Clotrimazole

Antifungal (imidazole), Topical antifungal

Clotrimazole

Lotrimin, Mycelex, Gyne-Lotrimin; OTC widely

Experience

👥 No personal reports yet

⚕ No clinical reports yet

Log in to add your own experience.

Problems

No problems yet. Be the first to suggest one.

+ Add a problem

Titration strategies

No titration strategies yet. Be the first to suggest one.

+ Add a titration strategy

Effects

No effects listed yet. Be the first to suggest one.

+ Add an effect

Relevant anecdote

No anecdotes yet. Share a relevant one.

+ Add an anecdote

Relevant Literature

No literature entries yet.

Log in to submit relevant literature.

Summary

Classes

Antifungal (imidazole), Topical antifungal

Pharmacy

Starting dose

Topical: 1% cream BID × 2-4 weeks; vaginal: 1% or 2% cream nightly × 7 days, or 100/200/500 mg vaginal tablet single or 3-day regimens; troche: 10 mg PO five times daily × 2 weeks for thrush

Preparations

1% topical cream, lotion, solution; 1%, 2% vaginal cream; 100, 200, 500 mg vaginal tablets; 10 mg oral troches; combination with betamethasone (Lotrisone, Rx)

US FDA Max

Topical: BID; troche: 5×/day

Pharmacology

Routes

Topical, vaginal, oral troche

Onset

Days

Duration

Hours per application

Half-life

Not meaningfully described (minimal systemic absorption from topical use)

Bioavailability

Topical: minimal systemic; troche: ~3% systemic

Pregnancy

Topical and vaginal generally considered safe; widely used.^{[citation needed]}

Legal status

OTC (lower strengths) and Rx-only (combination with betamethasone) in US

Purported mechanism

Clotrimazole is an imidazole antifungal that inhibits fungal cytochrome P450 14α-demethylase (CYP51), blocking ergosterol biosynthesis and disrupting fungal cell membrane integrity.▲0▼ Active against dermatophytes (Trichophyton, Microsporum, Epidermophyton), Candida species, Malassezia, and some gram-positives at high concentrations. Topical use largely avoids the CYP-mediated drug interactions and hepatotoxicity that limit oral ketoconazole.