Lamisil vs. Lotrimin

What is Lamisil? What is Lotrimin?

Lotrimin is a Brand name for an antifungal medication that contains clotrimazole as an active ingredient. This medicine fights infections that are caused by fungus. Lotrimin is used for the treatment of fungus infections that affects jock itch, athlete’s foot and ringworm. Lotrimin binds to the fungal cell membrane and weakens it, which allows content of cell to leak out and results in fungi death.

Are Lamisil and Lotrimin same thing?

Lasmisil is more effective against dermatophytes infections of the skin, hair, and nails and has less potent action on the yeasts comparing to Lotrimin. Also, Lamisil requires less time to cure the disease. Lotrimin is effective against both types of fungi, and it is strong enough to cure slowly-healing and persistent infections.

Lotrimin is also available in the form of vaginal cream while Lamisil is not. Lotrimin advantage is that it is very effective against Candida albicans infections. Lamisil specific feature is that clotrimazole, during treatment, can accumulate in the skin and keeps on working for some time after the therapy is stopped.

How does Lamisil and Lotrimin treat jock itch ringworm,nail fungus,  athlet’s foot, yeast infection or diaper rash?

This inhibition leads to the squalene accumulation a substrate catalyzed by squalene monooxygenase to 2,3-oxydo squalene. Decreased amounts of ergosterol and high concentration of squalene are thought to contribute to terbinafine’s antifungal activity.

Lotrimin active substance is clotrimazole. This imidazole derivative works by inhibiting the biosynthesis of ergosterol, one of the major components of fungi cell membrane, by inhibiting cytochrome P-450 enzyme called 14-α demethylase. Clotrimazole increases membrane permeability and disruption of enzyme systems which are bounded to the fungi cell membrane.

Clotrimazole may also interact with membrane phospholipids, impair triglyceride and phospholipid biosynthesis,  inhibit endogenous respiration, inhibit the uptake of purine and transformation of yeasts to mycelial forms, and inhibit the transfer of potassium and calcium ions by blocking the ion transport pathway known as the Gardos channel.

Lamisil and Lotrimin Uses

• Onychomycosis, toenail or fingernail dermatophyte infections caused by most strains of Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes. It is also active against Epidermophyton floccosum, Candida albicans, and Scopulariopsis brevicaulis species.
• Tinea Capitis, scalp ringworm infections caused by susceptible dermatophytes such as Trichophyton, Microsporum species. This indication requires treatment with an oral antifungal.
• Tinea Corporis (body ringworm) or Tinea Cruris (jock itch).

Lotrinim indications are:

• Candidiasis caused by Candida albicans infection
• Tinea versicolor caused by Malassezia furfur infection.
• Tinea pedis, Tinea cruris, and Tinea corporis caused by Epidermophyton floccosum, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum canis infections.

Lamisil and Lotrimin available dosages and forms

Lotrimin is available in the form of cream 10mg/g, vaginal cream 1g/100g and 2g/100g and 1% lotion. Lotrimin is also available in the form of topical powder, topical powder spray and topical solution spray, which contain the active ingredient miconazole.

Lamisil side effects

Lotrimin side effects

• Headache (13%)
• Rash (6%)
• Pruritus (3%)
• Nausea (3%)
• Diarrhea (6%)
• Dyspepsia (4%)
• Abdominal pain (2%)
• Taste disturbance (3%)
• Elevated liver function test results (3%)
• Visual disturbance (1%)

Topical form side effects:

• Burning
• Contact dermatitis
• Dryness
• Exfoliation
• Irritation
• Pruritus
• Rash
• Irritation
• Stinging

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Mild burning
• Irritation
• Stinging to skin or vaginal area

Can you buy Lamisil and Lotrimin over the counter?

Lamisil and Lotrimin price

• Lamisil tablets 250 mg, 30 tablets average price is $872.43
• Lamisil granules 125mg, 14 granules average price is $228.18
• Lamisil cream 15g, average price is $25.30
• Lotrimin cream 0.4 oz average price is $10.5

Who should not take Lamisil and Lotrimin?

Patients who have liver disease, history of depression, some autoimmune disorder such as lupus or psoriasis or weak immune system should talk with their doctors first before using Lamisil or Lotrimin.

Patients allergic to any of active ingredients or components of Lamisil or Lotrimin should avoid these products.

Lamisil and Lotrimin topical forms FDA pregnancy category is B. These drugs are not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby, but women should wait after their pregnancy to start treating their nail or scalp with these products. Patients should tell their doctor if they are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Terbinafine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Patients should not breast-feed while using Lamisil. There are no data of clotrimazole excretion into human milk. Woman breast-feeding a child should talk their doctors first before using Lotrimin products.

Patients using Lamisil or Lotrimin products should be advised to:

1. Use the medicines for the full treatment time even though the symptoms may have improved. Patients should notify the physician if there are no improvements after 4 weeks of therapy.
2. Inform the physician if the area of application shows signs of increased irritation such as: itching, burning, redness, blistering, swelling.
3. Avoid sources of infection or reinfection.

How should Lamisil and Lotrimin be used?

Lamisil granules should be sprinkled into a spoonful of pudding or mashed potatoes. Mixture should be swallowed right away without chewing. Do not save the mixture for later use. The granule mixture should be taken during meal.

Lamisil tablets 250mg should be used once a day for 6 weeks for the treatment of fingernail onychomicosis infection. For toenail infection it should be used once a day for 12 weeks.

Lamisil oral granules should be used once a day for 6 weeks for Tinea capitis treatment.

Lotrimin and Lamisil cream and Lamisil spray should be gently massaged into the affected and surrounding skin areas twice a day, in the morning and evening during 1-2 week or as directed by the doctor.

Lamisil gel for the treatment of athlete foot should be used once a day at a bedtime for one week of treatment.

Lamisil is usually taken for 6 to 12 weeks.

Clinical improvement after Lotrimin usage, with relief of pruritus, usually occurs within the first week of treatment. If the patient failed to show improvement after 4 weeks therapy with Lotrimin, the diagnosis should be reviewed.

Patients should take these medications for the full prescribed length of time. Symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Skipping doses may also increase the risk of further infection that is resistant to antibiotics.

While using these medicines, some patient may need frequent blood tests.

It may take several months for nails to return to their normal appearance after Lamisil treatment.

What should I avoid while using Lamisil and Lotrimin topical?

Patients should avoid using other skin medications on the areas they treat with Lamisil or Lotrimin topical unless their doctor tells them otherwise.

Patients should avoid wearing tight-fitting, synthetic clothing that doesn’t allow air circulation. They should wear clothing made of loose cotton and other natural fibers until the infection is healed.

What if I overdose Lamisil and Lotrimin?

Patients using Lamisil should call their doctor immediately if they exhibit symptoms of liver damage, such as nausea, loss of appetite, itching, upper stomach pain, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or yellowing of the skin or eyes. These events can also occur whether or not patients have ever had liver problems before.

What if I missed the dose of Lamisil and Lotrimin?

Can I drink alcohol while taking Lamisil and Lotrimin?

So, when liver is working really hard to filter out terbinafine or absorbed clotrimazole, adding alcohol can cause too much stress on the liver. The worst side effect that can occur very quickly as a result of antifungal-alcohol interaction is complete liver failure.

The early sings of liver failure are nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and jaundice. When complete liver failure occurs, the only treatment is a liver transplant, which is a lifetime of medications, hospital visits, and having days of feeling well and unwell.

Lamisil and Lotrimin interactions with Food/Tobacco

What are the alternatives for Lamisil and Lotrimin?

Alternatives for Lotrimin on the market are: Alevazol, Aspiera Anti-fungal, Athlete S Foot Afac, Canesten 1% Topical Cream, Canesten Cream 3, Clotrimaderm External Cream, Dermatin Antifungal, Femmesil, Gehwol Fusskraft Nail and Skin Protection nad many other.