Canesten Thrush Pessary

What is Canesten Thrush Pessary?

Canesten Thrush Pessary is a vaginal tablet that contains the active ingredient clotrimazole. Clotrimazole is a type of antifungal medicine that treats thrush infections. It’s a one-tablet application and you insert it inside your vagina so it can target the site of infection.

Vaginal thrush is a common infection caused by a yeast-type fungus called Candida that causes symptoms like a burning sensation, itching, redness, inflammation and discharge. Clotrimazole kills the yeast that causes the infection and restores the natural pH balance.

How does Canesten Thrush Pessary work?

The active ingredient in Canesten Thrush Cream is clotrimazole, which belongs to a group of antifungal medicines called azoles. It’s used to treat skin infections caused by yeasts and fungi like athlete’s foot, ringworm, fungal nail, infected nappy rash and thrush. Clotrimazole for vaginal thrush is also available as an internal cream and tablet you insert into your vagina.

It works by damaging the walls of the cell membranes, allowing the contents to leak out. Clotrimazole also inhibits the cells from producing ergosterol. Ergosterol is needed for the fungus to grow, spread and keep the yeast cell membranes intact. Using Canesten Thrush Pessary helps to target the site of the infection directly and kills the fungus that’s causing the thrush. This will help to prevent further reinfection and symptoms of thrush.

What doses of Canesten Thrush Pessary are there?

Canesten Thrush Pessary comes as a single dose of 500mg clotrimazole. You use one tablet at night but if you still have signs of an infection after seven days you may use another tablet.

There are other pessary strengths available from Canesten for vaginal thrush. They come in either 100 or 200 milligrams of clotrimazole. For 100mg, you take two for three days or one for six days. For 200mg, you take one for three days. Depending on how comfortable and easy you find it to insert a tablet in your vagina, it might be more suitable to just take one 500mg tablet.

How to take Canesten Thrush Pessary

It’s best to take the pessary before bed so it’s less likely to be disturbed, and the pessaries need moisture from the vagina to be dissolved. So if you have vaginal dryness then pieces of the pessary can stay undissolved and fall out. This is why it’s important to insert the vaginal tablet as far up as you can into your vagina, using the applicator provided. You can try lying on your back with your legs bent upwards to help make it easier.

To use it:

• wash your hands before and after using the applicator
• pull out the plunger end till it stops
  put the pessary into the other end firmly
• carefully insert the applicator as deep as you can into your vagina
• slowly press the plunger until it stops
• remove the applicator and dispose of it properly

You may notice a chalky residue but this is normal and you can wear a panty liner to accommodate this. You can also follow this helpful guideline to prevent further irritation and reinfection.

• wear cotton knickers and loose clothes
• wash daily
• wipe from front to back after the toilet
• change sanitary protection regularly
• avoid wearing tights, nylon and tight-fitted jeans
• avoid washing with perfumed soaps or vaginal deodorants
• don’t scrub hard with sponges or flannels
• avoid hot baths with strong perfumed oils
  

How effective is Canesten Thrush Pessary?

The signs of a thrush infection should disappear within three to seven days. It takes three days for the tablet to dissolve fully in your vagina. You should see an improvement in physical symptoms like itching, irritation and discharge. You can also use a topical treatment like Canesten Thrush External Cream 2% for a soothing relief effect to stop any itching or discomfort you may experience.

What happens if I make a mistake using Canesten Thrush Pessary?

Canesten Thrush Pessary is to be used in the vagina only. If you accidentally get it in your mouth or swallow it, seek medical attention immediately.

Don’t use Canesten Thrush Pessary during your period as it can make it less effective. Also, using tampons or other inter-vaginal products can disrupt the pessary.