Seven-Day Clotrimazole Therapy for Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

There were 150 patients with mycologically proven vulvovaginal candidiasis in a randomized, non-cross-over study which compared seven-and 14-day treatment courses of clotrimazole vaginal tablets (Gyne-Lotrimin) with a 14-day treatment course of miconazole nitrate 2% vaginal cream (Monistat). Adequate data for analyses were obtained for 117 patients. When patients were reexamined four or more weeks after completion of therapy, success rates, based on clinical and mycologic criteria, were: 88% for patients treated with clotrimazole for seven days, 84% for clotrimazole 14-day treatment, and 78% for miconazole nitrate 14-day treatment. There were no drug-related adverse reactions. Thus a seven-day course of therapy with clotrimazole is effective as is a 14-day course of either clotrimazole or miconazole nitrate 2% for the treatment of Candida vaginitis. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences among the clotrimazole seven-and 14-day treatment groups and the miconazole nitrate 14-day treatment group. The shorter period of administration required for this new antifungal agent should result in better patient compliance and an improved success rate in the rate in the treatment of this frequently encountered infection.