Antifungal medicines are used to treat fungal infections, which usually affect your skin, hair and nails.
You need a prescription for some antifungal medicines. But others are available over the counter from your pharmacy.
Talk to your GP or pharmacist if you think you have a fungal infection. They will tell you which antifungal medicine to take.
Antifungal medicines come as tablets, liquids, creams, gels, ointments, sprays, vaginal suppositories or injections.
Read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine for information specific to your type of antifungal medicine.
Non-urgent advice: Find your patient information leaflet
Your patient information leaflet is the leaflet that comes with your medicine. You can find a digital version of the leaflet online.
Get emergency help
You may need emergency help if you have a serious allergic reaction or severe side effects to antifungal medicines.
Serious allergic reaction
Emergency action required: Call 999 or go to your nearest emergency department if:
you've taken antifungal medicines and you are:
- having difficulty breathing
Serious side effects
Urgent advice: Call your GP immediately if you're taking antifungal medicine and:
- your face, neck or tongue swell - these are signs of an allergic reaction
- you have a severe skin reaction, such as peeling or blistering skin
- you experience loss of appetite, vomiting, nausea, jaundice, dark urine or pale faeces, tiredness or weakness
Stop using the medicine if you have these severe side effects.
Uses of antifungal medicines
Antifungals are used to treat common fungal infections such as:
- ringworm
- athlete's foot
- fungal nail infection
- vaginal thrush
- some kinds of severe dandruff
They work by either:
- killing the fungal cells
- preventing the fungal cells growing and reproducing
Some fungal infections can grow inside the body and need to be treated in hospital.
You're more at risk of getting a more serious fungal infection if you have a weakened immune system.
Types of antifungal medicines
Common names for antifungal medicines include:
- clotrimazole
- econazole
- miconazole
- terbinafine
- fluconazole
- ketoconazole
- amphotericin
Check if you can take antifungal drugs
Check with your GP or pharmacist if you:
- have an existing medical condition
- have any allergies
- are taking any other medication
- are trying to get pregnant, pregnant, or breastfeeding
Pregnant or breastfeeding
Many antifungal medicines are not safe to take during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Check with your GP or pharmacist.
How and when to take antifungal medicine
Take your antifungal medicine as advised by your pharmacist or GP. The information leaflet with your medicine will also have advice on using your medicine.
Antifungal medicines for children
Children and babies can take some antifungal medicines. For example, miconazole oral gel can be used to treat oral thrush in babies.
But talk to a pharmacist or GP for more advice.
Different doses are usually needed for children of different ages.
If you take too much
Talk to your pharmacist or GP if you take too much of your antifungal medicine.
They may tell you to go to a hospital emergency department (ED).
If you go to the ED, take the medicine's packaging with you. This is so the healthcare professionals who treat you know what you've taken.
Side effects of antifungal medicines
Antifungal medicines can cause side effects. These are usually mild and only last for a short time.
They can include:
- itching or burning
- redness
- feeling sick
- stomach (abdominal) pain
- diarrhoea
- a rash
See the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine for a full list of side effects of your type of antifungal medicine.
Non-urgent advice: Find your patient information leaflet
Your patient information leaflet is the leaflet that comes with your medicine. You can find a digital version of the leaflet online.
Report side effects
You can report any suspected side effects to the the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA): report an issue - hrpa.ie
Fact check
This content was fact checked by a pharmacist, a GP, the National Medication Safety Programme (Safermeds) and the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
