Nystatin
Nystatin, sold under the brandname Mycostatin among others, is an antifungal medication. It is used to treat Candida infections of the skin including diaper rash, thrush, esophageal candidiasis, and vaginal yeast infections. It may also be used to prevent candidiasis in those who are at high risk. Nystatin may be used by mouth, in the vagina, or applied to the skin.
Clinical data | |
---|---|
Trade names | Mycostatin, Nystop, others |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
MedlinePlus | a682758 |
Pregnancy category |
|
Routes of administration | topical, vaginal, by mouth (but not absorbed) |
Drug class | Polyene antifungal medication |
ATC code | |
Legal status | |
Legal status |
|
Pharmacokinetic data | |
Bioavailability | 0% on oral ingestion |
Metabolism | None (not extensively absorbed) |
Elimination half-life | Dependent upon GI transit time |
Excretion | Fecal (100%) |
Identifiers | |
| |
CAS Number | |
PubChem CID | |
DrugBank | |
ChemSpider | |
UNII | |
KEGG | |
ChEBI | |
ChEMBL | |
NIAID ChemDB | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | |
ECHA InfoCard | 100.014.317 |
Chemical and physical data | |
Formula | C47H75NO17 |
Molar mass | 926.107 g·mol−1 |
3D model (JSmol) | |
Melting point | 44–46 °C (111–115 °F) |
| |
| |
(what is this?) (verify) |
Common side effects when applied to the skin include burning, itching, and a rash. Common side effects when taken by mouth include vomiting and diarrhea. During pregnancy use in the vagina is safe while other formulations have not been studied in this group. It works by disrupting the cell membrane of the fungal cells.
Nystatin was discovered in 1950 by Rachel Fuller Brown and Elizabeth Lee Hazen. It was the first polyene macrolide antifungal. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. It is available as a generic medication. It is made from the bacterium Streptomyces noursei. In 2020, it was the 227th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 2 million prescriptions.