A vaginal yeast infection, also called a Candida infection after the organism that causes it, consists of an overgrowth of the fungus Candida albicans in the vaginal tract. The Nemours Foundation estimates that 75% of all women have at least one yeast infection in their lifetimes. Fortunately, treating a yeast infection isn't difficult, since a variety of effective medications exist that can quickly cure the disease, says Drugs.com.
Clotrimazole
Sold under the brand names Gyne-Lotrimin and Mycelex-7, clotrimazole is a suppository that women must place in the vagina once daily for 7 days. Side effects may include burning, itching or irritation of the vaginal area, but these typically prove mild. It works by breaking down the yeast cell wall. Women can purchase clotrimazole over the counter without a prescription.
Tioconazole
The brands Monistat-1 and Vagistat-1 are tioconazole antifungals that women can buy without a prescription. Women must insert the cream via applicator into their vagina nightly. It comes in a 1-day dose. Tioconazole kills the yeast by breaking down the cell wall.
Butoconazole
Butoconazole cream has the brand name of Gynazole-1 and is available without a prescription as a single-day treatment. Side effects of butoconazole cream include burning, soreness, itching and swelling. Butoconazole breaks down the cell wall of Candida albicans, destroying it.
Miconazole
Miconazole is also sold under the Monistat brand, in the products Monistat-3, Monistat-5 and Monistat-7. Courses of treatment include 3-day, 5-day and 7-day courses as either a cream, table or suppository. If women choose the suppository, they must insert it with an applicator into their vagina nightly before bed. Condoms and diaphragms can become damaged by miconazole, so women should use other forms of birth control when undergoing treatment with these products. Burning, itching, skin irritation and a desire to urinate more than normal prove potential side effects. Miconazole works by destroying the cell wall of the yeast and women can buy it over the counter.
Fluconazole
Fluconazole is an oral medication available by prescription only to treat yeast infections and is sold under the brand name Diflucan. This extremely effective medication comes in a single pill dose or a doctor may prescribe a multi-day treatment for severe yeast infections. Individuals with recurrent or chronic yeast infections may be prescribed fluconazole once a week to prevent recurrences. Fluconazole prevents the yeast from growing a cell membrane, halting the growth of new yeast. Side effects can include dizziness, headache, nausea, stomach pain, changes in taste and rarely, severe allergic reactions or liver damage.
