The pharmaceutical antifungals include Nystatin, Diflucan (fluconazole), Nizoral (ketoconazole), Sporonex (Itraconazole), and Lamisil (terbinafine). These are a good choice if you have an autoimmune disease, mental illness, or cancer. While herbal anti-fungals are effective, they are not as concentrated as pharmaceuticals, and so with severe health conditions a pharmaceutical can create faster changes. If you decide to go the pharmaceutical route, my recommendation would be to use Nystatin or Diflucan.
Nystatin: Nystatin is a concentrated extract of a soil-based organism that works by directly killing the yeast. It comes in pill or powder form. The difference between the two is that the powder does not contain any dye and does a better job of actively killing yeast living in the mouth, esophageal tract, and the gastrointestinal tract. Do not take Nystatin liquid; it contains sugar, which will only feed the yeast.
As the authors of The Yeast Syndrome state: "Nystatin is virtually nontoxic and nonsensitizing. All age groups, including debilitated infants, accept the drug without demonstrating major side effects, even on prolonged administration.
Nystatin is not initially well absorbed into the bloodstream, but with prolonged use it does get into the blood and thus helps those with autoimmune diseases and cancer. The problem is that most doctors prescribe Nystatin for less than six weeks. Results are better ffusage continues for three months or longer. When I was treating myself for MS, I took Nystatin for three years.
Diflucan (fluconazole): Diflucan is a synthetic antifungal drug that is effective against systemic candida overgrowth. It is ten times stronger than Nystatin but also more toxic to the liver. If you use Diflucan or any other systemic antifungal (Nizoral, Sporonex, or Larnisil) for more than a week, make sure to have your doctor test and monitor your liver enzymes.
If you have symptoms of severe depression and/or anxiety, a mental illness, autoimmune disease, or cancer, you can use Diflucan to jump-start the eradication of the fungus. I suggest taking Diflucan for a limited time only, according to the dosage in the 90-day treatment protocol, and then switching to an herbal antifungal like Candida abX or to Nystatin because they are safer. Also, Diflucan primarily targets the candida in the blood, whereas Nystatin permeates the areas of the GI tract, where yeast overgrowth usually originates. To cure candidiasis, it is essential to tackle both the blood and the gut.
Warning:
If you are wheelchair bound or bedridden, Nystatin and Diflucan may be too strong for your body to handle. Because your circulation is compromised, toxins will not move out of your body efficiently, so an herbal antifungal such as Candida abX is a safer choice. Before taking any antifungal remedy, make sure that your bowels are moving daily, and work the remedy up very slowly.
CHANGING YOUR DIET
Eating the right foods is your second line of attack against yeast and fungal overgrowth. You will need to eliminate all sugars, dairy products, and refined carbohydrates while you are taking an antifungal. In addition, for the first one to three months, you will need to eliminate all yeast products and wheat. Although these foods don't directly feed the yeast, they often create an allergic or sensitivity response, so it is beneficial to eliminate them in the beginning of your treatment program.
If you have a mild case of Candida albicans overgrowth, you can expect to feel better in thirty days and fantastic in ninety. People with autoimmune conditions may require from six months to two years of taking an antifungal and following the diet to get the full benefits of the program.
Remember, starving off yeast and fungus requires both taking an antifungal and following the candida-cure diet for a long enough period of time. Trying to do one without the other will not produce positive results. To find out more, you can check out Candida Control Diet.