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Nystatin

Medication polyene antifungal other
Aka: Mycostatin
Brands seen in Singapore: PMS-Nystatin, Polygynax, Flagystatin
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
Oral thrush and other candida infections (NHS)
When to take
NHS: 4 times a day for thrush, at least 3 hours apart
Take with
NHS: after food · swilled round the mouth, then swallowed
Pros & cons
Pros
  • NHS: most adults, children and babies can take it
  • NHS: taking too much is unlikely to harm you
  • NHS: usable in pregnancy and while breastfeeding
Cons
  • Diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting are the common ones
  • NHS: the liquid contains a small amount of sucrose
  • SG: prescription-only, with a narrow pharmacy exemption
Sources
  1. HSA — Listing of Registered Therapeutic Products (data.gov.sg open dataset, 5,511 rows, cached in full and filtered locally) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “All 5 registered nystatin rows read 'Prescription Only' — SIN05499P and SIN00378C PMS-NYSTATIN SUSPENSION 500,000 u/5 ml · SIN06750P NYSTATIN VAGINAL TABLET · SIN07745P POLYGYNAX · SIN03798P FLAGYSTATIN VAGINAL OVULE”
  2. NHS Medicines A-Z — About nystatin · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Nystatin is an antifungal medicine. It's used to treat or prevent infections caused by a fungus or yeast. These include: oral thrush (mouth thrush), skin infections … Nystatin is only available on prescription.”
  3. NHS Medicines A-Z — Dosage for nystatin liquid · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “to treat oral thrush – 1ml, taken 4 times a day. Leave at least 3 hours between doses … Nystatin is generally very safe. Taking too much liquid or using too much cream or ointment is unlikely to harm you”
  4. NHS Medicines A-Z — How to take nystatin liquid · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “It's best to take nystatin liquid after a meal or some food … Keep it in your mouth for at least 30 seconds if possible, swilling it around your mouth like a mouthwash before you swallow it.”
  5. NHS Medicines A-Z — Who can take or use nystatin · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Most adults and children, including babies, can take nystatin liquid … tell a pharmacist or doctor if you: have ever had an allergic reaction … cannot digest some sugars … have tuberculosis (TB) of the skin”
  6. NHS Medicines A-Z — Common side effects of nystatin · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Side effects of nystatin liquid include diarrhoea and feeling or being sick. More serious side effects can happen in rare cases.”
  7. NHS Medicines A-Z — Nystatin and pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “You can use nystatin while you're pregnant or trying for a baby … You can use nystatin while you're breastfeeding. Nystatin has been used for many years without side effects in breastfed babies.”
  8. National Drug Formulary (SG, MOH) — PMS-NYSTATIN SUSPENSION 500,000 u/5 ml [SIN05499P]: dosage · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Children and Adults: Usual therapeutic dose is 100,000 units 4 times daily dropped into the mouth and held or swished throughout the mouth for some time before swallowing.”
  9. National Drug Formulary (SG, MOH) — PMS-NYSTATIN [SIN05499P]: prescription-only medicine with exemption for supply without prescription · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “As an oral liquid preparation containing not more than 100,000 units per ml … Maximum daily dose: Infants and children 6 months and older: 400,000 units; Adults: 2.4 million units. Maximum supply: 2 weeks. Minimum age: 6 months”
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Updated 2026-08-29. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.