Medical Treatments for Candida

Earlier we discussed this in the 10-Step Program, but only briefly. I now intend to provide you with a little more information on the subject.

In the medical field most doctors who have not been taught about nutrition (this is a hard one to believe, but a close friend of mine who is a doctor admitted that she wasn’t taught about nutrition in medical school, that she had to study this on her own) will prescribe antifungal medications for the treatment of Candidiasis.

If you are considering going to your doctor for treatment, take into consideration that the medication they will prescribe for you are prescribed for a reason, the reason being the serious side effects that may come as a result of taking these medications. With that being said, you want to make sure you follow your doctor’s orders and report any of the side effects you will see as you read on to your doctor.

Vaginal Candidiasis

More than likely your doctor will prescribe an over-the-counter antifungal cream or suppositories. These include Monistat, Gyne-Lotrimin, and Mycelex. Even though infections may often recur. If that is the case, upon consulting with your doctor, you may need to try Vagistat-1, or Diflucan. Just so you know, there is another azole, called Miconazole (which is the active ingredient in Monistat). You can take this orally, as it is available in capsule form, and it is side-effect free, though it should not be taken with warfarin (Coumadin), a blood thinner.

I must inform you that Diflucan (Fluconazole) is the most commonly used medication for short-term treatment of vaginitis. It is also the preferred drug of choice among most physicians in treating yeast overgrowth on a long-term basis. It is possible to take this for several weeks up to several years.

Side effects include: changes in taste, dizziness; headache; nausea; stomach pain, or severe allergic reactions such as rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; diarrhea; scaly, red skin over a large portion of the body; swollen or tender abdomen; vomiting; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Clotrimazole(Gyne-Lotrimin®, Gynix™, Mycelex-G®, and Trivagizole®) are also used to treat vaginal yeast infections. A generic form of clotrimazole is also available in vaginal tablets as well as cream.

Side effects include: vaginal irritation, itching or burning, and/or pain or difficulty passing urine.

Candida Infections in the Mouth and Throat

Sporanox, the “cousin” of Diflucan, has been approved by the FDA in the treatment of thrush. Sporanox has been successful for many in that symptoms were eliminated between 7 and 14 days of its use.

Side effects include: diarrhea; gas; headache; nausea; runny nose; stomach pain or upset; vomiting, as well as the possibility of severe allergic reactions like rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; bloating; chest pain; confusion; dark urine; depression; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever; loss of appetite; numbness or tingling of the hands or feet; pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site; pale stools; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; severe or persistent nausea; severe or persistent vomiting; shortness of breath; sudden weight gain; swelling of the hands, ankles, or feet; swollen or tender stomach; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual tiredness or fatigue; yellowing of the skin or eyes. Liver damage when used by patients having issues with fungal infections of the fingernails and/or toenails.

Infections of the Nails

Lamisil (Terbinafine Hydrochloride) was approved in 1995 in 250 mg. tablets. It has the same side effects as the other azoles mentioned on this page. The most common is a skin rash, some cases of liver damage and it has been known to affect the retina of the eye. There has also been an association of tumor growth and may interact with other prescription medications. Lamisil can also cause elevated white blood cell counts.

Other Drugs

Nizoral (Ketoconazole) is known to suppress hormone production, if taken in high doses over a long period of time.

Side effects include: nausea; stomach pain or upset. There is the possibility of Severe allergic reactions such as rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; bloating; dark urine; decreased sexual ability; depression; irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; loss of appetite; numbness or tingling of the hands or feet; pale stools; severe or persistent nausea or stomach pain; swollen or tender abdomen; thoughts of suicide; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual tiredness or fatigue; vision changes; vomiting; yellowing of the skin or eyes. It has also been known to cause liver problems, so it is encouraged that the liver be monitored monthly. If there is a history of liver problems, this medication should be avoided, as it has been shown to be toxic if used in combination with alcohol. Nizoral should not be taken in combination of the antihistamine Seldane because combining them can cause irregular heartbeats.

Nystatin (Mycostatin) is unique in that it helps to reestablish the strength of the intestinal walls, thus eliminating the “leaky gut” syndrome . Aside from the other side effects (diarrhea; mouth irritation; nausea; upset stomach; vomiting. Other possible side effects could be severe allergic reactions like rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue), I think it is important for you to know that there are some strains of the Candida that are resistant to Nystatin.

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