nystatin
Nystatin is an antifungal. The oral form comes in different formulations. Nystatin oral suspension is typically swished and swallowed 4 times daily to treat Candida yeast infection (thrush) in the mouth in adults and babies. Nystatin tablets are taken by mouth 3 times daily to treat candidiasis infection in the gut. Some common side effects of this medication include nausea and diarrhea. Brand name Mycostatin oral suspension and tablet have been discontinued; oral nystatin is only available as a generic.
What is Nystatin?
What is Nystatin used for?
- Oral thrush of the mouth and throat (oral suspension only)
- Candidiasis infection in the gut (tablet only)
How Nystatin works
Nystatin is an antifungal. It kills the fungus causing your infection by damaging its protective outer layer.
Drug facts
Side effects of Nystatin
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Stomach upset
- Mouth irritation
Less Common Side Effects
- Rash
- Fast heart rate
- Muscle pain
Nystatin serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Allergic reactions: rash, itchiness, hives, tightness in the throat, difficulty breathing, swelling in the face
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome: skin pain, fever, body aches, blisters, peeling skin, red rash
More on Nystatin side effects
The following Nystatin side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Redness, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Irritation inside the mouth
- Upset stomach
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Pros and cons of Nystatin
Pros
- Typically well-tolerated (not many side effects)
- Taken by mouth
- Nystatin oral suspension is safe for infants
Cons
- Has to be taken 3 or 4 times a day
- Might cause mouth irritation
- Can't eat right after taking nystatin oral suspension, might need to wait about 30 minutes
Pharmacist tips for Nystatin
- Take nystatin for as long as directed by your healthcare team. Typically, they'll ask you to take this medication at least 2 days after your symptoms of thrush or gut infection have gone or after lab tests show you're free of infection. Stopping this medication too early can cause your infection to come back and become harder to treat.
- You can take nystatin with or without food. But if you experience nausea or diarrhea, taking this medication with food can help lessen the side effects.
- If you want to take nystatin oral suspension with food, it's best to eat before taking your medication. This is because once you take it, you need to wait 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything (so you don't wash away the medication).
- If you're taking nystatin oral suspension, shake the bottle well before measuring it out. Be sure to use a medication dose cup, spoon, or syringe to measure out your dose. Using household spoons might cause you to take the wrong amount of nystatin.
- When taking nystatin oral suspension, swish the medication in your cheek for as long as possible. Depending on what areas your thrush infection is affecting, you might also have to gargle or swallow nystatin after swishing it in your mouth. Read the directions on your pharmacy bottle carefully. If you are unsure if you should swallow nystatin or spit it out, contact your healthcare team.
Common questions about Nystatin
No, nystatin oral suspension and tablets are only available by prescription from a healthcare professional (HCP).
You might notice improvements within a couple of days, but you might have to keep using nystatin for 1 to 2 weeks before your infection goes away. Make sure to keep taking nystatin for at least 2 more days after all signs of thrush are gone. This will help prevent the infection from coming back.
There's limited information regarding how long the side effects of nystatin are expected to last. A study suggests that some symptoms, like nausea, might go away a few days after the start of treatment. But it's possible that you might experience some side effects as long as you're taking this medication. Ask your healthcare team if you have any questions about a specific side effect.
Check the directions from your healthcare team to see if you're supposed to spit nystatin out or swallow it. If you're taking nystatin oral suspension for thrush, typically your care team will instruct you to hold it in your mouth for as long as you can, then swallow the liquid. This is because you might also have oral thrush in your throat. If you're not sure what to do, ask your prescriber.
If you're giving nystatin oral suspension to your infant for thrush, first shake the medication bottle and draw up the prescribed dose of nystatin with an oral syringe. The typical dose is 1 mL of oral suspension (100,000 units of nystatin) placed on each side of the mouth 4 times a day. Use the oral syringe to place the dose of nystatin inside your infant's mouth, first on one side, and then on the other side. Your healthcare team might instruct you to wait for a short time before feeding your baby.
Since nystatin oral suspension contains sugars, it's best to brush your teeth after using it, especially if it's before bed. Wait 30 minutes after taking nystatin to brush your teeth to give the medication enough time to work.
No. Store your nystatin oral suspension and tablet at room temperature; there's no need to refrigerate this medication.
Ask your healthcare team whether you need to avoid any foods or medications when taking nystatin. This medication isn't known to have any serious interactions. But if you're taking nystatin oral suspension for thrush, eating or drinking too soon after taking the dose might not give the medication enough time to work. In this case, your care team might ask you to wait 30 minutes before you eat or drink.
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Risks and warnings for Nystatin
Nystatin 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.
Severe skin reactions
In some rare cases, people can develop a severe, potentially life-threatening skin reaction called Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) after starting nystatin. This is a type of allergic rash that is painful and creates blisters all over the body. Get immediate medical attention if you notice a new or severe rash, a rash accompanied by a fever, unexplained blisters, or new sores inside your mouth.
Irritation and sensitivity
If nystatin irritates your mouth or stomach or if you become sensitive to this medication, let your healthcare team know. They might ask you to stop taking this medication.
Nystatin dosage
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500000 units | 120 tablets | $45.48 | $0.38 |
Typical dosage for Nystatin
Each 1 mL of suspension contains 100,000 units of nystatin.
- Children and adults: The typical dose is to swish 2 mL to 3 mL on one side of the mouth, then repeat on the other side of the mouth. Hold the medication in your mouth as long as you can before swallowing. Do this 4 times a day. Or take it as directed by your healthcare team.
- Infants: The typical dose is to place 1 mL in each side of the mouth 4 times a day, or as directed by your child's pediatrician.
Typically, your healthcare team will ask you to continue nystatin oral suspension until at least 2 days after symptoms of oral thrush have gone away.
Each tablet contains 500,000 units of nystatin.
- The typical dose is 1 or 2 tablets by mouth 3 times a day.
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