Spectazole

Spectazole (Econazole) is used to treat fungal infections of the skin.Spectazole kills several species of disease-causing fungi, and it is also effective against Candida albicans. Doctors prescribe Spectazole to treat certain skin conditions such as tinea cruris (jock itch), tinea pedis (athlete’s foot), tinea corporis (ringworm), tinea versicolor, and Candida skin infections.

Spectazole is supplied as a 1% skin cream. Spectazole must be used only with doctor’s supervision. 

Your doctor will consider the following first below prescribing Spectazole.

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you experienced allergies to Spectazole before. You cannot use Spectazole if you are allergic to it.

Health conditions

Make sure to mention all of your health problems to the doctor before taking using Spectazole. Tell the doctor if you have any of the following health conditions:

• Alcoholism
• Severe liver disease
• Severe kidney disease
• Porphyria
• Problems in the nervous system

Pregnancy

Spectazole is harmful to pregnant patients. Spectazole is an FDA pregnancy category C drug, which means it can cause harm to the unborn baby when used during pregnancy.

Breastfeeding

Do not breastfeed when using Spectazole.

Alcohol use

Heavy alcohol consumption can cause side effects when you are using Spectazole.

Drug interactions

Even though Spectazole is a skin cream drug, it can still interact with certain medicines to cause adverse effects. Tell your doctor if you use the drugs Dicumarol and Warfarin before taking  Spectazole. Spectazole may interact with these drugs and, in rare cases, cause severe bleeding. 

Spectazole is supplied as a cream that you will apply to the affected skin area. Your doctor will teach you how to apply Spectazole cream properly.

Spectazole is usually applied to the affected skin areas twice a day, once in the morning and again in the evening.

You must first wash and dry the affected area completely before applying Spectazole, so do it preferably after taking a bath. After that, apply Spectazole skin cream to the affected area. Wash your hands after applying Spectazole, unless it is your hands that require treatment.

Usually, Spectazole is applied for around two weeks for patients with jock itch, tinea versicolor, Candida skin infections, and ringworm. Athlete’s foot is usually treated with Spectazole for a month.

If you missed a dose of Spectazole, apply as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to original scheduling. Do not apply more Spectazole to make up for the missed dose.

Avoid scratching the affected areas as much as possible. Scratching makes the irritation worse and actually spreads the fungi.

Spectazole is for external use only. When applying Spectazole, take care not to apply to eyes, mouth, nose or mucous membranes. If Spectazole cream accidentaly gets into these areas, wash the area immediately with cool tap water.

Spectazole usually causes improvement of symptoms in less than a week of use. If you do not experience any improvement in symptoms, call the doctor right away.

It is very important to continue using Spectazole as prescribed by the doctor. Interrupting or discontinuing treatment on your own can cause the infection to reappear and become harder to treat.

Spectazole may alter results of certain lab tests. If you will have lab tests, make sure to let tell your health providers you are using Spectazole.

If you became pregnant while using Spectazole, call the doctor immediately. 

Spectazole may cause side effects that require medical care. Call the doctor right away if you experience the following symptoms:

• Severe allergic reaction symptoms such as difficulty breathing, appearance of skin rash, hives, swelling of the mouth, nose, tongue, or throat.
• Severe irritation of the skin

Spectazole may cause minor burning, redness, itching or stinging at the affected area, which is relatively minor and not harmful.