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New search Medicine profile Clotrimazole vaginal pessaries/cream

Clinical medicine profile

Clotrimazole vaginal pessaries/cream

Antifungal

POM
Evidence state Source not available Reviewed 14 Aug 2026
Route
ORAL / TOPICAL / IV
Schedule
POM
ATC
Not assigned
PPB status
registered
Patient advice Check interactions
Verification required

This profile needs source confirmation

A traceable source link is not attached to this profile. Confirm prescribing decisions against the current SmPC and Kenya STG/EML.

01 Risk first

Safety essentials

The information most likely to change a prescribing or dispensing decision.

Contraindications

  • Hypersensitivity.
  • Many systemic azoles contraindicated with certain CYP3A4 substrates (e.g. some statins, quinidine) — check labels.
  • Terfenadine/astemizole historical QT combinations.

Precautions

  • [From component Clotrimazole / Beclomethasone Dipropionate] Limit use in children or on face to maximum of 5 days.
  • It should be withdrawn gradually following prolonged therapy.
  • Unless fully unavoidable, potent corticosteroids should not be used on the face as they may precipitate a rosacea-like disorder and aggravate any pre-existing rosacea, avoid use in an occluded area, near the eye, use in the presence of skin infections without concomitant use of anti-microbial, children under 1yr, on weeping foci.
02 Point of care

Dosing matrix

Population and organ-function guidance, shown together for faster comparison.

Adult

For pessaries: 500mg stat or 200mg OD x 3/7 or 100mg OD for 1/52 [inserted high in the vagina].For vaginal cream: insert one applicatorful of cream into the vagina at bedtime for 7 days in a row. Use the same tube of cream if there are itching and irritation on the skin outside the vagina BD for 7 days.

Paediatric

See label paediatric section if present; otherwise use paediatric formulary — do not extrapolate adult doses.

Renal

Fluconazole dose-adjust in CKD; amphotericin nephrotoxicity high-alert.

  • CrCl 0–120: Confirm renal dosing in product SmPC / primary label.
Hepatic

Monitor LFTs for courses >14 days or higher-risk patients.

03 Clinical use

Use, effects & interactions

Indications

  • Therapeutic use is agent- and indication-specific within the class (Antifungal).
  • Use according to culture results, national guidelines (Kenya STG/EML where applicable) and the current product SmPC.
  • Vaginal candidiasis

Adverse effects

  • [From component Clotrimazole / Beclomethasone Dipropionate] Local irritation e.g burning sensation and itching, erythema rare, dryness of the skin, aggravation of concurrent untreated infections, thinning of the skin (this may be reversible), loss of skin elasticity, folliculitis, change in skin pigmentation, telangiectasia, purpura and steroid acne, increased growth of hair, severe pituitary-adrenal axis suppression and hypercotism, cushoid state, growth retardation, benign intra-cranial hypertension.
  • Fixed-dose/multi-ingredient product.
  • Clinical details partially inherited from component monographs: Clotrimazole / Beclomethasone Dipropionate.
  • Confirm combination SmPC for exact dosing.
04 Pharmacology

Mechanism & disposition

imidazole- and triazole-class antifungals inhibit the fungal cytochrome P-450 3-A dependent enzyme, 14-alpha demethylase interrupting synthesis of ergosterol and resulting in increased cellular permeability and loss of cell contents.

imidazole- and triazole-class antifungals…
Read complete mechanism

imidazole- and triazole-class antifungals inhibit the fungal cytochrome P-450 3-A dependent enzyme, 14-alpha demethylase interrupting synthesis of ergosterol and resulting in increased cellular permeability and loss of cell contents.

Onset

Days for clinical response (varies)

Duration

Days–weeks per indication

Route

ORAL / TOPICAL / IV

Metabolism

with major interactions. Topicals: minimal systemic

05 Special populations

Pregnancy, lactation & diet

Pregnancy

[From component Clotrimazole / Beclomethasone Dipropionate] [From component Beclomethasone Dipropionate /Clioquinol] 8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS 8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no adequate and well‑controlled studies with QVAR REDIHALER or beclomethasone dipropionate in pregnant women. There are clinical considerations with the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), including beclomethasone dipropionate, in pregnant women [see Clinical Considerations] . Also, no published studies, including studies of large birth registries, have to date related the use of ICS to any increases in congenital malformations or other adverse perinatal outcomes. Thus, available human data do not establish the presence or absence of drug‑associated risk to the fetus. In animal reproduction studies, beclomethasone dipropionate resulted in adverse developmental effects in mice and rabbits at subcutaneous doses equal to or greater than approximately 0.75 times the maximum recommended human daily inhalation dose (MRHDID) in adults (0.64 mg/day) [see Data] . In rats exposed to beclomethasone dipropionate by inhalation, dose‑related gross injury to the fetal adrenal glands was observed at doses greater than 180 times the MRHDID, but there was no evidence of external or skeletal malformations or embryolethality at inhalation doses of up to 440 times the MRHDID. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population(s) are unknown. In the US general population, the estimated risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2‑4% and 15‑20%, respectively. Clinical Considerations Disease-Associated Maternal and/or Embryo/Fetal Risk The risk of complications to the mother and developing fetus from inadequate control of asthma must be balanced against the risks from exposure to beclomethasone dipropionate. In women with poorly or moderately controlled asthma, evidence demonstrates that there is an increased risk of preeclampsia in the mother and prematurity, low birth weight, and small for gestational age for the neonate. The level of asthma control should be closely monitored in pregnant women and treatment adjusted to maintain optimal control. Labor or Delivery There are no specific human data regarding any adverse effects of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate on labor and delivery. Data Animal Data In an embryofetal development study in pregnant rats, beclomethasone dipropionate administration during organogenesis from gestation days 6 to 15 at inhaled doses 180 times the MRHDID in adults and higher (on a mg/m 2 basis at maternal doses of 11.5 and 28.3 mg/kg/day) produced dose‑dependent gross injury (characterized by red foci) of the adrenal glands in fetuses. There were no findings in the adrenal glands of rat fetuses at an inhaled dose that was 40 times the MRHDID in adults (on a mg/m 2 basis at a maternal dose of 2.4 mg/kg/day). There was no evidence of external or skeletal malformations or embryolethality in rat at inhaled doses up to 440 times the MRHDID (on a mg/m 2 basis at maternal doses up to 28.3 mg/kg/day). In an embryofetal development study in pregnant mice, beclomethasone dipropionate administration from gestation days 1 to 18 at subcutaneous doses equal to and greater than 0.75 times the MRHDID in adults (on a mg/m 2 basis at maternal doses of 0.1 mg/kg/day and higher) produced adverse developmental effects (increased incidence of cleft palate). A no-effect dose in mice was not identified. In a second embryofetal development study in pregnant mice, beclomethasone dipropionate administration from gestation days 1 to 13 at subcutaneous doses equal to and greater than 2.3 times the MRHDID in adults (on a mg/m 2 basis at a maternal dose of 0.3 mg/kg/day) produced embryolethal effects (increased fetal resorptions) and decreased pup survival. In an embryofetal development study in pregnant rabbits, beclomethasone dipropionate administration during organogenesis from gestation days 7 to 16 at subcutaneous doses equal to and greater than 0.75 times the MRHDID in adults (on a mg/m 2 b

Lactation

[From component Clotrimazole / Beclomethasone Dipropionate] [From component Beclomethasone Dipropionate /Clioquinol] 8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS 8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no adequate and well‑controlled studies with QVAR REDIHALER or beclomethasone dipropionate in pregnant women. There are clinical considerations with the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), including beclomethasone dipropionate, in pregnant women [see Clinical Considerations] . Also, no published studies, including studies of large birth registries, have to date related the use of ICS to any increases in congenital malformations or other adverse perinatal outcomes. Thus, available human data do not establish the presence or absence of drug‑associated risk to the fetus. In animal reproduction studies, beclomethasone dipropionate resulted in adverse developmental effects in mice and rabbits at subcutaneous doses equal to or greater than approximately 0.75 times the maximum recommended human daily inhalation dose (MRHDID) in adults (0.64 mg/day) [see Data] . In rats exposed to beclomethasone dipropionate by inhalation, dose‑related gross injury to the fetal adrenal glands was observed at doses greater than 180 times the MRHDID, but there was no evidence of external or skeletal malformations or embryolethality at inhalation doses of up to 440 times the MRHDID. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population(s) are unknown. In the US general population, the estimated risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2‑4% and 15‑20%, respectively. Clinical Considerations Disease-Associated Maternal and/or Embryo/Fetal Risk The risk of complications to the mother and developing fetus from inadequate control of asthma must be balanced against the risks from exposure to beclomethasone dipropionate. In women with poorly or moderately controlled asthma, evidence demonstrates that there is an increased risk of preeclampsia in the mother and prematurity, low birth weight, and small for gestational age for the neonate. The level of asthma control should be closely monitored in pregnant women and treatment adjusted to maintain optimal control. Labor or Delivery There are no specific human data regarding any adverse effects of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate on labor and delivery. Data Animal Data In an embryofetal development study in pregnant rats, beclomethasone dipropionate administration during organogenesis from gestation days 6 to 15 at inhaled doses 180 times the MRHDID in adults and higher (on a mg/m 2 basis at maternal doses of 11.5 and 28.3 mg/kg/day) produced dose‑dependent gross injury (characterized by red foci) of the adrenal glands in fetuses. There were no findings in the adrenal glands of rat fetuses at an inhaled dose that was 40 times the MRHDID in adults (on a mg/m 2 basis at a maternal dose of 2.4 mg/kg/day). There was no evidence of external or skeletal malformations or embryolethality in rat at inhaled doses up to 440 times the MRHDID (on a mg/m 2 basis at maternal doses up to 28.3 mg/kg/day). In an embryofetal development study in pregnant mice, beclomethasone dipropionate administration from gestation days 1 to 18 at subcutaneous doses equal to and greater than 0.75 times the MRHDID in adults (on a mg/m 2 basis at maternal doses of 0.1 mg/kg/day and higher) produced adverse developmental effects (increased incidence of cleft palate). A no-effect dose in mice was not identified. In a second embryofetal development study in pregnant mice, beclomethasone dipropionate administration from gestation days 1 to 13 at subcutaneous doses equal to and greater than 2.3 times the MRHDID in adults (on a mg/m 2 basis at a maternal dose of 0.3 mg/kg/day) produced embryolethal effects (increased fetal resorptions) and decreased pup survival. In an embryofetal development study in pregnant rabbits, beclomethasone dipropionate administration during organogenesis from gestation days 7 to 16 at subcutaneous doses equal to and greater than 0.75 times the MRHDID in adults (on a mg/m 2 b

06 Kenya market

Brands & loaded prices

FromKES 203
MedianKES 284
Listings4
BrandManufacturerPackObserved price
CANDID B CREAM * Not recorded 15GM KES 202.85Daima Chemist price-list reference ↗ Source date not recorded · verify current price
CANDID V-1 VAG PESSARY * 1 Not recorded — KES 284.18Daima Chemist price-list reference ↗ Source date not recorded · verify current price
CANDID V-3 VAG PESSARY * 3 Not recorded — KES 355.45Daima Chemist price-list reference ↗ Source date not recorded · verify current price
CANDID V-6 VAG PESSARY * 6 Not recorded — KES 388.34Daima Chemist price-list reference ↗ Source date not recorded · verify current price
07 Provenance

Sources & review state

Primary sourceLocal active-ingredient clinical extract; Component monographs (multi-source pipeline); Professional class pharmacology (Antifungal)
Last reviewed14 Aug 2026
EvidenceSource not available

Decision support only. Confirm patient-specific decisions against the current product SmPC, Kenya STG/EML, and professional judgement.