Diflucan

What is Diflucan?

Diflucan (fluconazole) is an antifungal antibiotic.

Diflucan 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.

Diflucan 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.

Diflucan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Diflucan

Do not use Diflucan if you are allergic to fluconazole, or similar drugs such as clotrimazole (Lotrimin), econazole (Spectazole), ketoconazole (Nizoral), miconazole (Monistat, Oravig), sertaconazole (Ertaczo), sulconazole (Exelderm), terconazole (Terazol), tioconazole (Vagistat-1), or voriconazole (Vfend). You should not use Diflucan if you are also taking cisapride (Propulsid).

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Before taking Diflucan, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, kidney disease, a heart rhythm disorder, or a history of Long QT syndrome.

Take Diflucan for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Skipping doses may also increase your risk of further infection that is resistant to antifungal medication. Diflucan will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

Before taking Diflucan

Do not use Diflucan if you are allergic to fluconazole, or similar drugs such as clotrimazole (Lotrimin), econazole (Spectazole), ketoconazole (Nizoral), miconazole (Monistat, Oravig), sertaconazole (Ertaczo), sulconazole (Exelderm), terconazole (Terazol), tioconazole (Vagistat-1), or voriconazole (Vfend). You should not use Diflucan if you are also taking cisapride (Propulsid).

To make sure you can safely take Diflucan, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• liver disease;
• kidney disease;
• a heart rhythm disorder; or
• a personal or family history of Long QT syndrome.

FDA pregnancy category D. Do not take more than 1 dose of Diflucan if you are pregnant. Long-term use of Diflucan can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. A single dose of Diflucan taken to treat a vaginal yeast infection is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Fluconazole can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use Diflucan without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

See also: Diflucan pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)

How should I take Diflucan?

Take Diflucan exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. 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 Diflucan 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 Diflucan for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Skipping doses may also increase your risk of further infection that is resistant to antifungal medication.

Diflucan will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

Store Diflucan tablets at room temperature away from moisture and heat. You may store liquid Diflucan in a refrigerator, but do not allow it to freeze. Throw away any leftover liquid medicine that is more than 2 weeks old.

See also: Diflucan dosage (in more detail)

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Overdose symptoms may include confusion or unusual thoughts or behavior.

What should I avoid while taking Diflucan?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

Diflucan side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Diflucan: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, 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 Diflucan side effects may include:

• mild stomach pain, diarrhea, upset stomach;
• headache;
• dizziness; or
• unusual or unpleasant taste in your mouth.

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.

See also: Diflucan side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Diflucan?

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);
• alfentanil (Alfenta), fentanyl (Abstral, Actiq, Fentora, Duragesic, Ionsys, Lazanda, Onsolis);
• clopidogrel (Plavix);
• cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar);
• cyclosporine (Gengraf, Sandimmune, Neoral);
• methadone (Diskets, Dolophine, Methadose);
• pimozide (Orap);
• prednisone (Deltasone, Sterapred);
• saquinavir (Invirase) or zidovudine (Retrovir, Trizivir);
• sirolimus (Rapamune) or tacrolimus (Prograf);
• theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Theochron, Uniphyl, others);
• voriconazole (Vfend);
• an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Vanatrip, Limbitrol) or nortriptyline (Pamelor);
• cancer medicine such as vinorelbine (Navelbine), vincristine (Oncovin, Vincasar), or vinblastine (Velban);
• cholesterol lowering medicines such as atorvastatin (Lipitor, Caduet), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor, Altoprev, Advicor), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor), or simvastatin (Zocor, Simcor, Vytorin);
• heart or blood pressure medicine such as amlodipine (Norvasc, Caduet, Exforge, Lotrel, Tekamlo, Tribenzor, Twynsta, Amturnide), felodipine (Plendil), isradipine (Dynacirc), losartan (Cozaar, Hyzaar), or nifedipine (Nifedical, Procardia);
• NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Naprelan, Treximet), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Arthrotec, Cambia, Cataflam, Voltaren, Flector Patch, Pennsaid, Solareze), indomethacin (Indocin), meloxicam (Mobic), and others;
• oral diabetes medication 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), midazolam (Versed), or triazolam (Halcion); or
• seizure medication such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin) or valproic acid (Depakene).

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with Diflucan. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.