Let's take care of this yeast infection you are experiencing.
This will assume that:
- You are not pregnant.
- You have been previously diagnosed with yeast infection and now experiencing the same symptoms.
- You don't get a yeast infection quite often.
Choosing an over the counter medication for yeast infection may not be as easy as you would think. There are a few questions that will go through your mind. For instance:
- Do you need a 1 day, 3 day or 7 day treatment?
- Should you get the ovule, suppository, cream or ointment?
- Looking to the side, you see 'Yeast infection tablets', but reading the warning, it tells you it does not cure a yeast infection. Only helps to relieve the symptoms. Go figure.
Let's answer a few questions to help you reach a good decision.
Medications to treat a yeast infection are called Azoles.
Examples include fluconazole (Prescription tablets), miconazole, clotrimazole, tioconazole, ketoconazole.
Of these, miconazole, clotrimazole and tioconazole are available as over-the-counter yeast medications.
Any of these will work just as good. No preference here.
To make a good decision, here are the questions you may want to ask yourself.
This assumes you have never had or experienced a yeast infection before this.
Better to see a doctor or seek urgent care.
You should only continue if a doctor told
you what to look out for as a sign of a yeast infection. Example if you are taking antibiotics.
If you are experiencing a yeast infection for the first time, you must see a doctor even if your friends know it is a yeast infection.
Won't you at least want to know why it occurred in the first place?
OTC yeast medications can cause a burning sensation.
Then seek urgent care or call the doctor.
You will need to take the tablets. This requires a prescription.
If you are already very irritated, very itchy and experiencing pain from the yeast infection, over the counter creams or ovules will make the feeling worse initially before it gets better.
Anyway, people react to these creams, ovules or suppository differently. If you've tried them before and experienced no problems, you may continue.
Some creams will require you to use for one week even if the symptoms improve dramatically and you are better after the first few days.
Then get the 1-day or 3-day pack.
These are more expensive, because you are paying for the convenience.
The 1-day is more expensive and concentrated than the 3-day which is more expensive and concentrated than the 7-day.
Then get the 1-day or 3-day pack.
Know that 1-day doesn't mean you will get cured in one day. It will still take up to 7 days for complete relief.
Stay away from the 1-day treatment.
This is a highly concentrated form of the medication.
It will further irritate the vagina leading to a burning and painful sensation.
Go with the 3-day or 7-day.
You will want to gradually take care of this while recovering from the effect of the antibiotic.
May want to stay away from the 1-day treatment.
This will cause more burning than the 3 or 7-day treatments.
If getting a prefilled applicator type, choose the brand.
Store brands save money by using cheap devices.
You may open a prefilled applicator, and have a mess on your hand.
Some manufacturers offer savings coupon which will virtually bring the cost down to store brand level. See our manufacturer coupon center for any deals going on.
Over the counter active ingredients for yeast infection are miconazole, clotrimazole, tioconazole.
They are all equally effective.
Miconazole:
Can be used in different strengths giving you more options of number of days or dosage forms.
But 3-day offer more options of prefilled cream, suppository or ovule.
Tioconazole:
Only available as an ointment in a single dose.
Clotrimazole:
Available as 2% cream for 3-day and 1% cream for 7-day.
Some come in the form of a combination of prefilled or tube and an external cream.
Get only if you are experiencing itching outside the vagina.
If no external itching, save money and skip the external cream.
The combo cost more.
Those are the Q & As to consider before choosing a medication for yeast infection.
Here is a brief summary:
- If cost is not a factor, choose the 3-day.
- If convenience is a factor, choose the 1-day ointment (tioconazole).
Except you've used the 1-day ovule before and did not experience any burning or you are not very irritated.
- Should you decide to get the 7-day, must choose prefilled applicators.
- If no external itching, no need for the external cream. Save cost.
If you have the time, you can compare side by side the over the counter yeast medications by tapping on the button below.
Last updated by pharmacist on :
02/05/2016 at 11:32:pm
Those are the Q & As to consider before choosing a medication for yeast infection.
Here is a brief summary:
- If cost is not a factor, choose the 3-day.
- If convenience is a factor, choose the 1-day ointment (tioconazole).
Except you've used the 1-day ovule before and did not experience any burning or you are not very irritated.
- Should you decide to get the 7-day, must choose prefilled applicators.
- If no external itching, no need for the external cream. Save cost.
If you have the time, you can compare side by side the over the counter yeast medications by tapping on the button below.
Last updated by pharmacist on :
02/05/2016 at 11:32:pm
Those are the Q & As to consider before choosing a medication for yeast infection.
Here is a brief summary:
- If cost is not a factor, choose the 3-day.
- If convenience is a factor, choose the 1-day ointment (tioconazole).
Except you've used the 1-day ovule before and did not experience any burning or you are not very irritated.
- Should you decide to get the 7-day, must choose prefilled applicators.
- If no external itching, no need for the external cream. Save cost.
If you have the time, you can compare side by side the over the counter yeast medications by tapping on the button below.
Last updated by pharmacist on :
02/05/2016 at 11:32:pm
Those are the Q & As to consider before choosing a medication for yeast infection.
Here is a brief summary:
- If cost is not a factor, choose the 3-day.
- If convenience is a factor, choose the 1-day ointment (tioconazole).
Except you've used the 1-day ovule before and did not experience any burning or you are not very irritated.
- Should you decide to get the 7-day, must choose prefilled applicators.
- If no external itching, no need for the external cream. Save cost.
If you have the time, you can compare side by side the over the counter yeast medications by tapping on the button below.
Last updated by pharmacist on :
02/05/2016 at 11:32:pm
Those are the Q & As to consider before choosing a medication for yeast infection.
Here is a brief summary:
- If cost is not a factor, choose the 3-day.
- If convenience is a factor, choose the 1-day ointment (tioconazole).
Except you've used the 1-day ovule before and did not experience any burning or you are not very irritated.
- Should you decide to get the 7-day, must choose prefilled applicators.
- If no external itching, no need for the external cream. Save cost.
If you have the time, you can compare side by side the over the counter yeast medications by tapping on the button below.
Last updated by pharmacist on :
02/05/2016 at 11:32:pm
Those are the Q & As to consider before choosing a medication for yeast infection.
Here is a brief summary:
- If cost is not a factor, choose the 3-day.
- If convenience is a factor, choose the 1-day ointment (tioconazole).
Except you've used the 1-day ovule before and did not experience any burning or you are not very irritated.
- Should you decide to get the 7-day, must choose prefilled applicators.
- If no external itching, no need for the external cream. Save cost.
If you have the time, you can compare side by side the over the counter yeast medications by tapping on the button below.
Last updated by pharmacist on :
02/05/2016 at 11:32:pm
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