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Candex: Full Drug Profile

Medically reviewed by Dr. Otari Nergadze, Neurosurgeon | Updated: January 2026

Candex - General Information

Candex is a polyene antifungal drug to which many molds and yeasts are sensitive, including Candida spp. Candex has some toxicity associated with it when given intravenously, but it is not absorbed across intact skin or mucous membranes. It is considered a relatively safe drug for treating oral or gastrointestinal fungal infections.

 

Pharmacology of Candex

Candex is an antibiotic which is both fungistatic and fungicidal in vitro against a wide variety of yeasts and yeast-like fungi, including Candida albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. guilliermondi, C. pseudotropicalis, C. krusei, Torulopsis glabrata, Tricophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes. Candex acts by binding to sterols in the cell membrane of susceptible species resulting in a change in membrane permeability and the subsequent leakage of intracellular components. On repeated subculturing with increasing levels of nystatin, Candida albicans does not develop resistance to nystatin. Generally, resistance to nystatin does not develop during therapy. However, other species of Candida (C. tropicalis, C. guilliermondi, C. krusei, and C. stellatoides) become quite resistant on treatment with nystatin and simultaneously become cross resistant to amphotericin as well. This resistance is lost when the antibiotic is removed. Candex exhibits no appreciable activity against bacteria, protozoa, or viruses.

 

Candex for patients

 

Candex Interactions

 

Candex Contraindications

Nystatin Topical Powder is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to any of its components.

 

Additional information about Candex

Candex Indication: For treatment of cutaneous or mucocutaneous mycotic infections caused by Candida species Mechanism Of Action: Candex interacts with 14-α demethylase, a cytochrome P-450 enzyme necessary for the conversion of lanosterol to ergosterol. This results in inhibition of ergosterol synthesis and increased fungal cellular permeability. Drug Interactions: Not Available Food Interactions: Not Available Generic Name: Nystatin Synonyms: Not Available Drug Category: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antifungal Agents; Ionophores Drug Type: Small Molecule; Approved Other Brand Names containing Nystatin: Barstatin 100; Candex; Korostatin; Myco-Triacet Ii; Mycolog-Ii; Mycostatin; Mykacet; Mykinac; Mytrex F; Nadostine; Nilstat; Nyaderm; Nysert; Nystaform; Nystatin sodium; Nystatin, sodium salt; Nystatin-Triamcinolone Acetonide; Nystex; Nystop; PMS Nystatin; Pedi-Dri; Sodium nystatin; nystatin dihydrate; Absorption: Nystatin is not absorbed from intact skin or mucous membrane Toxicity (Overdose): Not Available Protein Binding: Not Available Biotransformation: Not Available Half Life: Not Available Dosage Forms of Candex: Tablet Oral Ointment Topical Tablet Intravaginal Suspension Oral Cream Intravaginal Solution / drops Oral Cream Topical Powder Topical Chemical IUPAC Name: (21E,23E,25E,27E,31E,33E)-20-[(3S,4S,5S,6R)-4-amino-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-4,6,8,11,12,16,18,36-octahydroxy-35,37,38-trimethyl-2,14-dioxo-1-oxacyclooctatriaconta-21,23,25,27,31,33-hexaene-17-carboxylic acid Chemical Formula: C47H75NO17 Nystatin on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nystatin Organisms Affected: Fungi