Clotrimazole is a topical antifungal (cream, solution, pessaries) against skin, fold and genital/vulvovaginal fungal infections. It acts directly on the fungus, rarely affecting the rest of the body.
Also known as: Canesten, Gino-Canesten
No documented drug–drug interactions for this medicine.
No documented food or drink interactions.
No documented disease interactions.
No entry in the Prontuário Annex 1 (topical use, negligible systemic absorption). Vaginal clotrimazole/cream is the first-line treatment for vulvovaginal candidiasis in pregnancy, in any trimester — decades of use without a fetal risk signal.
Compatible in all trimesters for topical vaginal/cutaneous use; deep intravaginal application at bedtime reduces discomfort.
Negligible systemic absorption — compatible with breastfeeding; avoid applying the cream to the breasts (the infant may ingest excipients).
Prontuário Terapêutico INFARMED — 7.1.2 (Topical antifungals); EMC-UK (MHRA) — Clotrimazole SmPC (Canesten): https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/2973/smpc (section 4.6).
Clinical and educational support tool. The information does not replace a medical prescription or the opinion of a qualified healthcare professional.
Topical imidazole antifungal covering dermatophytes+yeasts with negligible systemic absorption; the backbone of superficial mycosis topical treatment across all ages.
Inhibits fungal 14-α-demethylase (CYP51), blocking lanosterol-to-ergosterol conversion: ergosterol depletion and accumulation of methylated sterols disorganise the fungal cell membrane (fungistatic) and, with prolonged exposure, make it permeable (fungicidal).
Cutaneous: < 0.5% of the dose crosses intact epidermis (more in broken skin and occlusion). Vaginal: 3–10% absorbed (peak 8–24 h); high local concentrations persist 2–3 days after each pessary.
Minimal systemic absorption: the fraction crossing skin/vaginal epithelium is rapidly metabolised in the liver (oxidation and imidazole ring degradation) to inactive metabolites, excreted in faeces and urine. No clinically relevant systemic CYP interactions.
Not clinically determinable (negligible systemic absorption); local action persists through keratin affinity.
Medicines from the same therapeutic group (ATC classification) or the same pharmacological class.
