Afeme Duo

Uses

Indicated in vaginal thrush: Most women experience vaginal thrush at some point during their lives. Thrush is the common name given to a vaginal yeast infection. Vaginal yeast infections are caused by a yeast called Candida albicans. Harmless yeasts are often found in the vagina, but in some women, Candida albicans multiplies rapidly and causes problems. It produces irritating substances that are discharged in the normal secretions, and this causes inflammation to the sensitive skin around the vaginal opening. It is this irritation that is often the first sign of thrush. However, some factors can cause an upset in the chemical balance inside the vagina and an overgrowth of yeast, factors such as antibiotics, hormonal changes (during pregnancy, menstruation, menopause), diabetes, the contraceptive pill, wearing tight clothing, using perfumed soaps, bath additives and vaginal deodorants. When the level of yeast become too high, thrush develops.

Afeme Duo is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Balanitis candida, Candidiasis, Dermatitis, Dermatomycoses, Ear infection fungal, Erythrasma, Fungal Vaginal Infections, Fungal skin infection, Genital candidiasis, Inflammation, Mixed Vaginal Infections, Oropharyngeal Candidiasis, Pityriasis versicolor, Pyoderma, Ringworm, Skin Infections, Skin candida, Tinea Corporis, Tinea Cruris, Tinea Pedis, Tinea inguinalis, Trichophytosis, Vaginal Candidiasis, Vaginal Mycosis, Vulvitis, Cutaneous candidiasis, Infection mycotic, Susceptible Bacterial Infections, Symptomatic Tinea Corporis caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, Epidermophyton floccosum, Symptomatic Tinea Cruris caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, Epidermophyton floccosum, Symptomatic Tinea Pedis caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, Epidermophyton floccosum, Tinea versicolor caused by Malassezia infectionCandida intertrigo, Candida pneumonia, Candida urinary tract infection, Candidemia, Candidiasis, Coccidioidomycosis, Esophageal Candidiasis, Fungal peritonitis caused by Candida, Infections, Fungal, Meningitis, Cryptococcal, Oropharyngeal Candidiasis, Peritoneal candidiasis, Pneumonia cryptococcal, Pruritus, Skin Irritation, Systemic Candida Infections caused by Candida, Vaginal Candidiasis, Disseminated Candidiasis

How Afeme Duo works

Clotrimazole acts primarily by damaging the permeability barrier in the cell membrane of fungi. Clotrimazole causes inhibition of ergosterol biosynthesis, an essential constituent of fungal cell membranes. If ergosterol synthesis is either completely or partially inhibited, the cell is no longer able to construct an intact and functional cell membrane ,. Because ergosterol directly promotes the growth of fungal cells in a hormone‐like fashion, rapid onset of the above events leads to dose-dependent inhibition of fungal growth .

Though decreased ergosterol, due to the inhibition of lanosterol 14-demethylase (also known as CYP51) is accepted to be primarily responsible for the antimycotic properties of clotrimazole, this drug also shows other pharmacological effects. These include the inhibition of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+‐ATPase, depletion of intracellular calcium, and blocking of calcium‐dependent potassium channels and voltage‐dependent calcium channels . The action of clotrimazole on these targets accounts for other effects of this drug that are separate from its antimycotic activities .

Fluconazole is a very selective inhibitor of fungal cytochrome P450 dependent enzyme lanosterol 14-α-demethylase. This enzyme normally works to convert lanosterol to ergosterol, which is necessary for fungal cell wall synthesis. The free nitrogen atom located on the azole ring of fluconazole binds with a single iron atom located in the heme group of lanosterol 14-α-demethylase. This prevents oxygen activation and, as a result, inhibits the demethylation of lanosterol, halting the process of ergosterol biosynthesis. Methylated sterols are then found to accumulate in the fungal cellular membrane, leading to an arrest of fungal growth. These accumulated sterols negatively affect the structure and function of the fungal cell plasma membrane.

Fluconazole resistance may arise from an alteration in the amount or function of the target enzyme (lanosterol 14-α-demethylase), altered access to this enzyme, or a combination of the above. Other mechanisms may also be implicated, and studies are ongoing.

Dosage

Afeme Duo dosage

The Fluconazole 150 mg capsule is used to treat thrush. It should be taken by mouth with a drink of water at any time of day, with or without food.

The thrush relief cream is used to relieve the external itching and soreness of vaginal thrush. Wash your hands thoroughly before applying the cream. Thrush relief cream should be applied thinly and evenly onto the irritated area of the skin outside the vagina, two or three times daily until symptoms are relieved. You should notice an improvement in your symptoms in a day or two. Consult your doctor if you are not better in three days or if the problem returns.

Fluconazole and Clotrimazole is not recommended for children.

For the treatment to become a complete success, reliable and sufficiently long application of Clotrimazole cream is important. The duration of treatment varies; it depends among other factors on the extent and localisation of the disease.

Side Effects

Fluconazole 150 mg oral capsule may cause mild side effects such as nausea or feeling sick, headache, stomach pain, indigestion or diarrhoea.

Thrush relief cream Clotrimazole may cause mild burning, stinging or irritation immediately after application. If you are concerned about any of these reactions, stop treatment and tell your doctor.

Toxicity

Symptoms of overdose include erythema, stinging, blistering, peeling, edema, pruritus, urticaria, burning, and general irritation of the skin, and cramps. As with all topical agents, skin sensitization may result .

Oral LD50 (rat): 708 mg/kg; Intraperitoneal LD50 (rat): 445 mg/kg; Subcutaneous LDLO (rat): 10 g/kg; Oral LD50 (mouse): 761 mg/kg; Subcutaneous LDLO (mouse): 10 g/kg; Intraperitoneal LD50 (mouse): 108 mg/kg;

Overdose

This drug poses no risk of acute intoxication, as it is unlikely to occur following a single vaginal or dermal application of an overdose (application over a large area under conditions favorable to absorption) or accidental oral ingestion. There is no specific antidote .

Effects on Fertility

No human studies of the effects of clotrimazole on fertility have been conducted; however, animal studies have not shown any effects on the drug on fertility .

Use in Pregnancy

There are limited data regarding the use of clotrimazole in pregnant women. Animal studies do not show direct or indirect harmful effects on reproduction. Although the topical application of clotrimazole may result in very low serum and tissue levels, the use of clotrimazole topical cream by pregnant women is not recommended unless it is advised by the prescribing physician. Clotrimazole topical cream should not be used in the first trimester of pregnancy unless it is considered by the physician to be essential to patient well-being .

Use in Breastfeeding

Available pharmacodynamic/toxicological studies in animals have shown excretion of clotrimazole/metabolites in breastmilk. Clotrimazole should not be administered during breastfeeding. Although the topical application of clotrimazole has resulted in very low serum and tissue levels, the use of clotrimazole topical cream by lactating women is not recommended unless it recommended by the prescribing physician .

Acute oral toxicity (LD50): 1271 mg/kg (rat)

Overdose information

Fluconazole overdoses have been associated with hallucination and paranoia, sometimes in combination. In cases of overdose, employ supportive treatment. Gastric lavage may be necessary. Other modalities such as forced diuresis or hemodialysis may also be used.

A note on liver toxicity

The FDA label warns that this drug carries a risk of hepatotoxicity. Rare but serious cases of serious hepatic toxicity have been reported, especially in patients with serious underlying medical conditions using fluconazole. This group of patients has an increased risk of fatality when using fluconazole. In patients with existing liver dysfunction, use caution during fluconazole therapy. Those who are found to have abnormal liver function tests during therapy should be carefully monitored for the development of increasingly severe injury to the liver. Fluconazole should be stopped if its use is likely to be the underlying cause of liver injury, and medical attention should be sought. Fluconazole induced hepatotoxicity is usually reversible.

Carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, and impairment of fertility

Fluconazole demonstrated no evidence of carcinogenic risk in mice and rats treated orally for 24 months at doses equivalent to approximately 2-7 time the recommended human dose). Male rats given fluconazole at doses equivalent to supratherapeutic human doses showed an increased incidence of hepatocellular adenomas. Cytogenetic studies in vivo and in vitro demonstrated no sign of chromosomal mutation. The significance of these findings for humans is unknown.

Use in pregnancy

There are no sufficient and well-controlled studies of fluconazole use in pregnant women. Available human data do not show an increased risk of congenital anomalies after pregnant women were treated with standard doses (27 Several case reports describe rare but striking congenital anomalies observed in infants who were exposed to fluconazole at high doses reaching 400-800 mg/day, primarily in the first trimester of pregnancy. Similar findings were observed in animal studies. If this drug is administered during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking fluconazole, the risk should be discussed thoroughly.

Use in nursing

Fluconazole is secreted in breastmilk at high concentrations. Exercise caution if this drug is used during nursing.

Precaution

If local intolerance develops, consider withdrawal of the medicine and institution of appropriate therapy. Clotrimazole solution is not intended for ophthalmic use. Avoid contact with eyes upon topical application. Children 3 yrs. Pregnancy, lactation. If irritation or sensitivity develops with the use of Clotrimazole ointment, treatment should be discontinued.

Use of fluconazole may result in overgrowth of non-susceptible strains of candida other than Candida albicans

Interaction

There have been reports of a heat reaction when this medication used concomitantly with Sofradex drops in the ear.

Antagonism with polyene antibiotics.

Fluconazole can alter pharmacokinetics of certain drugs undergoing hepatic metabolism.

Volume of Distribution

The topical form is minimally absorbed in the serum and tissues . Clotrimazole is a lipophilic drug , and has been shown to be secreted in breastmilk in animal studies . There are limited data available regarding the volume of distribution following oral troche administration.

The apparent volume of distribution is said to be similar to the volume of distribution of total body water. One clinical study of healthy volunteers administered 50 mg/kg of fluconazole was 39L, based on a body weight of 60kg.

Fluconazole shows substantial penetration in many body fluids, which is a property that renders it an ideal treatment for systemic fungal infections, especially when administered over a longer time. Fluconazole is found in high concentrations in the stratum corneum and dermis-epidermis of skin, in addition to eccrine sweat. Fluconazole is found to accumulate especially well in the stratum corneum, which is beneficial in superficial fungal infections.[L6496] Saliva and sputum concentrations of fluconazole are found to be similar to the plasma concentrations. In patients diagnosed with fungal meningitis, fluconazole CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) levels are measured to be about 80% of the corresponding plasma levels. Therefore, fluconazole crosses the blood-brain barrier[L6496]. The meninges are increasingly permeable to fluconazole in states of inflammation, facilitating treatment in meningitis.

Elimination Route

Because clotrimazole is generally not significantly absorbed, drug interactions are not a major issue with its use .

The pharmacokinetic properties of fluconazole are comparable after administration by the intravenous (IV) and oral (PO) routes. In healthy volunteers, the bioavailability of orally administered fluconazole is measured to be above 90%. It is extensively absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract when an oral dose is taken. Oral absorption is not affected by food intake with fluconazole but may increase the time until the maximum concentration is reached.

Tmax (or the time taken to achieve the maximum concentration) in one clinical study of healthy patients receiving 50 mg/kg of fluconazole was 3 hours.

Peak plasma concentrations (Cmax) in fasting and healthy volunteers occur between 1-2 hours post-dose. Steady-state concentrations are achieved within 5 to 10 days after oral doses of 50-400 mg administered once daily. Administration of a loading dose on the first day of fluconazole treatment, or twice the usual daily dose, leads to plasma concentrations close to steady-state by the second day. Mean AUC (area under the curve) was 20.3 in healthy volunteers receiving 25 mg of fluconazole.

A note on the capsule and powder form and malabsorption syndromes

The capsule forms of fluconazole often contain lactose and should not be administered with hereditary galactose intolerance, Lapp lactase enzyme deficiency, or malabsorption of glucose/galactose. The powder form, used for the oral suspension, lists sucrose as an ingredient and should not be used in patients who have been diagnosed with fructose, glucose/galactose malabsorption, and sucrase-isomaltase enzyme deficiency.

Half Life

The terminal elimination half-life in the plasma is approximately 30 hours (range: 20-50 hours) after oral administration. The long plasma elimination half-life supports a single dose therapy for vaginal candidiasis, once daily and once weekly dosing for other indications.[L6496]. Patients with renal failure may require dosage adjustment, and half-life can be significantly increased in these patients.

Clearance

This drug is mainly eliminated by the kidneys and the mean body clearance in adults is reported to be 0.23 mL/min/kg. One clinical study of healthy subjects showed total clearance of 19.5 ± 4.7 mL/min and renal clearance of 14.7 ± 3.7 mL/min (1.17 ± 0.28 and 0.88 ± 0.22 L/h).

Clearance in the pediatric population varies according to age, as does clearance in patients with renal failure.

Elimination Route

Mainly hepatic .

In normal volunteers, fluconazole is cleared primarily by renal excretion, with approximately 80% of the administered dose measured in the urine as unchanged drug. About 11% of the dose is excreted in the urine as metabolites.. A study of a 50mg radiolabeled dose of fluconazole revealed that 93.3% of the dose was found excreted in the urine.

A note on renal failure

The pharmacokinetics of fluconazole are significantly affected by renal dysfunction. The dose of fluconazole may need to be reduced in patients with decreased renal function. A 3-hour hemodialysis treatment lowers plasma fluconazole concentrations by about 50%.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use

Pregnancy:Clotrimazole is recommended during pregnancy only after first consulting a doctor.

Lactation:Because systemic absorption of clotrimazole following topical application is marginal, there should be no risk for the infant during lactation.

Use in pregnancy: Pregnancy category C. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Fluconazole should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Use in lactation: Nursing mother should not be given as the drug is excreted in breast milk in concentration similar to plasma.

Contraindication

Do not use Fluconazole and Clotrimazole:

• If you are pregnant, suspect you might be pregnant, are trying to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
• If you have previously had an allergic reaction to the active ingredients fluconazole or clotrimazole, or any other thrush treatments such as miconazole, econazole or ketoconazole.
• If you have had an allergic reaction to any of the other ingredients found in the Fluconazole and Clotrimazole.
• If you are taking cisapide.

Do not use Fluconazole and Clotrimazole unless you have spoken to your Doctor:

• If this is your first course of treatment for vaginal thrush.
• If you are taking any medicine. Some medicines and Fluconazole and Clotrimazole may interfere with each other. These include phenytoin, warfarin and oral hypoglycaemics. Tell your doctor before using Fluconazole and Clotrimazole if you are taking warfarin, as bleeding or bruising may occur.
• If you are unsure about the cause of your symptoms.

Acute Overdose

Supportive measures should be taken incase of accidental oral ingestion.

In case of accidental oral ingestion, supportive measures should be taken.

Storage Condition

Do not store above 25 degree C.

Innovators Monograph

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