Econazole Nitrate

Econazole nitrate cream is indicated for topical application in the treatment of tinea pedis, tinea cruris, and tinea corporis caused by

Sufficient econazole nitrate cream, 1%, should be applied to cover affected areas once daily in patients with tinea pedis, tinea cruris, tinea corporis, and tinea versicolor, and twice daily (morning and evening) in patients with cutaneous candidiasis.

Early relief of symptoms is experienced by the majority of patients and clinical improvement may be seen fairly soon after treatment is begun; however, candidal infections and tinea cruris and corporis should be treated for two weeks and tinea pedis for one month in order to reduce the possibility of recurrence. If a patient shows no clinical improvement after the treatment period, the diagnosis should be redetermined. Patients with tinea versicolor usually exhibit clinical and mycological clearing after two weeks of treatment.

During clinical trials, approximately 3% of patients treated with econazole nitrate cream 1% reported side effects thought possibly to be due to the drug, consisting mainly of burning, itching, stinging and erythema. One case of pruritic rash has also been reported.

Concomitant administration of econazole and warfarin has resulted in enhancement of anticoagulation effect. Most cases reported product application with use under occlusion, genital application, or application to large body surface area which may increase the systemic absorption of econazole nitrate. Monitoring of International Normalized Ratio (INR) and/or prothrombin time may be indicated especially for patients who apply econazole to large body surface areas, in the genital area, or under occlusion.

Econazole nitrate cream contains the antifungal agent, econazole nitrate USP 1%, in a water-miscible base consisting of benzoic acid, butylated hydroxytoluene, mineral oil, oleoyl polyoxylglycerides PEG-6-32 stearate/glycol stearate and purified water. The white to off-white soft cream is for topical use only.

Chemically, econazole nitrate is 1-[2-{(4-chloro-phenyl) methoxy}-2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-1H-imidazole mononitrate. Its structure is as follows: