How Long Does It Take For Monistat 3 To Dissolve

How long does it take for Monistat 3 to dissolve?

Monistat 3 is a common over-the-counter medicine used in treating vaginal yeast infections. If you notice some unusual discharge from your vagina which is accompanied by itching around your vagina, it’s most likely that you have a yeast infection. Yeast infection is common and is caused by the overgrowth of candida, a type of fungus.

Nevertheless, itching and vaginal discharge might be symptoms of something else other than a yeast infection, so be sure to make an appointment with your doctor to know the cause of your symptoms, especially if this is your first time experiencing them.

Now, in the case where your doctor or pharmacist recommends using Monistat 3 to treat your vaginal infection, if you’re new to the treatment, you may have several questions you want to ask like “how long does it take for Monistat 3 to dissolve?”

Along with many other questions you may have about the medicine, this article provides all the answers you need. Keep reading to learn more about Monistat 3.

What Is Monistat 3?

Monistat 3 is a brand name for a generic drug known as miconazole 3. It is an azole antifungal medicine used in treating vaginal yeast infections and relieves itching and irritation that follows the development of the infection.

Monistat 3 is available in 3 major forms: Cream, Suppository, and Ovule, each containing the active ingredient miconazole nitrate, which is what makes it capable of treating yeast infections, by stopping the growth of candida.

You can’t use Monistat 3 to treat any condition that isn’t related to vaginal fungal infection as you most likely won’t see results. It can only be used to treat fungal infections such as cutaneous candidiasis, intertrigo, and any other fungal infections as prescribed by your doctor.

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Monistat 3 Side Effects

Like most drugs, Monistat 3 can also cause some side effects, which range from mild to severe.

Some of its mild side effects may include:

Increased vaginal discharge
Headache
Skin rash
Stomach upset
Tingling or burning feeling in the vagina
Cramps

Uncommonly, you may also experience some of its severe side effects such as:

Inflammation and swelling
Unusual bleeding or bruising
Allergic reactions such as skin rash, severe dizziness, and trouble breathing

These are not all the possible side effects of Monistat 3, so speak to your doctor or pharmacist about the side effects of the drug before you begin treatment, and should you experience the severity of any of these side effects contact your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible.

How to Use Monistat 3

No matter the form of Monistat 3 you have chosen to use, the product comes with simple instructions on the package on how to use it, so read the instructions carefully before you start using it. Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you the right dosage suitable for you, depending on what form you’re using. Don’t use more or less than you’ve been instructed to use.

The instructions you’ll find on the medicine label may read like this:

Wash your hands with soap and water before and after using Monistat 3, and dry with a clean towel to avoid contamination.
If you’re using Monistat 3 in the ovule or suppository form, first take it off from the blister pack and place it on the wider end of the applicator it comes with. Then push the applicator with the drug on it as far as you can into your vagina, so it doesn’t come out easily.

But if you’re using the cream form of the medicine, it usually comes in pre-filled applicators, so all you have to do is to unscrew the cap, and like the ovule and suppository, push the applicator as deep into your vagina as you can go. Either stand with your feet slightly apart and your knees bent or lie down on your back and pull your knees up when you’re inserting the applicator.

After inserting the applicator, push the plunger on it so the medicine is released into your vagina.
Dispose of each applicator once you’re done.

Monistat 3 is usually used once daily, preferably at bedtime for 3-7 days, depending on what form you’re using and what your doctor instructs. Consult your doctor or pharmacist concerning any questions you may have on how to use Monistat 3.

How Long Does It Take for Monistat 3 To Dissolve?

For the active ingredient in this medicine to be released, it has to dissolve, however, how long it takes for Monistat 3 to dissolve will depend on what form of the medicine you’re using. If you’re using the cream, although they’re fast and easy to use, they dissolve faster than all other forms of Monistat 3.

The suppositories also dissolve fast, especially if you wet them with warm water or use lubricating gel to insert them for ease. The ovules, on the other hand, do not dissolve as fast as the rest. Your body temperature also has a role in predicting how long it takes for Monistat 3 to dissolve.

If your temperature is high, then you know it’ll likely dissolve faster. However, on the average, Monistat 3 will dissolve in 10-15 minutes after you’ve inserted it, but in some patients, it could take 30 minutes.

Does Monistat 3 Leak Out

Yes, Monistat 3 leaks out.

It is normal for Monistat 3 to leak after it dissolves. Unless the medicine falls off, once it has dissolved in your vagina, there should be a leak out, making a mess of your clothes, and if you used it during the day, this could be an embarrassing sight, therefore it is always advised to use it at bedtime unless you use it twice daily, then you’ll have to use one during the day and the second at bedtime.

However, how fast Monistat 3 leaks out depends on the form you use. As quickly as they are to dissolve, so are they to leak out. For instance, if you’re using the Monistat 3 cream, it is likely to leak out as soon as you stand up after inserting it. So while this might be your preferred option because it’s easy to use, be sure to use it only when you’re about to go to bed. It’s a similar case if you’re using the suppositories.

On the other hand, if you use the ovules, you’ll notice that they cause lesser mess compared to the other 2, and often if you’re to use the medicine twice daily, your doctor or pharmacist is likely to prescribe this form of Monistat, because it stays in place well, takes longer time to dissolve and causes a lesser mess. Nevertheless, lie down as soon as you’ve inserted the medicine. This reduces leakage.

How Long Does It Take Monistat 3 To Work?

Although some people, begin to feel relief from their symptoms almost instantly, generally, you should begin to notice an improvement in your symptoms from the third day of treatment and this should progress until you’re done with your prescription. However, if after 3-7 days of treatment you don’t notice any improvement in your symptoms, then you should see your doctor.

How Long Do I Wait to Pee After Inserting Monistat 3?

After inserting Monistat 3, you may feel like peeing. This is because the medicine causes some discomfort on the skin which may lead to an urge to urinate. But with time, this urge decreases. The urge to pee after inserting Monistat 3 is nothing to be afraid of, however. Some will indeed fall out as you pee, but you’ll still have some left in your vagina that will be enough to stop the growth of the yeast.

Although to prevent the medicine from falling out and to give it enough time to dissolve, it is best to pee a few minutes before inserting it, but if even after inserting and you feel the need to pee, go ahead, you don’t have to wait, this will not affect the potency of the drug.

Besides, you have 3-7 days to use the drug, within this time frame, you should see results from what stays in your vagina after you pee.

For How Long Do I Have to Lay Down After Inserting Monistat 3

Lying down for some minutes after using Monistat 3 is advised, for best results. Some people lie down and sleep from there after inserting Monistat 3, however, if you have something to do after inserting the medicine, you could lay down for 10-20 minutes, just enough time to keep the medicine inside your vagina and decrease leakage.

Conclusion

It only takes about 10-15 minutes for Monistat 3 to dissolve, but it could take more, depending on what form of the medicine you use and your body temperature.

You should remain lying after inserting the medicine, so it can dissolve properly and also so that the leakage won’t be much. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist in case of any discomfort while using Monistat 3.