Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official and paediatric dosages, pregnancy and breastfeeding guidance, and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official and paediatric dosages, pregnancy and breastfeeding guidance, and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
What Clotrimazole is and what it is
used for The active substance is clotrimazole. Clotrimazole belongs to a group of medicines called imidazoles and is an antifungal agent which fights the cause of fungal skin infections. Clotrimazole is used to treat fungal skin infections such as ringworm, athlete's foot, fungal nappy rash and fungal sweat rash. It is also used to relieve irritation of the vulva (external thrush) or the end of the penis, which may be associated with thrush. When Clotrimazole is applied to the infected area of skin it works by destroying the fungus or yeast which has caused the infection. If you are unsure whether you (or your baby if treating nappy rash) have one of these fungal skin infections, seek the advice of your doctor or pharmacist.
use Clotrimazole
Do not use Clotrimazole:
«if you (or your baby if treating nappy rash) are allergic to clotrimazole or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before
using Clotrimazole if you have used
a cream containing clotrimazole or a similar
medicine before and suffered an allergic
or unpleasant skin reaction. This may have
been a skin rash or
itching in the area the cream was applied.
Do not 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.
Other medicines and Clotrimazole
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Clotrimazole is not known to interact with any other medicines.
As with other creams, Clotrimazole
may reduce the effectiveness of rubber contraceptives, such as condoms or diaphragms. Consequently, if you are using this cream on the vulva or penis, you should use alternative precautions for at least five days after using this product. Pregnancy and breastfeeding Clotrimazole Cream 1% can be used in pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, tell your doctor, midwife or pharmacist before using Clotrimazole. If you have informed your doctor or midwife already, follow his/her instructions carefully. Driving and using machines Clotrimazole will not affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.
Clotrimazole contains cetostearyl alcohol This medicine contains cetostearyl alcohol which may cause local skin reactions
(e.g. rash, itching or redness). Clotrimazole contains benzyl alcohol This medicine contains benzyl alcohol which may cause mild local irritation.
Always use this medicine exactly as
described in this leaflet or as your doctor or
pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
If you purchased this product without
a prescription, follow these directions
closely.
+ Before use, pierce the tube seal by inverting the cap over the end of the tube and press.
+ Ifthe feet are infected, they should be washed and dried thoroughly, especially between the toes, before applying the cream.
* Clotrimazole should be applied thinly and evenly to the affected areas, two or three times daily and rubbed in gently.
+ Asstrip of cream (/2 cm long) is enough to treat an area of about the size of the hand.
+ The duration of the treatment depends upon the type of infection. Use the cream for at least two weeks for candida (thrush) infections or at least one month for other infections.
«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 persist, consult your doctor.
Clotrimazole 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 Clotrimazole
Apply the cream as soon as possible, then
continue the rest of your treatment as
usual. If you stop using Clotrimazole
Do not suddenly stop using Clotrimazole
as this may cause the symptoms of the
infection to return.
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, but avoid excessive rubbing.
« Donot 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.
If you have any further questions on the
use of this medicine, ask your doctor or
pharmacist.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause
side effects, although not everybody
gets them.
As with all medicines, some people may
be allergic to the cream. If you or your
baby are allergic, a reaction will occur
soon after you start using it. If you or your
baby experience an allergic reaction, stop
using Clotrimazole 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 the lips, face, throat or tongue
+ Weakness, feeling dizzy or faint
- Nausea
After you apply the cream you might
experience:
+ Itching, rash, blisters, burning, discomfort, swelling, irritation, pins and needles, redness or peeling of skin. This may mean that you are allergic to the cream.
Reporting of side effects
If you or your baby gets 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 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.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Store in a cool dry place.
Do not use this cream after the expiry date which is stated on the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
information What Clotrimazole contains The active substance is clotrimazole. Each gram of cream contains 10 mg of clotrimazole (i.e. 1% w/w). The other ingredients are benzyl alcohol (see section 2 "Clotrimazole contains benzyl alcohol"), polysorbate 60, cetyl esters wax, cetostearyl alcohol (see section 2 "Clotrimazole contains cetostearyl| alcohol"), octyldodecanol, sorbitan monostearate and purified water. What Clotrimazole looks like and contents of the pack Clotrimazole Cream 1% is a smooth white cream andis available in tubes of 20g or 50g. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder Cooper Consumer Health B.V. Verrijn Stuartweg 60,
1112AX Diemen — Netherlands
Manufacturer Ovelle Limited
Coe's Road Industrial Estate , Dundalk, Co. Louth,
A91 HR67, Ireland
This leaflet was last revised in October 2025
4770 Rev 007
Clotrimazole 1 %w/w Cream comes as cream containing 1 %. Always follow the dose your doctor or pharmacist has given you, and read the leaflet that comes with the medicine.
The active substance in Clotrimazole 1 %w/w Cream is clotrimazole.
Medicines with the same active substance include: Boots Antifungal Cream, Boots Thrush 1% w/w Cream, Canesten 10% w/w Vaginal Cream, Canesten 100mg Pessary, Canesten 200mg Pessary, Canesten 500mg Pessary. They are interchangeable only if your prescriber or pharmacist says so.
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Clotrimazole 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.
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.
The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.
For the treatment of:
i. All dermatomycoses due to moulds and other fungi (e.g. Trichophyton species)
ii. All dermatomycoses due to yeasts (Candida species). These include ringworm (tinea) infections (e.g. athlete's foot), paronychia, pityriasis versicolor, erythrasma and intertrigo.
iii. Skin diseases showing secondary infection with these fungi.
iv. Candidal nappy rash, vulvitis and balanitis.
Posology
There is no separate dosage schedule for the young or elderly.
Method of administration
The cream should be applied thinly and evenly to the affected area 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 thoroughly washed and dried, especially between the toes, before applying the cream.
Treatment should be continued for at least one month for dermatophyte infections, or for at least two weeks for candidal infections.
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.
Laboratory tests have suggested that, when used together, this product may cause damage to latex contraceptives. Consequently the effectiveness of such contraceptives may be reduced. Patients should be advised to use alternative precautions for at least five days after using this product.
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.
Clotrimazole cream has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive or use machines.
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, routine measures such as gastric lavage should be performed only 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 anything about Clotrimazole 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.
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