Choosing an OTC medication for a vaginal yeast infection is easy when you learn four ingredient names. These can be safely used to cure vaginal yeast infections only in nonpregnant women who have infection that is uncomplicated (occurring occasionally and with mild symptoms). Learning a few ingredient names for products included in combination packs can also make selection of OTC vaginal yeast infection products easier.
Learn the Ingredients in Available OTC Vaginal Yeast Infection Cures
OTC yeast infection cures contain clotrimazole, miconazole, tioconazole, or butoconazole.
Gyne-Lotrimin and Mycelex contain clotrimazole. Monistat contains miconazole. Vagistat contains tioconazole. Femstat contains butoconazole.
Which OTC Vaginal Yeast Infection Cure Should Nonpregnant Women Select?
The four generic ingredients above work similarly. One is about as effective as the next for a nonpregnant woman with an uncomplicated yeast infection. Read ingredient names. Don’t rely on advertising claims.
Don’t assume that one-day products work faster, they don’t. OTC medications that can be used for a shorter time contain more concentrated medicine, but the length of time to effect a cure is about the same. They keep working after they are applied inside the vagina. Choosing the correct cure for a yeast infection for nonpregnant women depends mostly on preference and cost.
Which Combination OTC Medication Should Nonpregnant Women Select for Yeast Infection Symptoms?
Again, confusion can be avoided by reading the ingredient list.
Monistat 3 Vaginal Antifungal 3-Day Treatment Combination Pack contains the yeast infection cure, miconazole, in pre-filled syringes to use in the vagina. The tube of miconazole cream is for external symptoms. You don’t need to pay much attention to the fact that the miconazole in the syringes is 4% but only 2% in the tube. The percent concentration of the medication governs how long it is used. Follow the package directions for the length of therapy and you can ignore the percent strength of the product.
Another combination pack is Monistat Combination Pack, 3-Ovule Insert with 3 Applicators & External Cream. The only difference is that the yeast infection cure is in ovules instead of cream. Otherwise, it is the same as the Monistat Combination Pack described above.
Other Monistat products may include Cool Wipes containing vitamin E and aloe to soothe external irritation.
Monistat combinations may also include a tube of Soothing Care Itch Relief Cream containing aloe and hydrocortisone for external itching and irritation.
Once you learn the ingredients above, you can effectively compare most OTC medications for yeast infection.
Summary
The information in this article applies only to nonpregnant women and women without underlying disease such as diabetes.
Before choosing OTC medication for uncomplicated vaginal yeast infection, know the symptoms. Symptoms include thick white discharge, painful urination, and pain, swelling, and redness in the vaginal area. Most vaginal yeast infections are considered uncomplicated if they occur only once in a while with mild symptoms. The following information applies only to healthy, nonpregnant women.
OTC vaginal yeast infection cures contain clotrimazole, miconazole, tioconazole, or butoconazole. When choosing an OTC medication, read the ingredient list. Bypass the advertising claims. These ingredients work similarly whether taken in a one-day or a one-week product. The concentration of the active ingredient is strongest in the one-day product and weakest in the one-week product, but they all continue to work after being applied inside the vagina and cure takes about the same amount of time.
OTC vaginal yeast medications sold in combination packs may include creams and wipes containing ingredients such as aloe, vitamin E and hydrocortisone.
Choosing OTC medication for uncomplicated vaginal yeast infection in nonpregnant women is simple when you read ingredient names and select based on cost and preference.
DISCLAIMER: This article is provided for information only. This information is not a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified doctor or other health care professional. I am not responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any form of damages whatsoever resulting from the use (or misuse) of information contained in or implied by the information. This information is in no way intended as a recommendation of any drug therapy and is not intended as a diagnosis of any problem you may have.
SOURCES:
Treatment of Uncomplicated Vulvovaginal Yeast Infections. Pharmacist’s Letter/Prescriber’s Letter 2010;26(2):260209
No author given. Monistat. Monistat.com
No author given. Clotrimazole. Drugs.com
