill into the vagina and push the medication with her finger. The applicator is not used during pregnancy.
The course of treatment with "Clotrimazole" and a single dosage for thrush is specified by the doctor for a specific expectant mother individually, but most often candles are used 1 piece per day for 6 days. The mode of use of tablets with a dosage of 100 mg is the same, therefore, there are usually 6 of them in a package. If no improvement is observed after 3 days from the start of use, a second consultation and selection of another antifungal agent is needed. If symptoms recur soon after completion of treatment, you also need to see a doctor again.
Tablets containing 200 mg of active ingredient are used for 3 days, while 500 mg tablets are usually used for single use, for example, for vaginal sanitation before childbirth. If a woman is simultaneously diagnosed with candidal vulvitis, cream treatment is also connected to pills or suppositories. So that the patient does not get infected with candida again after cure, "Clotrimazole" in the form of a cream is also prescribed to her partner.
"Clotrimazole" in the form of a gel, ointment or cream for external treatment is applied to the infected skin twice a day, but sometimes the doctor prescribes to smear the medicine three times a day. The duration of use of such forms of the drug can be from 2 to 4 weeks. Usually, after the symptoms of infection have disappeared, lubrication is continued for another 1-2 weeks to prevent relapse. The drug is applied to dry, clean skin that has been previously washed with soap. With a fungal infection of the feet, the areas between the toes are necessarily treated.
Reviews
You can read many positive reviews about the use of "Clotrimazole" during childbearing. In them the medicine is called effective, and any negative phenomena during treatment are extremely rare. The advantages of the drug include its availability in pharmacies, a variety of forms and a low price.
Among the disadvantages of the medication, some women mention a short-term effect, since their symptoms of thrush returned soon after treatment with Clotrimazole. The disadvantages of forms for external use include poor absorbency, specific smell, the need for long-term processing.
Analogs
Instead of "Clotrimazole", the doctor may prescribe another medicine with the same active substance for a pregnant woman, for example:
- "Candide";
- "Clotrimazole-Teva".
- "Candide-B6";
- "Clotrimazole-Akrikhin";
- "Candizol";
- "Kanizon"
- "Clotrimazole-Acri".
All of these medicines work in a similar way, so they effectively deal with fungi. They are presented in different forms (1% solution, powder, 2% vaginal gel, 1% cream, vaginal tablets with different dosages, 1% ointment), so it is not difficult to find a suitable analogue. For all these drugs, 1 trimester is a contraindication, and in 2-3 trimesters, their use is allowed as directed by a specialist.
A substitute for "Clotrimazole" can be another agent that affects candida, for example, "Pimafucin". This non-prescription drug is available in suppositories, oral tablets, and 2% cream.
The medicine works thanks to natamycin, can be prescribed to women in a position at any time (including when planning pregnancy), is not dangerous to the fetus and receives many positive reviews. It can be replaced with Primafungin suppositories containing the same active ingredient.
See below for details on the use of clotrimazole.
