Econazole is a prescription antifungal medication that's applied to the skin to treat certain fungal skin infections, such as ringworm, jock itch, and athlete's foot. Econazole is typically used once or twice a day for 2 or 4 weeks, depending on the type of infection you have. The topical cream is available only as a lower-cost generic for adults. There's also a foam under the brand name Ecoza for people 12 years and older with athlete's foot between the toes. Most people have few to no side effects from econazole, though it's possible to have mild skin irritation.
Jock itch - cream only
Ringworm - cream only
Tinea versicolor - cream only
Yeast infection on the skin - cream only
Econazole is an antifungal medication. It works by damaging the protective covering of the fungus. This stops the fungus from growing and kills it to treat the infection.
Source: DailyMed
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
Burning, itching, stinging, redness, or other sign of irritation at the application site
rash
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Applied once or twice a day, depending on the fungal skin infection you have
Generally well-tolerated
Lower-cost generic available for the topical cream
Can take a few weeks to completely get rid of the fungal skin infection
Requires a prescription, unlike similar over-the-counter products
Might interact with warfarin (Coumadin) and raise the risk of bleeding
Only apply econazole onto the surface of your skin. Don't place the medication into the mouth, eyes, nose, ears, or vagina because this can be harmful.
Wash your hands and clean the affected area(s) of your skin before you apply econazole. Also be sure to wash your hands afterwards.
Using econazole for athlete’s foot: Make sure to apply econazole in between the toes. Wear shoes that fit well and are breathable. Also, change your shoes and socks daily. This will help your infection clear up as quickly as possible and also prevent the infection from spreading.
Stop using econazole and talk with your primary care provider (PCP) if you aren't seeing any improvement to your skin after you've used the medication for more than a month for athlete's foot or for more than 2 weeks for other fungal skin conditions. Your PCP might switch you to a different medication.
If you're taking warfarin (Coumadin), applying econazole over large areas of the body or covering the medicated areas with bandages can raise your risk of bleeding. Let the healthcare professional who's managing your warfarin treatment that you've been prescribed econazole. You might need to follow up with them more often to check your risk for bleeding.
If you accidentally get econazole into your eye, rinse your eye with water for 15 minutes. Contact your PCP if any eye irritation doesn't go away.
Tips for using Ecoza (the econazole foam):
Keep the can of Ecoza foam at room temperature and away from direct sunlight, heat, or flames. There's pressure inside the can so it might burst if it gets too hot.
Before you use Ecoza, shake the can for about 5 seconds. Then, take off the cap, turn the can upside down, and spray a small amount of the foam into the palm of your hand.
Use your finger to apply a thin layer of the foam over the affected area(s) on your foot, making sure that you have medication in between the toes as well. Rub the foam into the skin until it disappears.
Econazole can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Use econazole on the surface of your skin only. Don’t put the medication in your eyes, nose, mouth, or ears. Don't insert econazole into the vagina either. This can cause harm or irritation. Call your Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 right away if you think that you or your child might’ve accidentally swallowed econazole.
Very rarely, econazole can cause skin irritation, including rash, burning, and stinging. Stop using the medication and contact your care team if you experience these reactions and they're severe.
Ecoza, the foam version of econazole, is flammable and it can catch on fire. Avoid open flames (e.g., smoking) while you're applying the medication and right after you've finished applying. Store the can in a cool, dry place away from heat and direct sunlight. Never puncture the can, throw it into a fire, or store it in high heat, even if you think it's empty. The foam can has pressure inside, so the can might burst.
Athlete's foot: Apply a thin layer to the affected area(s) once daily, or as directed by your primary care provider (PCP). Apply regularly for 1 month (4 weeks).
Jock itch, ringworm, or tinea versicolor: Apply a thin layer to the affected area(s) once daily, or as directed by your PCP. Apply regularly for 2 weeks.
Yeast skin infection: Apply a thin layer to the affected area(s) in the morning and evening every day for 2 weeks, or as directed by your PCP.
Athlete's foot between the toes: Apply a thin layer to the affected area(s) once daily for 1 month (4 weeks), or as directed by your PCP.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Jock itch - cream only
Ringworm - cream only
Tinea versicolor - cream only
Yeast infection on the skin - cream only
Jock itch
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American Optometric Association. (n.d.). Protecting your eyes at work.
Heel, R. C., et al. (1978). Econazole: A review of its antifungal activity and therapeutic efficacy. Drugs.
MedlinePlus. (2022). Candida infection of the skin.
Padagis Israel Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (2023). Econazole nitrate cream [package insert]. DailyMed.
Resilia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (2023). Ecoza- econazole nitrate aerosol, foam [package insert]. DailyMed.
Rodrigues, M. L. (2018). The multifunctional fungal ergosterol. mBio.
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