What is miconazole?
Miconazole is an antifungal prescription medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis, which is an infection of part of the throat and is a type of mucocutaneous candidiasis.
Mucocutaneous candidiasis is a fungal infection that is caused by Candida yeasts and affects the skin and mucous membranes (such as in the mouth or vagina). Mucocutaneous candidiasis (also called mucosal candidiasis) is an opportunistic infection. An opportunistic infection is an infection that occurs more frequently or is more severe in people with weakened immune systems—such as those infected with HIV—than in people with healthy immune systems.
Miconazole can also be used “off-label” to treat other opportunistic infections of HIV infection. “Off-label” use refers to use of an FDA-approved medicine in a manner different from that described on the medicine label. Good medical practice and the best interests of a patient sometimes require that a medicine be used “off-label.”
What HIV-related opportunistic infections is miconazole used for?
The Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents, prepared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), includes recommendations on the HIV-related uses of miconazole to treat:
- Oropharyngeal candidiasis.
- Uncomplicated vulvovaginal candidiasis (another type of mucocutaneous candidiasis that affects the female vulva and vagina). (This is an “off-label” use.)
What should I tell my health care provider before taking miconazole?
Before taking miconazole, tell your health care provider:
- If you are allergic to miconazole or any other medicines.
- About any medical conditions you have or have had, for example, diabetes or liver problems.
- About anything that could affect your ability to take medicines, such as difficulty swallowing or remembering to take pills.
- If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Whether miconazole can harm an unborn baby is unknown. Miconazole should not be used during pregnancy unless the potential benefit to the mother outweighs the potential risk to the unborn baby.
- If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you are infected with HIV.
- About other prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Ask your health care provider if there are interactions between miconazole and the other medicines you take.
Ask your health care provider about possible side effects from miconazole. Your health care provider will tell you what to do if you have side effects.
How should I take miconazole?
Take miconazole according to your health care provider’s instructions. Your health care provider will tell you how much miconazole to take and when to take it. Before you start miconazole and each time you get a refill, read any printed information that comes with your medicine.
How should miconazole be stored?
- Store miconazole tablets at room temperature, 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°). Protect the tablets from moisture.
- Safely throw away miconazole that is no longer needed or expired (out of date).
- Keep miconazole and all medicines out of reach of children.
Where can I find more information about miconazole?
More information about miconazole is available:
Last Reviewed: October 31, 2012
Last Updated: October 31, 2012