It is commonly available as an over-the-counter substance in various dosage forms, such as a cream, and also (especially in the case of ear infection) as a combination medicine. It is also available as a troche or throat lozenge (prescription only). For ear infection, it is often applied in liquid form, as ear drops. Fungal infections can be slow to clear up, so the usual course for an antifungal agent is, in general, longer than the typical three to seven days of an antibiotic. Clotrimazole is also commonly found in conjunction with betamethasone, known as Lotriderm, to add steroid properties. Additionally, clotrimazole is used to treat the sickling of cells (related to sickle cell anemia) by blocking ion channels in the red blood cell membrane, keeping ions and water within the cell.^[1][2]