My Vision on Vusion: The Ultimate Yeast Infection Ointment?

Posted on December 8, 2007 in Health & Safety, Products & Other Cool Things by little mochi

I remember how we thought the redness in his diaper area was just a rash.  We tried every OTC diaper rash cream there was:  Desitin, Balmex, Aveeno Baby…but none seemed to work.  The rash just would go away.  So we switched diapers from Huggies to Seventh Generation.  Perhaps the chlorine and other chemicals in Huggies was giving him the rash.  Seventh Generation is supposed to be chlorine free.  And it’s supposed to help.  But the rash was still there. Two weeks later, we finally decided to take him to his pediatrician.  The doc gave us Nystatin, a mild cream to help fight yeast infection.  I guess it was no rash after all. 

At first, it was just red in his folds. It was just bright red, almost like a burn. But then it started to spread to his butt crack area.  I started to worry when it became red underneath his testicle area.  That’s when I knew it wasn’t a rash. 

It has been a month since we started using Nystatin, a mild cream to help fight yeast infection in the baby’s diaper area.  It controlled the infection, but it just wouldn’t go away.  I would think that after one month of smearing that white cream on my baby’s bottom after every diaper change, the infection would go away.  And this is with blow drying his diaper area so it can “air dry” before applying the Nystatin!

It was Monday, November 26.  And we were on our last tube of Nystatin (we got four tubes).  So we decided to give the pediatrician another visit.  Perhaps he could give us something stronger.  Instead, he told us that it could be just chaffed skin and to try applying Vaseline after Mason has been “air dried”.  I was puzzled.  Didn’t he clearly tell us the redness was a yeast infection?  Now he’s telling us that it could be chaffed skin.  I tried it anyway. 

By Thanksgiving Day, the redness worsened!  Of course, I stopped using the Vaseline, reverted back to what was left of the Nystatin, and made an appointment to see the pediatrian on Friday, November 30.

The doc gave us another type of yeast infection ointment called Vusion.  Apparently, it’s a new drug that was just approved by the FDA on February 16, 2006 .  And it’s supposed to work great.  It’s a combination of miconazole nitrate (the active ingredient that treats the infection), zinc oxide (provides a skin barrier to help prevent and heal skin irritations), and white petrolatum (breaks down dead skin and softens the skin).

But let me tell you…it is very difficult to get a hold of this cream! At least when I tried to get it!  I spent my entire Saturday trying to find a pharmacy that had it in stock.  My first attempt was at Walgreens.  Actually, they did have it in stock.  The ointment costs $237, but my out of pocket expense for this ointment was $100! 

So I tried CVS.  After waiting in line for 30 minutes, the pharmacist told me that they didn’t have it in stock.  So I ran to Walmart.  The didn’t have it in stock either.  And I waited 45 minutes there.  Frustrated, I went home to call Rite Aid, Target and other pharmacies.  Finally, I called a friend who works at a pharmacy. She said she’ll special order it for me and it will be ready the next day.  The day is already over so that was the best option.

I guess the $100 was standard because I ended up paying $95 out of my pocket for this ointment at my friend’s pharmacy.  That is one expensive yeast infection zapper!  Perhaps I should’ve opted for a cheaper alternative such as Monistat!  =)

If you do decide to use Vusion, however, be sure you use as directed since it is an antifungal.  Typical treatment is 7 days.  Using it longer may mean the fungus can grow an immunity to the ointment.  Also, the fungus may not be completely killed if you stop using it too soon.  I’m not a pharmacist, but that is what the pharmacist told me. 

It has only been 3 days (4 more days to go) since I’ve started using it and so far, I have had no regrets paying the $100.  Vusion does work - Little Mochi’s redness is red no more!



Comments

16 comments to “My Vision on Vusion: The Ultimate Yeast Infection Ointment?”

  1. Sarah Summer on January 20th, 2008 7:45 pm

    Using various natural treatments often takes longer than seven days to treat a yeast infection. Vusion seems like an interesting product.

  2. Dawn on August 11th, 2008 9:51 pm

    Just want you to know that I appreciated reading your experience. I have a 5 1/2 week old and he has had yeast for 3 weeks, more than half his life. We had a similar experience with the prescribed nystatin and I too use the blow dryer.:) I hardly put a diaper on him in the last 4 days and just today I was wet on 5 times. The infection seems to be controlled but will not go away. Anyway, I am debating whether or not to use oil of oregano or tea tree oil. It is difficult to know because there is so much information on the internet. I am not happy with my pediatrician office because a not so knowledgeable nurse called me back instead of my doctor. She could not answer my questions sufficiently. Thanks again.

  3. little mochi on August 12th, 2008 11:06 am

    Dawn,

    The nystatin never worked. Vusion ended up working really well. If you have insurance, it shouldn’t be too expensive. It was expensive for me only because of the plan I was on…I don’t think I had met my deductible yet.

    And the blow dryer thing…LOL…everytime I use the blow dryer, he’ll pee after I’m done. then I’d have to wash him again. During that time, I remember washing his butt in luke warm water all the time – like 10 times a day – just to keep his butt clean. I even looked into cloth diapering. But decided not to. I switched over to Seventh GEneration diapers and it seemed to helped too. Try that. Amazon sells it for a pretty good price but you have to buy them in packs of 4. Here’s a shortcut link: http://www.wireurl.com/i2Ad877sy

    I too was unhappy with my pediatrician for awhile. But it’s really the front desk lady that I didn’t like. But at least my pediatrician calls me back, not the nurse. Perhaps you need to try a different pediatrician? Make sure you’re comfortable with him or her because he’ll be your pediatrician for a long time! Good luck!

  4. male yeast on September 8th, 2008 2:44 am

    i’m very appreciated reading your post, may be i will come again to get the new information here thank you

  5. Dawn on September 8th, 2008 10:10 am

    Just an update on what finally worked for my son. I used Monistat 7 for a week and it worked! Finally! Monistat’s active ingredient is Miconazole Nitrate (2%). The Vusion has a much lower concentration. It is my understanding that Vusion has to be prescribed by the doctor. I was tired of the unresponsiveness of my pediatrician’s office (I live in a very small town and do not have very many options). As I mentioned in my earlier post, all I could talk to on the phone was a nurse. The doctors would not call me back. The office wanted me to go back into the office, but I already had it diagnosed by the doctor that it was yeast. The nurse previously told me I could try over the counter medicine like Monistat. I was a little concerned about trying the Monistat because the concentration of Miconazlole Nitrate was greater than the Vusion. I tired a little of the Monistat and waited to see if we had a negative reaction. None it worked great. The yeast has not returned and I am enjoying my baby. Good luck to anyone who encounters the same problems!!!

  6. little mochi on September 8th, 2008 6:35 pm

    Dawn,

    Thanks for the update! I’ve heard of some moms using Monistat without problems. I wonder if the usage of it is the same as Vusion? If you use it for too long, will your baby build an immunity to it? I wish I was told to use Monistat. The trouble I went through for Vusion…and the cost too! The most important thing, however, was that the yeast infection went away and Little Mochi was comfortable again. I’m sure you know what I mean… =) It’s now teething time for him…

  7. Carl on April 24th, 2009 3:56 pm

    A good to read experience. I am dealing with some sort of yeast infection around my mouth, eyes, inside my nostrils, inside one ear canal and behind the other ear. Using dish soap to clean and dry out the affected areas, allowing to air dry then cover with Vaseline has brought me instant relief but not a cure. I can’t understand why Vusion is so expensive since the three ingredients can all be bought generically over the counter real cheap, which I will try next. I will give my current treatment 3 more days to complete the week of tretment.

  8. Bailey on July 16th, 2009 8:36 am

    One night after looking at 13 different pharmacies i went to kroger and the pharmacist told me to use lotrimin, just a plain old tube of lotrimin….Then another pharmacist told me to use lotrimin or antifungal and a tube of desitin…..so now instead of buying vusion which is so darn expensive, i go half and half lotrimin and desitin…works GREAT

  9. Kelly on July 23rd, 2009 11:48 am

    Thank you , thank you!! I am in the same boat and really can’t afford the Vusion. Good to know there is another option like monistat or Lotrimin!! Thanks all!!

  10. Aimee Vincent on October 26th, 2009 11:51 am

    Help! I have tried Nystatin and am now on Lotramin for my 15 month olds yeast infection. I cannot afford the Vusion. I am hesitant to try the Monistat 7. How did you all cleanse the area before the re-application of these creams? Perhaps I am doing something wrong. I head vinegar and water, but that sounds like it may sting. I am now thinking of having her prescribed the Oral Diflucan but I hear it can upset their tummies. Any advice is most appreciated.

  11. Greenie on November 19th, 2009 1:27 pm

    I have been searching for a place to get Vusion at a reasonable price or maybe even a sample. Cannot find any representatives around here. I will say I used a sample from my Doctor for the yeast infection on myself. It was wonderful but I can’t afford it on SS along with other meds. It is $60.00 here for 50g. Maybe someone else has a suggestion? Think I will try the desitin and lotrimin.

  12. little mochi on December 2nd, 2009 5:11 pm

    I’m not sure if Lotrimin is the right solution for a yeast infection. I thought people use lotrimin to treat fungus infection. You might want to try Monastat instead. Best to ask your doctor.

  13. little mochi on December 2nd, 2009 5:15 pm

    We tried Nystatin first, and that didn’t work either! I remember having to keep the diaper area dry before re applying. I had to blow dry my son’s bottom before I could re apply. I think as long as you dry the diaper area completely first, you should see it getting better.

  14. Leslie on January 26th, 2010 10:20 am

    Here’s how you get the cost down from $100 to $25: Call Stiefel Prescription Savings Card Program 1-866-829-1452 and ask for the information that will reduce the cost of your prescription. They will give you a bunch of info that you will give to your pharmacy. You will need an I.D.#, Group #, bin #, and a PCN. Also – you are only able to fill the prescription every 30 days at this reduced rate.

    If the rash has open sores that are bleeding, get a prescription strength antibiotic too.

    We would first clean really well with just water if the rash was bad, then dry the whole area with a hairdryer. Dab on the antibiotic first, just a very small amount right around just the open sores. Pat on a powder, like Burt’s Bees talc free powder or just plain corn starch. This will fill in the sores and help to dry them out. Then carefully spread on the Vusion, trying not to disturb the powder too much, we’d put it on thick when the rash was at it’s worst and slowly ease off once it started getting better. Because you can only fill the prescription once every 30 days at the reduced rate, we didn’t want to use too much.

    If the rash is just red, you can just use the Vusion. But if there are open sores, you need the antibiotic and the powder to help the sores heal.

    If the foods were too acidy, the contact with the stool just caused a reaction in their skin. It’s like a combination of their system not digesting the acids, and sensitive skin that makes it so bad. We don’t give them oranges, juice of any kind, tomato sauce, ketchup, etc… until they are potty trained.

    I think I was also told, by my midwife, that a Probiotic would help to make their digestive tract healthier and thus the stool less acidy, but I never tried that.

  15. little mochi on January 28th, 2010 5:16 pm

    Thanks Leslie for the in depth information. Just make sure you call the pharmacy to see if they take that prescription program. Your pediatrician may have a few cards on hand as well. My pediatrician gave me a similar card too. But for some reason or another, many pharmacies didn’t take them. Walmart takes them, but for some reason, wasn’t able to give me the Vusion until 3 or 4 days later. I couldn’t wait 3 days so had no choice but to pay for it!

  16. David on January 28th, 2010 11:48 pm

    Any OTC with miconazole 2% will work (for vaginal yeast, jock itch, athlete’s foot, etc.). Also, medications with terbinafine, butenafine and clotrimazole, but NOT tolnaftate.

    However, most topical antifungals do not have a moisture barrier, so you still need to apply diaper ointment over this to prevent new irritation. This can be a little hard, as the thick ointment will rub away the thin miconazole lotion.

    Vusion is miconazole in a moisture barrier. But there are much cheaper alternatives: Triple Paste AF, Sween Baza, Convatec Aloe Vesta

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