Zeasorb
Miconazole is a topical medication that's used on the skin for athlete's foot, ringworm, and jock itch. It's available over the counter (OTC) in many formulations, including a cream, ointment, powder, liquid or dry powder spray, and tincture. There are several different brand-name and generic versions of miconazole available.
What is Miconazole?
Side effects of Miconazole
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
See Risks and Warnings.
Less Common Side Effects
The side effects below might occur where you applied the medication on your skin.
- Skin irritation
- Burning or stinging
- Itchiness
The following Miconazole 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
- Burning, itching, crusting, or peeling of treated skin
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Mild skin irritation, redness, or dryness
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Pros and cons of Miconazole
Pros
- Can treat three kinds of fungal skin infections (athlete's foot, ringworm, and jock itch)
- Available OTC
- Lower-cost generics available
- Comes in different dosage forms
- Few to no side effects when used as directed
Cons
- Must use for 2 to 4 weeks to make sure your infection is gone
- Can't use on children under 2 years old without speaking with a healthcare provider
- Doesn't work well for fungal infections on the scalp or nails
- Can't use for vaginal fungal infections
- Spray formulations are flammable.
Pharmacist tips for Miconazole
- Be sure to wash and dry the areas of your skin you need to treat right before applying miconazole. It's important to keep your skin dry when treating a fungal infection because this will allow it to heal more quickly.
- If your child is using miconazole, supervise them while they use this medication, or apply the medication for them. This will make sure your child doesn't apply too much or get the medication on an area of the body where it could cause harm. Miconazole shouldn't be used on children under 2 years old, unless a healthcare provider tells you this is okay.
- Stop using miconazole if you start to experience any skin irritation. If your symptoms don't completely go away after 2 or 4 weeks of continuous treatment (depending on what you're using it for), talk to your healthcare provider about alternative options. There might be something else causing your skin problem that your provider should check out.
- If you're using miconazole to treat athlete's foot, be sure to wear shoes that fit well and circulate air, and change your shoes and socks at least once a day. This will help your infection clear up as quickly as possible.
- Miconazole isn't effective on the scalp or nails. If you have a fungal infection in those areas, talk to your provider about other treatment options.
- Some miconazole products (liquid and powder sprays) can be flammable. Avoid fire, flames, or smoking during and after applying the medication, and never puncture the container. Store your container in a cool, dry place away from sources of heat.
- Store miconazole away from pets and children. If you or someone else accidentally swallows miconazole, call the Poison Control Center right away at 1-800-222-1222.
Common questions about Miconazole
Some brands of miconazole powder or powder spray might contain an ingredient called talc to help keep skin dry. But other brands, like Zeasorb, have updated formulas that no longer contain this ingredient. In recent years, there has been talk in the news about a possible link between applying powders containing talc to the genitals and ovarian cancer. Current research is not clear on just how much talc raises your risk. If this possibility concerns you, be sure to look for miconazole powder products that say "talc-free", or ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
While it's important to use miconazole daily, you should only use it for a total of 2 to 4 weeks (depending on what you're treating). If you still have symptoms after that time, you should speak with your healthcare provider about other treatment options. There are other products available for fungal infection prevention that contain different ingredients.
The miconazole products for athlete's foot, jock itch, and ringworm all contain the same ingredient: miconazole. But the different products have directions and advice specific to your type of infection. Some products might be intended for use only for a specific problem, so be sure to read the package label. For example, the powder form of miconazole is typically used for jock itch or athlete's foot, but not ringworm. Ringworm can be treated with other kinds of miconazole products, like the cream or liquid spray.
No, you should continue to use miconazole twice a day for the full 2 or 4 weeks depending on the type of infection you have. This will help make sure the infection is completely gone and lower the risk of the infection coming back.
You shouldn't use miconazole products meant for athlete's foot, ringworm, or jock itch vaginally. Doing so could raise your risk of experiencing side effects from the medication. There is a vaginal product that contains the same active ingredient (miconazole), known as Monistat, which can be used for vaginal fungal infections. If you have questions about which products you can use for your infection, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
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Risks and warnings for Miconazole
Miconazole 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.
Skin irritation
You might experience skin irritation or sensitivity (rash or burning) when using miconazole. Although not common, this reaction could be a sign that you have an allergy to miconazole. Stop using the medication, and talk to a healthcare provider. Be sure to let them know what kind of reaction you had and what type of miconazole product you were using. They might recommend an alternative for you.
Certain products are flammable
Miconazole liquid sprays, powder sprays, and tinctures contain flammable ingredients. Stay away from fires or open flames and don't smoke during and right after using miconazole. Avoid getting the miconazole bottles or spray cans close to fires, flames, or other heat sources. Even if the miconazole container is empty, don't throw it into or near a fire.
Miconazole dosage
Bottle of powder| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 71g of 2% | 1 bottle | $5.22 | $5.22 |
Typical dosage for Miconazole
Each miconazole product might have different instructions for use. There are several formulations of the medication that are used slightly differently. These formulations include powders, creams, ointments, liquid sprays, dry powder sprays, and tinctures.
Follow the instructions on your product's label to make sure you're using it properly. The typical dosing is as follows:
-
Athlete's foot and ringworm: Apply a thin layer to the affected areas twice daily for 4 weeks. If you're using this medication for athlete's foot, be sure to apply it between the toes as well.
-
Jock itch: Apply a thin layer to the affected areas twice daily for 2 weeks.
How much does Miconazole cost?
$5.22
What are alternatives to Miconazole?
Treatment and symptom relief (e.g., itching, irritation, redness) of the following fungal skin infections:
Miconazole images
