Canesten Thrush Pessary 500mg Single Pack

Women’s Thrush Doctor's Service

Canesten 500mg Pessary is a full course of treatment for vaginal thrush (candidiasis).

It is inserted into the vagina for treatment at the site of infection.The active substance in Canesten 500mg Pessary is clotrimazole.

Clotrimazole belongs to a group of medicines called azoles and isan antifungal agent which fights the cause of infections such as vaginal thrush.

Only use this product if you have been previously diagnosed by your doctor as having vaginal thrush.

Further information about vaginal thrush

Vaginal thrush (candidiasis) is a common infection that most women suffer from at some time in their lives and is not caused by lack of personal hygiene.

Thrush is caused by a yeast (fungus) called Candida which lives harmlessly in the vagina and other parts of the body, without you even noticing it.

However, the natural balance that keeps Candida under control can be upset by many factors such as hormonal changes (menstruation, contraceptive pill, pregnancy, menopause), poorhealth, antibiotics, perfumed soaps, bath additives and tight clothing.

If the natural pH balance is altered, the level of yeast increases and can develop into a thrush infection causing any of the following symptoms:

• redness, swelling and soreness of the tissues of the vagina,
• persistent burning and/or itching around the vagina and vulva,
• and vulva and a whitish, odourless discharge from the vagina.

Not everybody who has thrush has all these symptoms; you may have only one of them.

How to avoid future recurrences:

• Wear cotton knickers and loose clothing.
• Wash daily.
• After going to the toilet, wipe yourself from the front to back as a thrush infection may be transferred from the bowel.
• Change your sanitary protection regularly.
• Try to avoid wearing tights, nylon knickers and close fitting jeans.
• Try to avoid washing with perfumed soaps or using vaginal deodorants.
• Do not wash or rub yourself hard with sponges or flannels and avoid hot baths with strong perfumed oils.

For more advice, please visit us on @rightdose_uk.

Like all medicines, Canesten 500mg Pessary can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

As with all medicines, some people may be allergic to the pessary. If you are allergic, a reaction will occur soon after you have used the medicine.

If you experience an allergic reaction or the redness, burning, pain, itching or swelling get worse, stop using this product and tell your doctor straight away or contact the Accident and Emergency Department of your nearest hospital.

Signs of an allergic reaction may include:

• Rash.
• Swallowing or breathing problems.
• Swelling of your lips, face, throat or tongue.
• Weakness, feeling dizzy or faint.
• Nausea.

After you apply the cream you might experience:

• Itching, rash, blisters, burning, discomfort, swelling, irritation, redness or peeling of skin.

For a full list of side effects, read the Patient Information Leaflet.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, our Rightdose pharmacists or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.

You can help to make medicines safer by reporting any side-effects to the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

Before taking any medication, it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet. You can find information leaflets for your medicines by typing them into the search bar at medicines.org, or by contacting us.

Patient Information Leaflet Canesten Thrush Pessary 500mg Single Pack

Using other medicines:

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.

Inform your doctor if you are taking tacrolimus or sirolimus (used to reduce the immune response to prevent rejection after anorgan transplant).

Pregnancy and breastfeeding:

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying for a baby, tell your doctor or midwife before using Canesten 500mg Pessary. If you have informed your doctor or midwife already, follow his/her instructions carefully.

To treat internal thrush, your doctor may recommend that you use the pessary without the help of an applicator.

How to store Canesten 500mg Pessary

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

• Do not use Canesten 500mg Pessary after the expiry date whichis stated at one end of the carton and on the foil blister strip ofthe pessary. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
• Do not store above 25°C.
• Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or householdwaste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longerrequired. These measures will help to protect the environment.

Unless directed otherwise by your doctor, the pessary should beinserted as high as possible into the vagina, preferably before going to sleep at night for convenient and comfortable treatment.

Wash your hands before removing the foil from the blister pack and again afterwards when you have used the applicator.

Directions:

1. Remove the applicator from the packaging. Pull out the plunger A until it stops. Remove the pessary from the foil blister pack and place firmly into the applicator B.

2. To fit the pessary into the applicator, the holder of the applicator needs to be squeezed lightly at both sides. The pessary fits tightly into the applicator and needs to be squeezed into the holder to about 1cm.

3. Carefully put the applicator as deep as is comfortable into the vagina (this is easiest when lying on your back with your knees bent up).

Holding the applicator in place, slowly press the plunger until it stops so that the pessary is deposited into the vagina.

Do not use Canesten® 500mg Pessary:

• If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to clotrimazole or any of the other ingredients of Canesten 500mg Pessary.
• During your period as it may be less effective.

Before using Canesten Thrush Pessary, you should see your doctor if:

• You are unsure whether you have thrush or this is the first time you have had these symptoms.
• You have had more than two infections of thrush in the last six months.
• You or your partner have ever had a sexually transmitted disease.
• You are aged under 16 or over 60.
• You have ever had an allergic reaction to Canesten or any other vaginal antifungal products.

Before using Canesten Thrush Pessary, you should see your doctor if:

You have any of the following symptoms:

• Irregular vaginal bleeding.
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding or a blood-stained discharge.
• Ulcers, blisters or sores of the vagina or vulva.
• Lower abdominal pain.
• Pain or difficulty in passing urine.
• Fever or chills.
• Feeling sick or vomiting.
• Diarrhoea.
• A foul smelling discharge from the vagina.

This is because Canesten Thrush Pessary may not be the right treatment for you.

Special precautions:

• As with other pessaries, this product may reduce the effectiveness of rubber contraceptives, such as condoms or diaphragms.

Consequently, you should use alternative precautions for at least five days after using this product.

• Do not use tampons, intravaginal douches, spermicides or other vaginal products while using this product.

Ingredients:

The active substance is clotrimazole at a strength of 500mg.

The other ingredients are lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, lactic acid, maize starch, crospovidone, calcium lactate pentahydrate, magnesium stearate, colloidal anhydrous silica and hypromellose.

What Canesten® 500mg Pessary looks like and contents of the pack

Canesten 500mg Pessary contains a white pessary held inside a foilblister and an applicator for insertion of the pessary into the vagina.