Antifungal medicines treat fungal infections, which usually affect your skin, hair and nails.
You need a prescription for some antifungal medicines. But you can get others from your pharmacy without a prescription.
Talk to your GP or pharmacist if you think you have a fungal infection. They will tell you which antifungal medicine to take.
Uses of antifungal medicines
Antifungal medicines 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 your body and must be treated in hospital.
You're more at risk of getting a more serious fungal infection if you have a weak immune system.
Types of antifungal medicines
Antifungal medicines come as:
- capsules, tablets or liquids
- creams, ointments, gels, shampoos, powders
- pessary - a small and soft tablet you put inside the vagina
- injection
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.
Common names for antifungal medicines include:
- clotrimazole (Canesten)
- miconazole (Daktarin)
- terbinafine (Lamisil, Naildem or Terbasil)
- fluconazole (Diflucan or Flucol)
- ketoconazole (Nizoral)
- itraconazole (Sporanox)
- amphotericin
Check if you can take antifungal medicine
Check with your GP or pharmacist before taking antifungal medicine if you:
- have other medical conditions
- have any allergies
- are taking other medicines
- are pregnant, trying to get 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 in the way your pharmacist or GP tells you. Read the information leaflet that comes with the medicine. It will also have advice on how to take the medicine.
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 ED, bring the packet or leaflet and any remaining medicine with you. This is so the healthcare professionals who treat you know what you've taken.
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, from age 4 months.
But talk to a pharmacist or GP for more advice.
Different doses are usually needed for children of different ages.
Side effects of antifungal medicines
Antifungal medicines can cause side effects. These are usually mild and only last for a short time.
Common side effects
There are things you can do to manage common side effects:
Itching, burning or redness
Try holding something cool on your skin like a damp towel. Take cool baths or showers. If you have itchy skin, use an unperfumed moisturiser regularly.
Keep your nails clean, short and smooth and try to pat your skin rather than scratch it.
To reduce redness, try cutting down on coffee, tea and alcohol. It might help to keep the room cool and use a fan. You could also spray your face with cool water or sip cold or iced drinks.
Feeling sick (nausea)
Stick to simple meals and do not eat rich or spicy food. It might help to take your antifungal medicine after a meal or snack.
Getting sick (vomiting)
If you're getting sick, try small, frequent sips of water to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having strong-smelling pee.
If you take the combined contraceptive pill or the progestogen-only pill and you're getting sick, your contraception may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet for advice.
Stomach (abdominal) pain
Try to rest and relax. It can help to eat and drink slowly and have smaller and more frequent meals. Putting a heat pad or covered hot water bottle on your stomach may also help. If you are in a lot of pain, speak to your pharmacist or GP.
Diarrhoea
Drink lots of fluids, such as water or squash, to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee.
Do not take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor.
If you take the combined contraceptive pill or the progestogen-only pill and you have severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, your pill may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet for advice.
A rash
Try not to scratch your skin as this will make it worse.
If the rash does not go away within a few days, speak to your pharmacist or GP.
Serious side effects
You may need emergency help if you have a serious allergic reaction or severe side effects to antifungal medicines.
Urgent advice: Contact your GP immediately if you're taking antifungal medicine and you have:
- a severe skin reaction, such as peeling or blistering skin
- vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, yellowing of your skin and whites of your eyes (jaundice), dark pee or pale poo, tiredness or weakness - these can be symptoms of liver damage (very rare)
Stop using the medicine if you have any of these severe side effects.
Serious allergic reaction
Emergency action required: Call 112 or 999 or go to your nearest emergency department if:
- you've taken antifungal medicines and you are:
- having difficulty breathing
- your face, neck or tongue swell
See the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine for a full list of possible side effects.
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 Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA): report an issue - hpra.ie
Fact check
This content was fact checked by a pharmacist, a GP, and the National Medication Safety Programme (Safermeds).
