This article is not medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or use the medication guide.

Fluconazole Information

What is Fluconazole?

Fluconazole is an antifungal medication used to treat infections caused by fungi. This medication is commonly indicated for the treatment of vaginal yeast infection in women. In men, Fluconazol is used to treat balanitis (inflammation of the head of the penis).

Other Fluconazole uses include treating thrush in the mouth and throat and invasive candidiasis. The latter is a serious infection that affects the blood, brain, heart, eyes, and bones.

Fluconazole treatment may also be used to lower the risk of fungal infection in people who are more susceptible to it. These include people with low immunity and HIV. It’s also recommended for people who regularly get vaginal thrush and patients who are scheduled for a bone marrow transplant.

Fluconazole is in a classification of drugs called azole antifungals. It was first approved by the FDA in 1990, and it’s available in both prescription and over-the-counter statuses.

Fluconazole brand name

Fluconazole for yeast infection is a generic drug. But you can also get it in the following brand names:

• Diflucan (USA, Canada, and Australia)
• APO-Fluconazole (Canada)
• Canesten oral (UK)
• Fluc- Germany
• Flucanol- Israel
• Elazor- Italy

Forms and Strengths

You’ll get Fluconazole (Diflucan generic) in the following forms and strengths;

Fluconazole tablet usp

• 50mg
• 100mg
• 150mg
• 200mg

Capsules

• 50mg
• 100mg
• 150mg
• 200mg

Oral suspension

• 10mg/mL
• 40mg/mL

Injection solution

• 2mg/mL

Fluconazole cream

• 15g (0.5%)

Fluconazole nasal spray

• 50mcg

How to take Fluconazole

How you use Fluconazole medication depends on the infection that you’re treating. The form and strength of the dosage also matter. It’s critical to follow your doctor’s instructions on dosage and frequency of administration for efficacy.

If you’re using Fluconazole over the counter, read and understand the patient information leaflet in the package. Ask the pharmacist for clarification if something is not clear.

Fluconazole tablet and capsule doses are taken orally with or without food. The typical Fluconazole dosage for most infections is once daily unless instructed otherwise. Tablets and capsules should be swallowed whole without crushing in the mouth. You may split the Fluconazole 150 mg tablet and Fluconazole 200 mg for easy swallowing. But the capsules may not be split.

If you’re using the liquid form of this medicine, start by shaking the bottle well before measuring the recommend dose. Remember to use the measuring device included in the package (syringe or measuring cup or spoon). Do not use a teaspoon or tablespoon as these may give incorrect dosages.

Fluconazole for candida injection is administered intravenously (through the veins) at the hospital once daily.

Fluconazol crema should be applied on the affected region twice daily. Always clean your hands before using the cream. The affected part should be clean and dry too. Avoid getting the cream into your eyes.

Fluconazole Diflucan works best when there’s a constant amount of the drug in your system. As such, be sure to take it at around the same time every day without fail. Also, it’s critical to take the drugs for the recommended period even if the symptoms disappear after a few uses only. Failure to take the therapy to completion may lead to reinfection.

Fluconazole dosage for yeast infection

Vaginal candidiasis

• Uncomplicated: take one Fluconazole 150 tablet orally once
• Complicated (severe): take Fluconazole 150 mg orally every 3 days (72 hours) for a total of 3 dose
• Recurrent candidiasis- take one Fluconazole tablet usp 150 mg tablet orally once daily for 10-14 days. After this dosage, continue taking one Fluconazole 150 mg oral tablet once per week for 6 months.

Esophageal candidiasis

• Adults: take Fluconazole 200 mg tablet on the first day, followed by one Fluconazole 100 mg tablet once a day for 2-3 weeks. Depending on how your body responds, your doctor may recommend a dosage of up to 400mg/day.
• Pediatrics: give 6mg/kg as the initial dose followed by 3mg/kg per day for 2-3 weeks.

Oropharyngeal candidiasis

• Adults: take one Fluconazole 200 tablet orally on the first day, followed by one Fluconazole 100 mg tablet for 2 weeks.
• Pediatrics: give 6mg/kg orally on the first day, followed by a 3mg/kg/day regimen for 2 weeks.

Cryptococcal meningitis

• Adults: take two Fluconazole 200 mg tablets on the first day, followed by one 200 mg tablet orally daily for 10-12 weeks.
• Pediatrics: give 12mg/kg intravenously on Day 1 followed by 6mg/kg/day for 10-12 weeks.

Prophylaxis for Candidiasis before Bone Mallow Transplant (BMT)

• Give 400mg orally once daily. Patients at the risk of developing severe granulocytopenia should start prophylaxis Fluconazole therapy some days before the onset of neutropenia. Continue the therapy for 7 more days after the number of neutrophil cells increases by over 1000 cells per mm3.

Candida UTI/Peritonitis

• Adults: Take 50-200mg orally once daily

Systemic candida infections

• Pediatric: 6-12mg/kg once daily administered intravenously (max. dose should be 600 mg/day)
• Premature newborns (26-29 weeks of gestation): give 6-12 mg/kg intravenously, and a follow-up dosage of 3-6 mg/kg daily intravenously or orally.

Dosage Modification due to Renal Impairment

• Patients with Creatinine Clearance (CrCl) over 50 mL/min: give 100% dose
• Patients with CrCl below 50%: administer 50% dose
• For patients on regular dialysis therapies, give full dose after each dialysis. On non-dialysis days, adjust the dosage according to creatinine clearance.

Fluconazole for dogs

Besides its use in humans, Fluconazole (Diflucan generic) is also used in pets as off-label or extra-label. Fluconazole otc in dogs and cats is used to treat fungal infections caused by a yeast-like fungus called Candida albicans. Your veterinarian will indicate the amount of medication to administer depending on the dog’s weight and symptoms. Remember that you may not see any improvement for a couple of weeks after beginning the therapy. So, continue with the treatment for as long as directed by the health care expert.

Fluconazole for fish

Fish Fluconazole (commonly known as Fish Flucon) is an antifungal drug used to treat topical and systemic infections in fish. Similar to other fish medications, a Fluconazole pill is popped inside the tank where the fish absorb it through the skin.

How long does it take for Fluconazole to work?

Fluconazole 150 mg dosage starts working within day one, but it may take up to 3 days before seeing a significant improvement in your symptoms. Symptoms clear in around 7 days.

How long does Fluconazole stay in your system?

Fluconazole has a half-life of 20-50 hours and takes up to 5.5 times half-life for your system to eliminate it completely. That said, Fluconazole can remain in your body for anywhere between 110 and 275 hours.

Fluconazole not working

If your symptoms have not started improving by the third day, you may want to visit your doctor for a recheck. Important to note, some types of fungi may develop resistance after prolonged exposure to antifungal drugs. Also, Fluconazole does not treat infections caused by certain types of fungi, including Aspergillus (a kind of mold). That’s why a medical diagnosis is necessary for fungal infections.

Missed dose

Fluconazole oral medication is usually given once daily. If you’ve missed your daily dose, you may take it when you remember, provided it’s at least 12 hours before the next day’s dosage. Otherwise, skip the dose you forgot and take the next one on time. Do not take two doses of Fluconazole once.

Can you overdose on Fluconazole?

The maximum daily dose of Fluconazole is 600 mg. It’s unlikely for Fluconazole (Diflucan generic) to cause life-threatening effects in case of an overdose, but this may worsen the side effects. If you think that you’ve overdosed on this drug, contact your local poison’s control center for further advice (USA +1 800-222-1222).

Uses- What is Fluconazole used for?

Fluconazole is used to treat a wide range of fungal infections, including;

• Vaginal candidiasis
• Oropharyngeal candidiasis (oral thrush)
• Esophageal candidiasis
• Urinary tract infection
• Peritonitis
• Invasive candidiasis (a serious fungal infection that affects the brain, heart, eyes, and bones)
• Fluconazole may also be used prophylactically to lower the risk of fungal infections in more susceptible people.

Fluconazole warnings and precautions

Here are some special cautions to understand before using Fluconazole;

1. Fluconazole causes dizziness, which may affect your judgment and response time when operating heavy equipment and machinery.
2. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you’ve ever had an allergic response to Fluconazole or its ingredients and other antifungal medications.
3. If you’re scheduled for any type of surgery, let your doctor know that you’re on a Fluconazole therapy.
4. Tell your doctor if you’re pregnant or are trying to conceive before taking this drug.

5. Don’t take Fluconazole without consulting a doctor if you have (or ever had) any of the following medical conditions;

   • Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
   • A low level of sodium, potassium, magnesium, or calcium
   • An inherited case of lactose or sucrose intolerance
   • Irregular heartbeat
   • Cancer
   • Heart, liver, and kidney disease

6. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you’re taking any of the following medications listed below. These drugs should not be mixed with Fluconazole;

   • Quinidine (Quinidex)
   • Erythromycin
   • Pimozide
   • Terfenadine
   • Cisapride
   • Astemizole

Fluconazole and Allergies

A serious allergic response to Fluconazole medication is rare. What’s common is a mild skin rash or itching that shouldn’t worry you. However, you should seek emergency medical care if you experience difficulty breathing, hives, and swelling on the face, tongue, lips, and throat.

How to treat allergic reaction to Fluconazole

A skin rash and itching are common side effects of Fluconazole. These should resolve on their own in a couple of days. However, severe symptoms, including hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling on the face, lips, tongue, and throat, require emergency medical attention.

Fluconazole and Pregnancy

In a safety announcement on 8/03/2011, the FDA stated that using high doses (400-800 mg/day) of Fluconazole while pregnant increases the risk of congenital disabilities. This risk is higher, especially if the mother gets treated using this medication in the first trimester. However, they note that this Fluconazole pregnancy risk is not associated with a single, low dose of 150 mg when treating vaginal yeast infection.

Fluconazole and birth control

Fluconazole may lower the effectiveness of the pill. That said, it’s in your best interest to use another method of birth control throughout the therapy and some days after your last dose.

Fluconazole when breastfeeding

Fluconazole enters in the breastmilk and may be transferred to the infant. However, Fluconazole reviews and studies, such as this one, indicate that the amount that gets into the milk is much lower than that used to treat patients in the pediatric age group (1-12 mg/kg/day). Thus, the use of Fluconazole while breastfeeding is considered to be generally safe.

Use of Fluconazole in Pediatrics

Fluconazole is FDA-approved for use in children, including those in the pediatric age group and neonates. Fluconazole dose for children is determined depending on the weight of the kid. The typical dosage is 1-12 mg/kg of body weight per day.

Fluconazole interactions

Fluconazole interacts with over 500 types of medications and at least 4 diseases. Some of these drugs may cause severe interactions and should never be used alongside Fluconazole. For drugs with moderate to minor interactions, your doctor or pharmacist will advise you on how to space the dosages to avoid complications.

The list below does not exhaust all the medicines that interact with Fluconazole. Inquire from your doctor or pharmacist if you’re taking other drugs.

Drugs with severe interactions with Fluconazole

• Pimozide
• Warfarin
• Xanax
• Quinidine
• Procainamide
• Astemizole
• Lexapro
• Disopyramide
• Cisapride
• Ibutilide
• Norco
• Terfenadine
• Percocet
• Erythromycin base
• Erythromycin stearate
• Erythromycin ethylsuccinate
• Lomitapide
• Indapamide

Drugs with moderate interactions with Fluconazole

• Advair diskus
• Cipro
• Ciprofloxacin
• Zoflan
• Singulair
• Prozac
• Omeprazole
• Nexium
• Miralax
• Nitrofurantoin

Drugs with minor interaction with Fluconazole

• Metronidazole
• Flagyl
• Claritin

Diseases that interact with Fluconazole

• Renal dysfunction (moderate)
• Hepatotoxicity (severe)
• QT prolongation (a heart rhythm condition- moderate interactions)
• Hemodialysis (moderate)

Fluconazole alcohol interactions

Mixing Fluconazole and alcohol may not lead to severe side effects. However, since the two cause headaches, dizziness, diarrhea, and stomach upsets, combining them at high dosages may worsen these side effects. Avoid taking excess alcohol with prolonged high doses of Fluconazole as this increases the risk of liver damage.

How long after Fluconazole can I drink?

Fluconazole has a considerably long half-life of between 110 and 275 hours. If you’re planning to avoid alcohol until all the drug is removed from your system, you’d need to wait for around 11 days.

Fluconazole side effects

Common but mild Fluconazole 150mg side effects. Consult your doctor if any of these become severe;

• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Rash
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness

Rare but severe side effects of Fluconazole

• Seizure
• Shortness of breath
• Loss of taste
• Swelling on the face, lips, tongue, and throat
• Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
• Severe allergies

Long-term side effects of Fluconazole

• Thrombocytopenia (low platelet levels)
• Leukopenia (low white blood cell levels)
• Liver failure
• QT prolongation
• Hepatitis
• Low blood potassium
• Hair loss

How to store Fluconazole

Fluconazole pills, tablets, and capsules should remain in their original package away from direct heat, light, and moisture. Keep medicines away from children. You may store Fluconazole oral suspension at room temperature or in a refrigerator. Do not freeze.

Fluconazole cost

This drug is relatively inexpensive, and it gets even cheaper if you have a Fluconazole coupon. The best price for Fluconazole (two 150mg tablets) without a card is $14 at Costco. The highest price for the same dosage is around $55 at Rite Aid. With the best Fluconazole coupon, you could get this dose for about $7.

Fluconazole mechanism of action- How does Fluconazole work?

Fluconazole is in the classification of drugs called azole antifungals. When administered, Fluconazole binds with a cytochrome P-450 enzyme called 14- demethylase. This enzyme acts as a catalyst when synthesizing ergosterol from lanosterol. Ergosterol increases the permeability of the fungal cell membrane. With its inhibition, the cell is unable to maintain its structure and order. Fluconazole also works by inhibiting endogenous respiration besides preventing yeast from forming.