Clotrimazole 2% Cream

Clotrimazole is used to treat various skin infections, including thrush. We offer Clotrimazole as a treatment to relieve the symptoms of thrush in men (Candidal balanitis) caused by a fungus called Candida albicans.

Clotrimazole works by damaging the cell membrane (wall) of the fungus by stopping the production of something called ‘ergosterol’. This causes the important parts of the fungus that it needs to survive to leak out of the cells. This leads to the infection-causing fungus to die and helps clear the infection up.

Clotrimazole treats thrush infection and it effectively clears up the symptoms, usually in up to 7 days. It doesn’t always ‘cure’ the infection, as it can potentially come back again.

Yes, Clotrimazole is the generic version of Canesten and it’s generally cheaper than Canesten. Generic Clotrimazole can be used for men and women. 

The reason Clotrimazole is usually cheaper is because there is no brand so it can be priced competitively. If a company owns a branded medication like Canesten, they have more controlling over price fixing.

You can order Clotrimazole from us online through a simple 3-step process:

• Select the treatment you would like to order and answer a short medical questionnaire

• One of Superdrug's UK-registered doctors will review your answers and confirm whether the treatment you’ve chosen is right for you

• If your treatment is approved, then it can be sent straight to your door. Your medication will be delivered to you quickly and discreetly straight from our pharmacy. You can also collect in store if you prefer

The advantage of ordering Clotrimazole from us online is that you don’t have to wait for an appointment with your doctor or have a face-to-face consultation. You also don’t have to wait for a prescription and you can have your medication sent to your door discreetly without having to go out of your way to get ahold of it.

You can use Clotrimazole if you have the following symptoms of thrush:

• White discharge from your penis

• Tight foreskin or if it’s difficult to pull back the foreskin

• Unpleasant smell from your penis

• The head of the penis and the foreskin is itchy, red and has a burning feeling

If you have symptoms of thrush around your penis, you can apply a thin layer of cream around the penis. Gently rub the cream in before washing your hands to avoid further spread of infection. Apply the cream 2-3 times a day for up to 2 weeks or until the symptoms clear up.

You should get medical advice from your doctor if your symptoms don’t get better within 2 weeks.

Before using Clotrimazole to treat your thrush symptoms, it’s important to know that Clotrimazole can potentially damage contraception like condoms and diaphragms. So, Clotrimazole can potentially make your contraception ineffective at protecting against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STI’s). It’s better to use alternative form of protection or ideally avoid having sex until the infection has cleared up. Avoiding sex with also prevent passing the infection to your partner(s).

The cream form of clotrimazole is used to treat thrush in men because it’s good for external infection. In addition to a cream, Clotrimazole can also come in other forms of medication, including:

• Oral tablets

• Pessaries

• Ear drops

These other forms are useful for internal thrush, vaginal, or oral.

We offer Clotrimazole for the treatment of thrush in men, but Clotrimazole is also used for other conditions, including:

• Athletes foot

• Ringworm

• Fungal infection of the groin

• Thrush in women (candidal vaginitis)

• Sweat rash (caused by candida albicans)

The side effects of Clotrimazole which can occur in the area which you use the cream, include:

• Burning

• Itching

• Rash

• Stinging

• Redness

• Blisters/peeling

These side effects don’t always occur but if they do, they affect people differently. If you do react badly to Clotrimazole cream, you should stop using it and seek advice from a doctor right away. Your doctor may help you to manage symptoms of itchiness by prescribing you an additional corticosteroid cream to reduce the inflammation in the affected area.

National Health Service (2017). Thrush in men and women. [online] Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/thrush-in-men-and-women/ [accessed 28th January 2019].

Netdoctor 2016. Canesten thrush external cream (clotrimazole). [online] Available at: https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/infection/a7916/canesten-thrush-external-cream-clotrimazole/ [accessed 28th January 2019].

NHS inform 2018. Thrush in men. https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/thrush-in-men#treating-thrush-in-men [accessed 28th January 2019].

Waugh, M. (1978). Clotrimazole (Canesten) in the treatment of candidal balanitis in men. With incidental observations on diabetic candidal balanoposthitis. Br J Vener Dis, Jun; 54(3): 184-186.