The key difference between clotrimazole and miconazole is that clotrimazole usually shows a slow response against dermatophytosis and a faster response against candidiasis, whereas miconazole shows an accelerated response against dermatophytosis and a slow response against candidiasis.
According to studies on dermatophytosis, miconazole has shown about 75% response, while clotrimazole has shown about 56% response. When considering their effectiveness against candidiasis, clotrimazole has shown a fast response of 80-85 %, while miconazole has shown about 30% response.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Clotrimazole
3. What is Miconazole
4. Clotrimazole vs Miconazole in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Clotrimazole vs Miconazole
What is Clotrimazole?
Clotrimazole is an antifungal medication useful in treating vaginal yeast infections, oral thrush, diaper rash, tinea versicolor, and different types of ringworm, including athlete’s foot and jock itch. The brand name of this medication is Lotrimin. Clotrimazole can be taken as an oral medication, a skin cream, or can be applied to the vagina.
Figure 01: The Chemical Structure of Clotrimazole
The chemical formula of clotrimazole is C22H17ClN2. The molar mass of this medication is 344.84 g/mol. It has a melting point ranging from 147 to 149 degrees Celsius. The IUPAC name of this compound is (1-[(2-chlorophenyl) diphenylmethyl]-1H-imidazole). It has a four-ring structure connected to each other via a single carbon atom at the center.
When considering the mechanism of action of clotrimazole, it can damage the permeability barrier in the fungal cytoplasmic membrane, thereby inhibiting the biosynthesis of ergosterol in a concentration-dependent way. This is achieved by inhibiting the demethylation of 14 alpha lanosterol.
There can be some side effects of clotrimazole; when taken orally, side effects include nausea and itchiness, while the side effects of skin application include redness and a burning sensation. However, during pregnancy, this medication can be applied on the skin of the vagina because it is considered to be safe.
The absorption of clotrimazole by mouth as a lozenge is poor, and the absorption through intact skin, when applied topically, is negligible. The protein binding ability is 90%, and the metabolism occurs in the liver. Moreover, the elimination half-life of clotrimazole is about 2 hours.
What is Miconazole?
Miconazole is an antifungal medication useful in treating ringworm, pityriasis versicolor, and yeast infections of the skin or vagina. The brand name of this medication is Monistat. Moreover, miconazole is useful in ringworm of the body, groin, and feet. We can apply miconazole to the skin or vagina in the form of cream or ointment.
Figure 02: The Chemical Structure of Miconazole
The chemical formula of miconazole is C18H14Cl4N2O. The molar mass of this compound is 416.127 g/mol. It usually comes as a racemic mixture. The IUPAC name of this compound is (RS)-1-(2-(2,4-Dichlorobenzyloxy)-2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl)-1H-imidazole. It belongs to the family of imidazole medications. Moreover, it can work by decreasing the ability of fungi to make ergosterol, which is an important part of the cell membrane.
The common side effects of miconazole include itchiness and irritation of the area of application. Further, it can be applied during pregnancy and is believed to be safe for the baby. The bioavailability of miconazole is <1% after the application to the skin. It has a protein binding ability of 88.2%. The elimination half-life of this medication is about 20-25 hours, and the excretion occurs mainly through faeces.
What is the Difference Between Clotrimazole and Miconazole?
Clotrimazole and miconazole are important antifungal medications. These two are used for treating similar diseases. The key difference between clotrimazole and miconazole is that clotrimazole usually shows a slow response against dermatophytosis and a faster response against candidiasis, whereas miconazole shows an accelerated response against dermatophytosis and a slow response against candidiasis.
The below infographic presents the differences between clotrimazole and miconazole in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Clotrimazole vs Miconazole
Clotrimazole is an antifungal medication useful in treating vaginal yeast infections, oral thrush, diaper rash, tinea versicolor, and different types of ringworm like athlete’s foot and jock itch. Miconazole is an antifungal medication useful in treating ringworm, pityriasis versicolor, and yeast infections of the skin or vagina. The key difference between clotrimazole and miconazole is that clotrimazole usually shows a slow response against dermatophytosis and a faster response against candidiasis, whereas miconazole shows an accelerated response against dermatophytosis and a slow response against candidiasis.
Reference:
1. “Miconazole.” Uses, Interactions, Mechanism of Action | DrugBank Online.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Clotrimazole” By Vaccinationist – Own work using: PubChem (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Miconazole” By Vaccinationist – PubChem (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia