Nizoral cream (ketoconazole)

Nizoral cream contains a medicine called ketoconazole. This belongs to a group of medicines called ‘antifungals’. Nizoral cream is used for fungal and yeast infections of the skin.

Fungal infections can occur anywhere in your body, including on the skin of the face and skull. Changes in the appearance of skin (redness, scaling) and itching or pain are common symptoms of fungal infections. Nizoral cream kills the fungi and yeasts that cause these symptoms, allowing the skin to calm down.

Always use Nizoral cream exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

How often you should use Nizoral cream

This will depend on the type of infection and how serious it is. Your doctor will tell you how often to use Nizoral cream and for how long.

The cream is normally used:

• Once or twice each day for one to six weeks.

Do not use the cream more often than your doctor has told you.

Preparing your skin

Wash the infected skin and dry it well.

Using Nizoral cream

Rub the cream gently into the affected area and surrounding skin with clean

fingers. Do not put Nizoral cream in the eyes.

Personal hygiene

• Unless the affected skin is on your hands, wash your hands with soap and water after using the cream. Washing your hands after using the cream will stop you spreading the infection to other parts of your body or to other people.
• Do not allow other people to use your flannel or towel. This will stop them from getting your infection.
• Clothing that touches infected skin should be washed and changed often.

When to stop using Nizoral cream

Keep using the cream for several days after all the symptoms have gone away.

This will stop the symptoms from coming back. If your symptoms do not improve after four weeks, talk to your doctor.

If you swallow Nizoral cream

If you swallow any cream, tell your doctor straight away.

Do not use Nizoral cream:

• If you are allergic to anything in Nizoral cream (listed in section below).
• For eye infections.

Do not use this medicine if the above applies to you. If you are not sure, talk to

your doctor or pharmacist before using Nizoral cream.

Take special care with Nizoral cream

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine:

• If you have recently used a cream, ointment or lotion on your skin infection that contains a steroid:
• You should continue to apply a mild steroid (such as hydrocortisone) cream, ointment or lotion in the morning whilst applying Nizoral cream in the evening. The mild steroid treatment can then be gradually stopped over a period of two to three weeks.

If you have any questions about stopping your steroid cream, ointment or lotion, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Other medicines and Nizoral cream

Nizoral cream does not normally react with other medicines. However, please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines. This includes medicines that you buy without a prescription (over-the-counter medicines) or herbal medicines.

Note:

• Each tube of Nizoral cream is sealed. You will need to use the cap to pierce the seal.
• Nizoral cream is non-greasy and should not stain clothes.
• Nizoral cream can be used if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Nizoral cream contains propylene glycol. This may cause skin irritation.

Some medicines are only available on prescription. This also applies to Nizoral cream (ketoconazole). The doctor will know if this is the right medicine for your skin condition and can write a prescription for Nizoral cream after an online consultation. With this prescription, you can order the cream from the pharmacy.

Would you like to know what Nizoral cream costs? You can find the current price on our order page. The price listed includes the cost of the online consultation and a service fee. You won’t be charged extra for these costs.

Like all medicines, Nizoral cream can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Stop using Nizoral cream and tell your doctor straight away if you notice or suspect any of the following. You may need urgent medical treatment.

• Severe irritation or reddening of the skin where the cream has been used, or other signs of allergy during the first few days of treatment. This can affect fewer than 1 in 10 people.
• Peeling or blistering of the skin. This can affect fewer than 1 in 100 people.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice or suspect any of the following side effects:

Common side effects (affects fewer than 1 in 10 people)

Burning sensation.

Uncommon side effects (affects fewer than 1 in 100 people)

• Problems where the cream has been used such as:
• Bleeding
• Discomfort
• Dryness
• Inflammation (contact dermatitis)
• Tingling
• Rash, hives (also known as nettle rash or urticaria).
• Sticky skin.

The active substance in Nizoral cream is ketoconazole. Each gram (g) of Nizoral cream contains 20 milligrams (mg) of ketoconazole (2% w/w).