Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

For patients using the cream, gel, or lotion form of this medicine:

  • Keep this medicine away from the eyes.
  • Apply enough ciclopirox to cover the affected and surrounding skin or scalp areas and rub in gently.

For patients using the shampoo form of this medicine:

  • Keep this medicine away from the eyes.
  • Apply shampoo to wet hair. Lather and leave on hair and scalp for 3 minutes. A timer may be used. Rinse off.

For patients using the topical solution form of this medicine:

  • Keep this medicine away from the eyes and mucous membranes
  • This medicine comes with a patient instruction sheet. Read this sheet carefully and follow the directions. If you have any questions on how to use this medicine, be sure to ask your health care professional.
  • In addition to daily application of this medicine, you will need to trim your nails as directed, and visit your healthcare professional at regular intervals to have the unattached infected nails removed.
  • Do not use nail polish or other nail cosmetic products on the treated nails.
  • Do not use near heat or open flame.

When ciclopirox is used to treat certain types of fungus infections of the skin, an occlusive dressing (airtight covering, such as kitchen plastic wrap) should not be applied over the medicine. To do so may irritate the skin. Do not apply an airtight covering over this medicine unless you have been directed to do so by your doctor.

To help clear up your infection completely, it is very important that you keep using ciclopirox for the full time of treatment , even if your symptoms begin to clear up after a few days. Since fungus infections may be very slow to clear up, you may have to continue using this medicine every day for several weeks or more. If you stop using this medicine too soon, your symptoms may return. Do not miss any doses .

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For topical cream and lotion dosage forms:
    • Fungus infections (treatment):
      • Adults and children 10 years of age and over—Apply two times a day, morning and evening.
      • Children up to 10 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • Fungus infections (treatment) or seborrheic dermatitis (treatment):
      • Adults and children 16 years of age and over—Apply two times a day, morning and evening.
      • Children up to 16 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • Seborrheic dermatitis (treatment):
      • Adults and children 16 years of age and over—Apply 1 teaspoon (or up to 2 teaspoons for long hair) two times a week for four weeks with at least three days between each application.
      • Children up to 16 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • Fungus infections (treatment):
      • Adults —Apply once daily, preferably at bedtime or eight hours before washing.
      • Children up to 18 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, apply it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.