Drug information provided by: IBM Micromedex Show
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur: Rare
Incidence not known
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur: Symptoms of overdose
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them: Less common
Incidence not known
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is
beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the
unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Portions of this document last updated: Jan. 01, 2023 Copyright © 2023 IBM Watson Health. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes. .
Fluconazole is a prescription drug. It comes as a tablet or suspension you take by mouth. Fluconazole oral tablet is available as both a generic drug and as the brand-name drug Diflucan. Generic drugs usually cost less than the brand-name version. In some cases, they may not be available in all strengths or forms as the brand-name drug. Why it’s usedFluconazole is used to prevent and treat candidiasis. This condition is caused by infection with one of the many types of the fungus Candida. Examples of candidiasis include vaginal yeast infection, as well as oral yeast infection (thrush). Candidiasis can also cause infections on other parts of your body, including your throat, esophagus, lungs, and blood. People who have had bone marrow transplants may be treated with fluconazole to prevent candidiasis. This is because their immune systems are weakened, which makes them more likely to become infected with a severe form of candidiasis. Fluconazole is also used to treat meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal cord) that’s caused by the fungus Cryptococcus. How it worksFluconazole belongs to a class of drugs called triazole antifungals. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions. Fluconazole works by blocking the ability of the fungi Candida and Cryptococcus to reproduce. For people with infections from these fungi, this drug helps to get rid of the infection. For people at higher risk of candidiasis, it helps to prevent infection. Fluconazole isn’t known to cause drowsiness, but it can cause other side effects. More common side effectsThe more common side effects of fluconazole oral tablet depend on how much of the drug you need to take. These side effects can include:
If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Serious side effectsCall your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:
Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you. Fluconazole oral tablet can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well. To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking. To find out how this drug might interact with something else you’re taking, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Examples of drugs that can cause interactions with fluconazole are listed below. Drugs that should not be used with fluconazoleThere are certain drugs that you should not use with fluconazole. When used with fluconazole, these drugs can cause dangerous effects in your body. Examples of these drugs include:
Drugs that increase the risk of side effectsTaking fluconazole with certain drugs raises your risk of side effects from those drugs. Examples of these drugs include:
Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare professional about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking. Fluconazole oral tablet comes with several warnings Allergy warningThis drug can cause a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms can include:
If you have an allergic reaction, call your doctor or local poison control center right away. If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Don’t take this drug again if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to it. Taking it again could be fatal (cause death). Warnings for people with certain health conditionsFor people with kidney disease: If you have kidney disease or a history of kidney disease, your kidneys may not be able to remove this drug from your body like they should. This may increase the levels of fluconazole in your body and cause more side effects. This drug may also make existing kidney disease worse. People with liver problems: Fluconazole can cause liver problems. If you already have liver problems, talk with your healthcare professional before taking this drug. People with high blood sugar levels: The oral suspension form of this drug contains sucrose, a kind of sugar. You shouldn’t use this form of the drug if you have a condition that increases your blood sugar level. Talk with your doctor before using this drug if you have high blood sugar levels or a condition, such as diabetes, which can cause high blood sugar levels. People with abnormal heart rhythms: Using fluconazole can affect your heart rhythm. If you already have an abnormal heart rhythm, taking fluconazole may lead to dangerous heart rhythm problems. People with certain conditions that lower immunity: If you have certain conditions that lower your immunity, such as cancer, human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV), or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) you’re more likely to get a rash from fluconazole. Your doctor will monitor you for a rash and peeling skin. Warnings for other groupsPregnant women: Research in humans has shown adverse effects to the fetus when the mother takes this drug in doses of 150 mg or higher. In lower doses, research in animals has shown adverse effects. There haven’t been enough studies done to be certain how lower doses of the drug might affect the human fetus. This drug should only be used during pregnancy in serious cases where it’s needed to treat a dangerous infection in the mother. And it should only be used if the potential risk to the fetus is acceptable given the drug’s potential benefit. Talk with your doctor if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Ask your doctor to tell you about the specific harm that may be done to the fetus. If you become pregnant while taking this drug, call your doctor right away. Women who are breastfeeding: Fluconazole passes into breast milk and may cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. Talk with your doctor if you breastfeed your child. You may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this drug. For seniors: The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects. For children: This medication shouldn’t be used in people younger than 6 months. This dosage information is for fluconazole oral tablet. All possible dosages and drug forms may not be included here. Your dosage, drug form, and how often you take the drug will depend on:
Forms and strengthsGeneric: Fluconazole
Brand: Diflucan
Dosage for vaginal candidiasisAdult dosage (ages 18–64 years)
Child dosage (ages 0–17 years) Use of this drug hasn’t been approved in children younger than 18 years. Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older) The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose or a different dosing schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body. Dosage for nonvaginal candidiasisAdult dosage (ages 18–64 years)
Child dosage (ages 6 months through 17 years)
Child dosage (ages 0–5 months) Use of this drug isn’t recommended in infants younger than 6 months. Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older) The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose or a different dosing schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body. Dosage for candidiasis preventionAdult dosage (ages 18–64 years)
Child dosage (ages 0–17 years) Use of this drug for the prevention of candidiasis in people younger than 18 years hasn’t been approved. Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older) The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose or a different dosing schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body. Dosage for cryptococcal meningitisAdult dosage (ages 18–64 years)
Child dosage (ages 6 months through 17 years) Dosage for children is based on weight.
Child dosage (ages 0–5 months) Use of this drug isn’t recommended in infants younger than 6 months. Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older) The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose or a different dosing schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body. Special dosage considerationsFor people with kidney disease: If you have kidney disease and are supposed to take more than a single dose of fluconazole, your dose may be lowered. Your doctor may give you a first dose of 50–400 mg, with additional doses that range between that amount and half of that amount, based on your kidney function. Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always to speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you. Fluconazole oral tablet is used for both short-term and long-term treatment. It comes with risks if you don’t take it as prescribed. If you stop taking the drug suddenly or don’t take it at all: Your infection may not get better or may get worse. If you miss doses or don’t take the drug on schedule: Your medication may not work as well or may stop working completely. For this drug to work well, a certain amount needs to be in your body at all times. If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body. Symptoms of an overdose of this drug can include:
If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor or local poison control center. If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away. What to do if you miss a dose: Take your dose as soon as you remember. But if you remember just a few hours before your next scheduled dose, take only one dose. Never try to catch up by taking two doses at once. This could result in dangerous side effects. How to tell if the drug is working: You should have decreased symptoms of infection. Keep these considerations in mind if your doctor prescribes fluconazole oral tablet for you. General
Storage
RefillsA prescription for this medication is refillable. You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled. Your doctor will write the number of refills authorized on your prescription. TravelWhen traveling with your medication:
Clinical monitoringYour doctor should monitor your kidney and liver function while you take this drug. Your doctor should have blood tests done to check how well your liver and kidneys are working. If these organs aren’t working well, your doctor may decide to lower your dosage or have you stop taking this drug. There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk with your doctor about other drug options that may work for you. Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses. How long does it take to feel the effects of fluconazole?It may be 1 to 2 weeks before it reaches its full effect. What if it does not work? Talk to your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 7 days of taking fluconazole for vaginal thrush, balanitis or oral thrush.
Can fluconazole make you feel weird?Common side effects of fluconazole
As can be expected, a single large dose is more likely to cause side effects. Headache is the most common side effect in people receiving a single large dose (13% incidence), while nausea is the most common side effect in people taking multiple smaller doses (3.7% incidence).
What happens if you take fluconazole without yeast infection?If you don't really have a yeast infection, antifungals won't help you get better. They can actually prolong the real problem, because while you'll think you're treating the issue, the real cause will continue to develop.
|