Can I take clotrimazole while pregnant or breastfeeding?
A plain-words look at what the NHS, the US drug label and LactMed say about clotrimazole.
In short
Pregnancy: If you're pregnant, you can usually use clotrimazole. Check with a doctor or pharmacist first, though.
Breastfeeding: If you're breastfeeding, you can usually use clotrimazole. Check with a doctor or pharmacist first, though.
Your doctor, midwife or pharmacist can help you decide.
What this means for you
Pregnancy
- If you're pregnant, you can usually use clotrimazole.
- Check with a doctor or pharmacist first, though.
Breastfeeding
- If you're breastfeeding, you can usually use clotrimazole.
- Check with a doctor or pharmacist first, though.
- If you're breastfeeding and apply clotrimazole cream or solution to your nipples and breasts, rinse it off with warm water before you feed your baby.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist
This page is educational, not advice for your own situation. Talk to your doctor, midwife or pharmacist before you start, stop or change any medicine in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
The details: what each source says
Clotrimazole in pregnancy
The NHS says
If you're pregnant, you can usually use clotrimazole. Check with a doctor or pharmacist first, though.
In our words, from the NHS page Clotrimazole (nhs.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). The NHS does not endorse this site.
The US drug label says
If pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use.
Drug Facts label: Clotrimazole (vaginal), YYBA CORP. Label on DailyMed. Quoted verbatim; US labels are written for US prescribers and patients.
This quote is from the vaginal formulation label.
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Systemic absorption of clotrimazole following topical administration appears to be minimal, and maternal use of CLOTIC is not expected to result in fetal exposure to the drug. The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown All pregnancies have a background risk of major birth defects, loss, and other adverse outcomes. The background risk in the U.S. general population of major birth defects is 2% to 4% and of miscarriage is 15% to 20% of clinically recognized pregnancies.
Prescribing label, section “8.1 Pregnancy”: CLOTIC (clotrimazole) otic solution (auricular (otic)), Carwin Pharmaceutical Associates, LLC. Label on DailyMed. Quoted verbatim; US labels are written for US prescribers and patients.
This quote is from the auricular (otic) formulation label.
More on clotrimazole in pregnancy: Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy) leaflet (external site).
Clotrimazole while breastfeeding
The NHS says
If you're breastfeeding, you can usually use clotrimazole. Check with a doctor or pharmacist first, though.
If you're breastfeeding and apply clotrimazole cream or solution to your nipples and breasts, rinse it off with warm water before you feed your baby.
In our words, from the NHS page Clotrimazole (nhs.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). The NHS does not endorse this site.
LactMed says
Because has poor absorption from the skin and vagina and has poor oral bioavailability, it is unlikely to adversely affect the breastfed infant, including after topical application to the nipples. It has been used orally in infants with thrush, sometimes successfully after nystatin has failed.[1] Any excess cream or ointment should be removed from the nipples before nursing. Only water-miscible cream or gel products should be applied to the breast because ointments may expose the infant to high levels of mineral paraffins via licking.[2]
“Summary of Use during Lactation”, LactMed record “Clotrimazole” (LM346), quoted verbatim. Everything LactMed reports about Clotrimazole while breastfeeding.
The US prescribing label says
8.2 Lactation Risk Summary Systemic absorption following topical administration of CLOTIC appears to be minimal, and breastfeeding is not expected to result in exposure of the child to CLOTIC. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for CLOTIC and any potential adverse effects on the breast-fed infant from CLOTIC or from the underlying maternal condition.
Prescribing label, section “8.2 Lactation”: CLOTIC (clotrimazole) otic solution (auricular (otic)), Carwin Pharmaceutical Associates, LLC. Label on DailyMed. Quoted verbatim; US labels are written for US prescribers and patients.
This quote is from the auricular (otic) formulation label.
Other names
UK brand names (per the NHS): Canesten.
Indian brands (per NPPA): Candid.
Sources
- NHS, Clotrimazole (nhs.uk), page last reviewed 8 July 2026. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- US drug label: Clotrimazole (vaginal), YYBA CORP, human otc drug, label effective 1 September 2026, set ID 53472e4c-868f-18f5-e063-6394a90abce7. DailyMed (National Library of Medicine). Public domain; quoted verbatim.
- US drug label: CLOTIC (clotrimazole) otic solution (auricular (otic)), Carwin Pharmaceutical Associates, LLC, human prescription drug, label effective 3 March 2026, set ID ef0658c3-9c6b-4705-89d8-cf0644c80fcb. DailyMed (National Library of Medicine). Public domain; quoted verbatim.
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), via NCBI Bookshelf, record “Clotrimazole” (LM346), bulk release of 22 September 2026. LactMed on NCBI Bookshelf. Public domain; quoted verbatim. LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy), UK Teratology Information Service: Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy) leaflet. Linked, not reproduced.
Sources checked 26 September 2026. How we source and check every page.
Educational summary of named sources, not medical advice.