Although oral thrush can be a frustrating and irritating condition to live with, the good news is that it’s rarely serious or a cause for concern. However, it does need treating as soon as you notice the symptoms of a fungal infection to stop it from getting any worse.

Some of the signs of oral thrush in adults can include:

• Oral irritation inside your mouth, with the skin looking more red than usual
• White patches on the inside of your mouth
• Areas that bleed when you wipe away the white patches
• Cracks in the corners of your mouth
• Reduced sense of taste
• Unpleasant taste in the mouth
• Pain or soreness inside your mouth
• Difficulty eating and drinking

Nystatin works in a similar way to other antifungal treatments, and ultimately stops the spread and growth of fungi in order to get rid of the infection.

Nystatin binds to an essential part of the cell membrane of the fungi and helps to permeate it, causing holes to appear. This ultimately damages the cell membrane, which is vital for the fungi to survive. In time, other essential parts of the cell begin to leak out through the holes in the membrane, and the fungi starts to die.

Nystatin is effective for oral thrush due to the fact that it gets straight to the source of the problem, and can be held in the mouth for as long as possible. Generally, most people that use nystatin oral suspension find that their symptoms improve within 2 days.

Each bottle of oral suspension contains 30mls of solution, which should last 7 days, in which time, the infection should have cleared up. You should use all of your nystatin, even if your symptoms seem to have disappeared before you’re finished the course. This is to make sure that all of the fungi is killed off, and should prevent it from coming back.

Nystatin isn’t the only oral thrush treatment available, though most of the treatments recommended are topical and need to be placed in your mouth for it to work.

Alternative prescription medicines for oral thrush include Daktarin oral gel – an orange flavoured gel that’s placed in the mouth and held there for as long as possible (much like nystatin).

Nystatin oral suspension comes as a liquid suspension. You should take the medicine four times per day, after meals and before bedtime.

• Shake the bottle vigorously
• Remove the lid and measure out your correct dosage using a syringe or medicine spoon
• Put the medicine in your mouth
• Wash the medicine around your mouth like you would mouthwash for at least 30 seconds before you swallow it

It's important that you refrain from eating or drinking 30 minutes after taking nystatin.

Nystatin oral suspension normally begins to work within 2 days. It's important you finish your course of medicine even if the infection has cleared up, to prevent it from coming back.

Most people can take nystatin, however not everybody can.

Tell your doctor or healthcare professionals before taking nystatin if you:

• have ever had an allergic reaction to any medicine, especially the active substance in this medicine.
• cannot digest certain sugars
• have tuberculosis of the skin

Take nystatin as soon as you remember you've missed a dose. If your next dose is within 6 hours, wait. Do not double dose to make up for a missed dose.

Unfortunately, Nystatin oral suspension isn’t available over the counter, as it’s a prescription only medicine (POM). However, you don’t necessarily need to visit your regular GP for a prescription if you don’t want to, or if you don’t have the time.

You can buy nystatin from reputable online prescribers such as PharmacyOnline.co.uk after filling out a consultation form (subject to doctor approval).

However, you may be able to buy alternative oral thrush treatments from a pharmacy.