To ask if I can use Canestan internal cream on my period?

[Stopthisitch]

Suffering with a bad case of thrush. Took a fluconazole tablet from the pharmacy over a week ago and symptoms are no better.

I have ordered a Canestan internal and external cream from Amazon which arrived today, but unfortunately it seems so has my period!

Does anyone know if I can still use it? NHS website says not to, but I’m wondering what the reason for this is? Would really like to get it treated ASAP as it’s disturbing my sleep.

Would it not get washed away by the menstrual blood? Could you take another tablet? You can buy them cheaply online

That’s what I thought, but I was planning to use it overnight anyway so hopefully it would stay in?

You can always try, it's not exactly like it will make things worse?

Take another tablet the cream is nowhere near as good. Are you sure it's thrush it's really unusual for it not to have worked.

You can. It makes no difference. I get them prescribed regularly for recurrent thrush (I have autoimmune issues so get it a lot) and I have irregular bleeding (menopausal) and consultant says it’s fine to use. I don’t know why it says don’t use it. I’m wondering if the blood makes it slightly less effective but I’ve never had an issue.

I didn’t want to risk waiting for another tablet to work when it might not again. Thought it might be better to target it at the source? I’m fairly sure it’s thrush, feels similar to when I have had it in the past.

Not a medical person but in desperation I’ve taken a second tablet 5 days after the first when it didn’t work…. That solved it! The NHS website says double dosing is unlikely to do any harm, I think the concern for doctors is why the first dose didn’t fix it as it should be enough (may not be thrush, may have underlying condition causing thrush etc)
But….I’m not medical! Read and decide for yourself or seek proper medical advice..
https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/fluconazole/how-and-when-to-take-fluconazole/

Great, thanks!

If it helps the oral tablets do nothing for me, I have to use the pessary

Just another thing that might be worth a mention … I actually find the internal cream better than the pessaries. I am quite sore and irritated a lot of the time and I find the cream very soothing - you can buy it from Amazon or have it prescribed. It comes in a pre filled applicator you use like a tampon and the cream comes out. Pharmacies don’t tend to suggest it for some reason and always go to the pessaries but I find it much better. I’ll try and find a link - it’s not the same thing as the external cream (which is only 2%, the internal one is 10%).

Canesten Thrush Combi Internal & External Creams for Thrush Treatment | Clotrimazole | Two-Step Complete Relief Thrush Treatment,2 Count (Pack of 1) https://amzn.eu/d/1557iQd

Oh gosh ignore me- that’s what you’ve used! Oops. Brain is fried! 😆🙈

Same.

Yes this is the one I’ve got! I have used the pessary in the past and whilst it worked, I found it made me sore inside.

I haven’t used the internal cream before, how quickly do you see an improvement in symptoms?

Is it defo thrush? I went through what I thought was recurrent thrush for months but now I think it's probably more lack of oestrogen and I'm using vagifem which has made the world of difference.

A tampon dipped in live yoghurt will help.

Yes - I am under 3 different consultants (urology, rheumatology and endocrinology) and have multiple swabs and check ups. I do however use Ovestin oestrogen cream and full systemic HRT as well. I’ve got very complex health issues and take 22 medications each day. I’ve had such awful invasive oesophageal thrush at times I’ve been under the specialist oral clinic in London (I’m in Norfolk) and have been unable to eat solid food at times. I currently take 150mg Fluconazole once a month, Daktarin oral gel every night and Canestan internal cream every 3/4 weeks as a preventative maintenance treatment. I also take Biokault probiotics everyday. Changing my diet etc or excluding sugar makes no difference whatsoever. It’s definitely an autoimmune issue for me.

I usually find the symptoms improve overnight a bit and then gradually get even better over the next few days.

I have tried this, but it’s not helped with the symptoms.