What is fluconazole?
Fluconazole is an antifungal antibiotic.
Fluconazole is used to treat infections caused by fungus, which can invade any part of the body
including the mouth, throat, esophagus, lungs, bladder, genital area, and the blood.
Fluconazole is also used to prevent fungal infection in people with weak immune systems caused
by cancer treatment, bone marrow transplant, or diseases such as AIDS.
Fluconazole may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking fluconazole?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to fluconazole, or similar drugs such as
clotrimazole (Lotrimin), econazole (Spectazole), ketoconazole (Nizoral), miconazole (Monistat),
sertaconazole (Ertaczo), sulconazole (Exelderm), terconazole (Terazol), tioconazole (Vagistat-1), or
voriconazole (Vfend).
Do not use fluconazole if you are also taking cisapride (Propulsid).
If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to
safely take fluconazole:
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether fluconazole is
harmful to an unborn baby. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to
become pregnant during treatment.
Fluconazole can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this
medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take fluconazole?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger
amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your
prescription label.
Your dose will depend on the infection you are treating. Vaginal infections are often treated
with only one pill. For other infections, your first dose may be a double dose. Carefully follow your
doctor's instructions. Tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve.
Take this medicine with a full glass of water.
Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just before you measure a dose. To be sure you get
the correct dose, measure the liquid with a marked measuring spoon or medicine cup, not with a regular
table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your
symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Fluconazole will not treat a viral
infection such as the common cold or flu.
Store the tablets at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
You may store liquid fluconazole in a refrigerator, but do not allow it to freeze. Throw
away any leftover liquid medicine that is more than 2 weeks old.
What happens if I miss a dose of fluconazole?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the
missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time.
Do not
take
extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about fluconazole?
Your pharmacist has information about fluconazole written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of fluconazole?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
-
nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine,
clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
-
fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
-
severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
-
easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness; or
-
seizure (convulsions).
Less serious side effects may include:
-
mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or upset stomach;
-
headache;
-
dizziness;
-
unusual or unpleasant taste in your mouth; or
-
skin rash or itching.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about fluconazole?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to fluconazole, or similar drugs such as
clotrimazole (Lotrimin), econazole (Spectazole), ketoconazole (Nizoral), miconazole (Monistat),
sertaconazole (Ertaczo), sulconazole (Exelderm), terconazole (Terazol), tioconazole (Vagistat-1), or
voriconazole (Vfend).
Do not use fluconazole if you are also taking cisapride (Propulsid) or terfenadine (Seldane).
Before taking fluconazole, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, kidney disease, a heart
rhythm disorder, or a history of "Long QT syndrome."
Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your
symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Fluconazole will not treat a viral
infection such as the common cold or flu.
What should I avoid while taking fluconazole?
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while
you are using fluconazole.
What other drugs will affect fluconazole?
Before taking fluconazole, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
-
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
-
cyclosporine (Gengraf, Sandimmune, Neoral);
-
an oral diabetes medicine such as glipizide (Glucotrol),
glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase, Glynase), tolbutamide (Orinase), tolazamide (Tolinase),
chlorpropamide (Diabinese), and others;
-
rifabutin (Mycobutin) or rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater,
Rifamate, Rimactane);
-
a sedative such as diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan),
alprazolam (Xanax), or midazolam (Versed);
-
seizure medication such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or valproic
acid (Depakene);
-
tacrolimus ((Prograf); or
-
theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theolair, Theochron, Elixophyllin,
Slo-Phyllin, others).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with
fluconazole. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use.
This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start
using a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of fluconazole?