Nystatin Liquid

What is nystatin?

Nystatin is an antifungal medicine. Nystatin liquid is used to treat or prevent fungal infections in the mouth, such as thrush, as well as in the digestive tract.

Before giving nystatin to your child

Tell your child's doctor if your child is allergic to nystatin or any component of the medication.

How should you give your child nystatin?

• Give this medicine for as long as your child's doctor or pharmacist tells you, even if your child seems better.
• Avoid missing doses by giving your child the medicine at the same times every day. Pick times that are easy for you to remember.
• Shake the bottle well before you give your child each dose. Measure the dose with the special dropper, syringe, or spoon the pharmacist gave you.
• If your child is a small baby, drop one-half of the dose on each side of their tongue. Or, your doctor may tell you to use a cotton swab to apply some of the liquid onto the sides of the baby's mouth. Infants should not be fed for 5 to 10 minutes after a dose is given.
• If your child is able, teach them to swish the medicine around the mouth and hold it there for as long as possible before swallowing it.

What should you do if your child misses a dose of nystatin?

• Give the missed dose as soon as you remember.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Give the next dose at the regular time.
• Do not give your child two doses to make up for one missed dose.

What are the possible side effects of nystatin?

Your child may have some of these side effects while they take nystatin. Check with your child's doctor if your child continues to have any of these side effects, and they do not go away, or they bother your child:

• diarrhea
• nausea or vomiting
• stomach pain

Rare but serious reactions may occur. Call your child's doctor or obtain emergency medical help if your child experiences wheezing, chest tightness, fever, itching, bad cough, blue skin colour, seizures, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat, or if your child is not acting normal.

What safety measures should you take when your child is using nystatin?

Check with your child's doctor or pharmacist before giving your child any other medicines (prescription, non-prescription, herbal or natural products).

What other important information should you know about nystatin?

• Keep a list of all medications your child is on and show the list to the doctor or pharmacist.
• Do not share your child's medicine with others. Do not give anyone else's medicine to your child.
• Make sure you always have enough nystatin to last through weekends, holidays, and vacations. Call your pharmacy at least two days before your child runs out of medicine to order refills.
• Keep nystatin liquid at room temperature in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Do NOT store it in the bathroom or kitchen.
• Do not keep any medicines that are out of date. Check with your pharmacist about the best way to throw away outdated or leftover medicines.
  

Keep nystatin liquid out of your child's sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much nystatin liquid, call the Ontario Poison Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free.

• Call 416-813-5900 if you live in Toronto.
• Call 1-800-268-9017 if you live somewhere else in Ontario.
• If you live outside of Ontario, call your local Poison Information Centre.