Nystan
Not available
Reviewed on October 31, 2023. by
Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell
Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer
Next review due on
October 31, 2025.
Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell

Product info

  • Nystan is an antifungal medication used to treat oral thrush.

  • It works by disrupting the fungal cell membrane, leading to cell death.
  • Treatment course usually lasts a week, but may be extended in severe cases.

Nystan Nystatin

What is Nystan?

Nystan oral suspension is an antifungal treatment for oral thrush. It kills the fungi in your mouth, throat and gut by attacking fungal cells, and stopping them from being able to keep their structure.

Oral thrush, also known as oral candidiasis, is a fungal infection of the mouth caused by the yeast Candida albicans. It’s a common infection in babies and adults with dentures. Although it’s usually harmless, it should be treated with a topical antifungal as soon as possible to prevent it from spreading.[1]

How does Nystan work?

Nystatin, the active ingredient in Nystan, is an antifungal that kills fungi. When it binds to the cell membrane of fungi, it disrupts it, causing the contents of the cell to leak out. This eventually kills them.[2]

What doses of Nystan are there?

There’s only one concentration of Nystan, each ml containing 100,000 units of nystatin (the active ingredient). It comes in a bottle containing 30ml of liquid, with a dropper that makes taking it easy.

Treated trusted sources:

  1. Taylor M, Brizuela M, Raja A. Oral Candidiasis. [Updated 2023 Jul 4]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-
  2. LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012-. Nystatin. [Updated 2020 Apr 29]
treated.com This page was written by The Treated Content Team.
Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell
This page was medically reviewed by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell on October 31, 2023. Next review due on October 31, 2025.

How we source info.

When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

Nystan Nystatin

How to take Nystan

The recommended dosage for Nystan is a 1ml drop taken up to four times a day for adults and children. When taking multiple drops try to space it out evenly throughout the day. To take Nystan follow the directions below:

  1. Shake the bottle.
  2. Measure 1 ml, using the dropper provided.
  3. Drop the dose into your mouth. If you have an infection in the mouth, try not to swallow the medicine. Instead, keep it in your mouth for as long as you can.
  4. Repeat the steps up to three more times a day.

How long does Nystan take to work?

Within a couple of days you should start to feel better, but even if your symptoms have gone, continue taking it until the end of the treatment course (this should be for at least two days after your symptoms have disappeared). This is to make sure all the fungi have been killed and to prevent a relapse. If after 14 days your symptoms haven’t improved or the infection has returned, contact your clinician.

What should I do if I make a mistake when taking Nystan?

If you take more than the recommended amount it’s unlikely to cause any symptoms, as only a small amount is absorbed into the bloodstream.

If you forget to take a dose, take it when you remember. However, if it’s close to your next dose, miss it. Don’t take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

treated.com This page was written by The Treated Content Team.
Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell
This page was medically reviewed by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell on October 31, 2023. Next review due on October 31, 2025.

How we source info.

When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

Nystan Nystatin

Nystan isn’t suitable for everyone, and there are some things that you need to be aware of when using it.

Here’s all the official info on it. If anything is unclear, let our clinician know, and they can talk with you about it.

Nystan Nystatin

FAQ: Nystan

Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

Do I need a prescription for Nystatin?

Answer:
Yes, you will. Nystatin is a prescription-strength treatment, so our clinicians first need to check it’s safe and suitable before you start using it.

Some over the counter treatments are available for oral thrush, but they might not be as effective as a prescribed antifungal formula. If you’ve had repeat infections, Nystatin can prevent oral thrush from returning by killing the fungus that causes it.

How effective is Nystan for oral thrush?

Answer:
A study with 95 infants diagnosed with oral thrush were treated with either miconazole or
nystatin (Candio-Hermal or Lederlind). The results showed miconazole to be most effective at treating oral thrush, with 85.1% reaching a clinical cure rate compared to 48.5% with Lederlind and 42.8% with Candio-Hermal. The duration of the treatment was also significantly less for miconazole (8 days) compared with Candio-Hermal (10 days) and Lederlind (14 days).[1]

The study concluded that the reason for the differences between miconazole and nystatin was that miconazole is absorbed into the bloodstream and excreted by the saliva. So even after several hours have passed, the effects of it still last. But with nystatin, once it’s no longer in the mouth, the effects are gone. This makes the treatment process longer.

What are the side effects of Nystan?

Answer:
When taking Nystan, you might feel a bit nauseous, but since only a small amount is absorbed into the bloodstream, it's unlikely to cause any side effects. However, in high doses, you might experience:

  • sickness;

  • diarrhoea;

  • bloating;

  • stomach cramps; or:

  • indigestion.

What are the alternatives to Nystan?

Answer:
Nystan is a liquid antifungal that can treat fungal mouth infections within seven days. There's also a generic version of it available called Nystatin. They both contain the same active ingredient at the same concentration. The main differences are the way it looks and the price. So the one you pick is completely up to you.

If Nystan isn't working well for you, another antifungal treatment, like Daktarin, might be more effective. It contains the active ingredient miconazole which kills fungi and inhibits fungal growth. In one study, with 227 patients, miconazole was found to be more effective than nystatin. There was a significant difference in the clinical cure rates between the two groups. The miconazole group had an 84.7% cure rate by day five, whilst only 21.2% in the nystatin group were cured.[2]

Can I drink alcohol when taking Nystan?

Answer:
Yes, you can drink alcohol when taking Nystan, it won't interfere with the effectiveness of the medicine or increase the risk of side effects.

But it's best to not drink anything 30 minutes after taking Nystan. This is because Nystan is more effective the longer it stays in your mouth.[3] Drinking straight away will cause you to swallow the medicine, making it less effective.

Do I need a prescription for Nystan?

Answer:
Yes, Nystan is only available with a prescription. This is so a clinician can make sure the product is safe and suitable for you to use.

Treated trusted sources:

  1. Hoppe, J.E., Hahn, H. & the Antimycotics Study Group. Randomized comparison of two nystatin oral gels with miconazole oral gel for treatment of oral thrush in infants. Infection 24, 136–139
  2. Hoppe JE. Treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis in immunocompetent infants: a randomized multicenter study of miconazole gel vs. nystatin suspension. The Antifungals Study Group. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1997 Mar;16(3):288-93. doi: 10.1097/00006454-199703000-00007. PMID: 9076817.
  3. NHS. 2023. Nystatin. Common questions. Accessed 12/09/23

Healthcare on your terms

You know your needs better than anyone.
So we offer what’s safe, but you choose the treatment that suits you best.

Consult on your own time

Consult on your own time

Answer a few questions online and tell us about yourself. Get ongoing access to our clinicians whenever you need them.

Treatments to fit your life

Treatments to fit your life

Choose your treatment and how often you have it delivered.

Your health, continued

Your health, continued

We know things change. It’s the nature of life. We’ll check in regularly to make sure your treatment is still right for you.

Control at your fingertips

Control at your fingertips

Pause. Change. Skip. Start again. Any time you like.

Get to know our clinical team

They review our info and prescribe your treatments.

Dr Daniel Atkinson

GP Clinical Lead
Dr Daniel Atkinson

Registered with GMC (No. 4624794)

Meet Daniel  

Mr Craig Marsh

Independent Prescriber
Mr Craig Marsh

Registered with GPhC (No. 2070724)

Meet Craig  

Ms Sanjeda Chowdhury

Superintendent Pharmacist + Independent Prescriber
Ms Sanjeda Chowdhury

Registered with GPhC (No. 2202465)

Meet Sanjeda  

Here’s what you had to say

  • Service reviews
Treated
4.8

Average rating based on 3461 reviews.

Our verification process
551

Good communication, Fast Delivery and issue sorted. Thanks

A
551

Excellent service very professional feel I am in good hands easy to get in touch Doctor on hand to discuss any queries. Delivered on time.

L
551

Very happy with the service and products provided

M
551

It was a very simple, easy and quick process with Treated. All the questions were easy to answer and being able to send in a photo was (nerve racking) but great as they could see what was going on. They provided so many options but also a specific one after the survey so it felt like I was getting specialist treatment. Would definitely recommend-SO much easier and quicker than going to an actual clinic.

M
551

I took the medicine and my skin spots disappeared.

A
See all our reviews  

Read more about Nystan

Further reading

Take a look at our helpful health guides related to oral thrush.

Read more articles

Give us the inbox treatment

We're making healthcare more about you. Sign up to our newsletter for personalised health articles that make a difference.

Subscribe
Back to the top
Popular searches:
Contraception Viagra Tadalafil Sildenafil ED Trial Pack Easyhaler Salbutamol Saxenda Estradot Wegovy
  • Filter

What did you like about it?

Suggest a treatment

If there’s a particular treatment or condition you’re looking for, tell us and we’ll look into it for you.

We may email you about the problem, but you can opt out of these communications any time you like.

Ask or suggest something.

Submit your question here, or tell us if you’ve found an issue on our site.

We may email you about your query, but you can opt out of these communications any time you like.
4.8

Our average rating based on 3461 reviews.

Tell us about a problem

I accept the terms of use.
We may email you about the problem, but you can opt out of these communications any time you like.
  • Filter by preference
  • Thanks.

We’ll get back to you very soon. We aim to respond to all queries in one working day.

  • Great.

You’re signed up to our newsletter. Keep an eye on your inbox for our latest update.

news-letter

Sign up to our newsletter for all the latest on Oral thrush and more.

By clicking 'Subscribe now' you're agreeing to our Privacy Policy.