Nystatin Prescription Information

Nystatin is a type of prescription medication available as a capsule, lozenge, tablet or liquid. As an antifungal medication, doctors prescribe nystatin for the treatment of oral fungal infections.

Function

• Nystatin works by interfering with sterols, fatty substances in fungal cells that form the walls of their cells. Without sterols, the contents of fungal cells leaks out of the cell, causing the fungus to die.

Time Frame

• Typically, you will need to take nystatin until two days after the symptoms of the oral fungal infection disappear, reports RxList.

Features

• Doctors normally prescribe nystatin for use between three and five times per day, with specific dosages varying depending on the form of the drug you are taking, your age and the severity of your infection, reports the Mayo Clinic. Denture wearers may need to soak their mouth pieces in nystatin each night to kill any fungus residing on the dental work.

Risks

• Possible side effects of nystatin include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and rashes. Infrequently, nystatin uses causes rapid heartbeat, facial swelling, muscle pain or a potentially life-threatening skin condition known as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, warns RxList.

Considerations

• Because its effects upon fetal development are unknown, doctors rarely prescribe nystatin for use in pregnant women. Because they pose a risk for choking, nystatin lozenges should not be given to children under 5 years of age, cautions the Mayo Clinic.