Canesten Duo is a thrush treatment that contains an oral tablet and external cream. You can use this single-dose tablet to treat the internal thrush infection while using the external cream to soothe the itching and soreness.

The oral tablet contains fluconazole which works from within to clear the infection and the external cream contains clotrimazole which helps calm the itch. These ingredients are both antifungal medicines used to treat infections with fungi or yeast.

You’d need to use Canesten Duo specifically when the infection is acute or recurrent. This treatment is used to treat both the infection and the external symptoms.

There are several symptoms that indicate thrush in women:

• White lumpy discharge (it doesn’t usually smell)
• Itching around the vagina
• Soreness or pain during sex

If you are unsure if you have thrush, there is a test to check for vaginal thrush. The test checks for thrush and bacterial vaginosis. You can get this online or from a local pharmacy. We recommend that you get a diagnosis with your GP for thrush if this is the first time you are experiencing it. Some sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can have similar symptoms to thrush, you can order STI test kits online if you’re worried your symptoms could be from an STI.

If you’re female, experiencing thrush symptoms, and aren’t pregnant, and there’s no chance that you could be, then you can place an order for thrush treatment with Superdrug Online Doctor. The process is quick and easy – just follow these simple steps:

• Fill out a short online assessment about your health and lifestyle
• Place an order for your preferred treatment option
• A Superdrug Doctor will check your assessment to see if your order is right for you
• If your order is right for you, then it can be posted to your preferred address or you can collect it from a Superdrug Store instead

For the oral capsule:

• With a glass of water swallow the capsule whole without or without food
• One tablet is enough to treat the infection

For the external Canesten cream:

• Apply the external cream thinly and evenly around the entrance to the vagina 2-3 times a day and smooth it in gently
• You should use the cream until the symptoms disappear

Treatment should usually take around two days, with symptoms disappearing in this time. You can have sex with vaginal thrush, however it may be uncomfortable and you may experience soreness or burning during and after sex.

As thrush external treatments weaken condoms, it would be safer to wait until the infection clears in order to avoid passing thrush to your partner and avoid the risk of pregnancy and STIs. You should use additional contraceptive precautions, as well as condoms for at least 5 days after using Canesten Duo.

Canesten Combi is a treatment that contains two creams, one for use internally and the other externally. For this particular treatment, you would use the pessary given in the pack to apply the cream inside the vagina (best to do it at night as it can be more comfortable and convenient) and apply the external cream around the outside of the vagina. Canesten Combi works to treat the thrush infection directly from the source and relieve the itching and soreness with the external cream. Both creams contain the antifungal ingredient clotrimazole.

Canesten Combi and Canesten Duo are different in that one uses creams to treat the symptoms and infection whereas the other treats it using an oral tablet and an external cream. Both treatments treat the infection and calm the external symptoms and are as effective as each other in treating thrush.

As with all medications, Canesten Duo has some common side effects. These include:

• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhoea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Rash
• Blisters

If you experience any of these symptoms or the more serious side effects listed on the patient leaflet inside the pack, stop using the medication and consult your GP, online doctor or pharmacist.