Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Canesten Athlete's Foot 1% w/w Cream
⚠ This medicine appears to have been discontinued
The electronic medicines compendium (emc) no longer publishes a Summary of Product Characteristics for this product, which usually means it is no longer marketed in the UK. The patient leaflet below is kept for reference, but the product may not be available.
If you were prescribed this medicine, other products containing Clotrimazole may still be available. Do not stop your treatment — ask your pharmacist or GP what to use instead.
How to take it
CANESTEN ® ATHLETE'S FOOT CREAM Follow these directions closely:
- Before use, pierce the tube seal by inverting the cap over the end of the tube and press.
- If feet are infected; before applying the cream, they should be washed and dried thoroughly, especially between the toes.
- Canesten Athlete's Foot cream should be applied thinly and evenly to the affected areas two or three times daily and rubbed in gently.
- A strip of cream (1⁄2 cm long) is enough to treat an area of about the size of the hand.
- The treatment should be continued for at least one month to prevent re-infection.
- If you have athlete's foot, it may help to use an antifungal dusting powder as well. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to recommend one. The symptoms of skin infection, such as itching or soreness, should improve within a few days of treatment although signs such as redness and scaling may take longer to disappear. If symptoms do not improve within 7 days, consult your doctor.
Canesten Athlete's Foot cream is for external use only:
Do not put the cream in your mouth or swallow it. If the cream is swallowed accidentally, tell your doctor straight away or contact the Accident and Emergency Department of your nearest hospital. If you accidentally get cream in your eyes or mouth, wash immediately with water and contact your doctor.
If you forget to use Canesten Athlete's Foot cream: Apply the cream as soon as possible and then continue the rest of treatment as usual.
You can help the treatment to work if you follow these simple self-help tips:
- Although the infected area will itch, try not to scratch. Scratching will damage the surface of the skin and cause the infection to spread further.
- Keep the affected skin areas clean.
- Pay particular attention to drying the skin, including between the toes, but avoid excessive rubbing.
- Do not share towels, bath mats, etc. with other people as you could spread the infection to them.
- Always wash your hands after treating the infection to prevent it from spreading.
If you have athlete's foot:
- Remember to dry the skin between the toes thoroughly.
- Wash your socks, stockings and tights thoroughly in hot water to remove any shed skin or fungal spores.
- Change your footwear daily if possible.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS Like all medicines, Canesten Athlete's Foot cream can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. As with all medicines, some people may be allergic to the cream. If you are allergic, a reaction will occur soon after you start using it. If you experience an allergic reaction, stop using Canesten Athlete's Foot cream and tell your doctor straight away or contact the Accident and Emergency Department of your nearest hospital. Signs of an allergic reaction may include:
- Rash.
- Swallowing or breathing problems.
- Swelling of your lips, face, throat or tongue.
- Weakness, feeling dizzy or faint.
- Nausea. After you apply the cream, you might experience the following symptoms:
- Itching, rash, blisters, burning, discomfort, swelling, irritation, pins and needles, redness or peeling of skin.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report
Possible side effects
directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Do not use Canesten Athlete's Foot cream after the expiry date which is stated at one end of the carton and on the end of the tube of cream. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. FURTHER INFORMATION What Canesten Athlete's Foot cream contains:
- The active substance is clotrimazole at a strength of 1% w/w.
- The other ingredients are benzyl alcohol, polysorbate 60, sorbitan stearate, cetyl palmitate, cetostearyl alcohol, octyldodecanol and purified water. See Section 2 'Do not use' and 'Important information about some of the ingredients' for cetostearyl and benzyl alcohol advice.
What Canesten Athlete's Foot cream looks like and contents of the pack:
Canesten Athlete's Foot cream is available in tubes containing 15g, 25g or 30g of white cream. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder: Bayer plc, 400 South Oak Way, Reading RG2 6AD, UK
Manufacturer:
GP Grenzach Produktions GmbH, 79639 Grenzach-Wyhlen, Germany. Remember: If you have any doubts about using Canesten Athlete's Foot cream correctly, seek the advice of your doctor or pharmacist For UK residents only: if you have any questions or would like more information, call our Canesten Advice Line on 0845 758 5030. Calls charged at local rate. This leaflet was last revised in April 2021. Canesten is a registered trademark of Bayer AG, Germany.
How to store it
CANESTEN ® ATHLETE'S FOOT CREAM Keep out of the sight and reach of children. This product should be stored in the original carton. Do not store above 25oC.
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Frequently asked questions about Canesten Athlete's Foot 1% w/w Cream
How do I take Canesten Athlete's Foot 1% w/w Cream?
Canesten Athlete's Foot 1% w/w Cream comes as cream. Always follow the dose your doctor or pharmacist has given you, and read the leaflet that comes with the medicine.
What is the active substance in Canesten Athlete's Foot 1% w/w Cream?
The active substance in Canesten Athlete's Foot 1% w/w Cream is clotrimazole.
Are there equivalent medicines to Canesten Athlete's Foot 1% w/w Cream?
Medicines with the same active substance, strength and form include: Boots Antifungal Cream, Boots Thrush 1% w/w Cream, Canesten 10% w/w Vaginal Cream. In total there are 7 equivalent products. They are interchangeable only if your prescriber or pharmacist says so.
Where does this information come from?
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Canesten Athlete's Foot 1% w/w Cream, as published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). The version printed inside your medicine’s packaging is the one that applies to you.
Can I get Canesten Athlete's Foot 1% w/w Cream without a prescription?
Whether a medicine is available over the counter or on prescription only depends on its licence. Check the leaflet, or ask your pharmacist — they can tell you straight away.
About this leaflet
The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.
- Source: electronic medicines compendium (emc), Datapharm
- Active substance: clotrimazole
- Official document: view the original leaflet on emc →
⚕For healthcare professionals — Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)Full SmPC: dosage, interactions, contraindications, warnings+
4.1. Therapeutic indications
For the treatment of tinea pedis and tinea cruris.
4.2. Posology and method of administration
There is no separate dosage schedule for the young or elderly.
The cream should be applied thinly 2-3 times daily and rubbed in gently. A strip of cream (½ cm long) is enough to treat an area of about the size of the hand. If the feet are infected they should be washed and dried, especially between the toes, before applying the cream. The treatment should be continued for at least one month to prevent re-infection; however a physician should be consulted if symptoms do not improve within 7 days.
4.3. Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
Do not use the cream to treat nail or scalp infections.
4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use
This product contains cetostearyl alcohol, which may cause local skin reactions (e.g. contact dermatitis). The cream also contains benzyl alcohol which may cause allergic reactions and mild local irritation.
Instruct patients not to smoke or go near naked flames - risk of severe burns. Fabric (clothing, bedding, dressings etc) that has been in contact with this product burns more easily and is a serious fire hazard. Washing clothing and bedding may reduce product build-up but not totally remove it.
4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
No interaction studies have been performed.
4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy:
There is a limited amount of data from the use of clotrimazole in pregnant women. Animal studies with clotrimazole have shown reproductive toxicity at high oral doses (see section 5.3). At the low systemic exposures of clotrimazole following topical treatment, harmful effects with respect to reproductive toxicity are not predicted. Clotrimazole can be used during pregnancy, but only under the supervision of a physician or midwife.
Lactation:
There are no data on the excretion of clotrimazole into human milk. However, systemic absorption is minimal after administration and is unlikely to lead to systemic effects. Clotrimazole may be used during lactation.
Fertility:
No human studies of the effects of clotrimazole on fertility have been performed; however, animal studies have not demonstrated any effects of the drug on fertility.
4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines
Clotrimazole cream has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive or use machines.
4.8. Undesirable effects
As the listed undesirable effects are based on spontaneous reports, assigning an accurate frequency of occurrence for each is not possible.
Immune system disorders: anaphylactic reaction, angioedema, hypersensitivity.
Vascular disorders: syncope, hypotension.
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: dyspnoea.
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: blister, dermatitis contact, erythema, paraesthesia, skin exfoliation, pruritus, rash, urticaria, stinging skin/burning sensation skin.
General disorders and administration site conditions: application site irritation, application site reaction, oedema, pain.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
4.9. Overdose
No risk of acute intoxication is seen as it is unlikely to occur following a single dermal application of an overdose (application over a large area under conditions favourable to absorption) or inadvertent oral ingestion. There is no specific antidote.
However, in the event of accidental oral ingestion, gastric lavage is rarely required and should be considered only if a life-threatening amount of Clotrimazole has been ingested within the preceding hour or if clinical symptoms of overdose become apparent (e.g. dizziness, nausea or vomiting). Gastric lavage should be carried out only if the airway can be protected adequately.
💬 Ask about this leaflet
Ask anything about Canesten Athlete’s Foot 1% w/w Cream. The assistant answers only from this leaflet — if the leaflet does not cover it, it will say so. It does not give medical advice.
Answers come from the patient leaflet published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). They are not medical advice. Ask a pharmacist or your GP if you are unsure. For urgent help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.
Medicines containing Clotrimazole
- Canesten 10% w/w Vaginal Cream
- Canesten 100mg Pessary
- Canesten 200mg Pessary
- Canesten 500mg Pessary
- Canesten Combi Pessary & External Cream 500mg / 2% w/w pessary & cream
- Canesten Combi Soft Gel Pessary & External Cream 500mg / 2% w/w vaginal capsule & cream
- Canesten Cream
- Canesten Dermatological Spray
- Canesten Solution
- Canesten Thrush Combi Internal & External Creams 10% w/w / 2% w/w vaginal cream & cream
- Canesten Thrush Combi Soft Gel Pessary & External Cream 500mg / 2% w/w vaginal capsule & cream
- Canesten Thrush External Cream 2% w/w cream
- Canesten Thrush Internal Cream 10% w/w vaginal cream
- Canesten Thrush Pessary 500mg pessary