Fluconazole oral tablet side effects guide

This article describes possible side effects of fluconazole oral tablet. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for fluconazole.

Fluconazole oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Diflucan. Fluconazole also comes in an injectable form and a liquid suspension you swallow. But these forms aren’t described in this article. To learn more about these forms, talk with your doctor.

You can explore this overview article to learn more about fluconazole oral tablet, including the drug’s uses, dosage, ways to save on cost, and more.

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More common side effects of fluconazole

Fluconazole oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.

Commonly reported side effects of fluconazole oral tablet include:

• diarrhea
• nausea
• dizziness
• indigestion
• headache*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of fluconazole in detail” section below.

Mild side effects of fluconazole

Fluconazole may cause certain mild side effects. Most often, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.

Mild side effects of fluconazole oral tablet that occurred in studies include:

• diarrhea
• nausea
• dizziness
• abdominal pain
• indigestion
• changes in how food tastes
• vomiting
• skin rash
• headache*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of fluconazole in detail” section below.

Fluconazole oral tablet may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.

Serious side effects of fluconazole

Fluconazole may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from fluconazole oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with fluconazole oral tablet.

Serious side effects of fluconazole oral tablet that occurred in studies include:

• adrenal insufficiency (a condition in which your adrenal glands don’t produce enough hormones, such as cortisol)
• liver problems, including liver damage
• long QT syndrome*
• seizures
• serious skin reactions*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of fluconazole in detail” section below.

Allergic reaction

For some people, fluconazole oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction. But it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in the drug’s studies.

In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious. You can learn more about possible symptoms in this article.

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to fluconazole oral tablets, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Side effects of fluconazole in children

For children, doctors prescribe fluconazole oral tablet to treat certain fungal infections. The drug is prescribed for this purpose in children ages 6 months and older.

In studies, the following side effects were more common in children than in adults:

• vomiting
• abdominal pain
• diarrhea

If you’d like to know more about side effects in children taking fluconazole oral tablet, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

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Common questions about side effects of fluconazole

Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of fluconazole oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Does fluconazole cause different side effects in men vs. women?

No, not directly. Fluconazole oral tablets are typically expected to cause the same side effects in males and females.

But fluconazole can interact with some hormonal birth control pills. In turn, this can increase the risk of birth control side effects, including nausea and breast tenderness.

So it’s possible that females taking hormonal birth control during treatment with fluconazole may experience different side effects than males. But these are side effects from the birth control medication, not from fluconazole.

Note: Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the terms “male” and “female” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.

Can fluconazole be used in dogs? If so, what side effects can it cause?

Yes, some veterinarians may prescribe fluconazole oral tablets to treat fungal infections in pets, including dogs. But it’s not clear what side effects this drug can cause in dogs. If your veterinarian prescribes fluconazole for your pet, they’ll let you know what side effects to look out for.

It’s also important to note that you should never share medication with your pet. If your doctor prescribes fluconazole oral tablets for your fungal infection, you should not give any to your dog. This is because fluconazole dosages for humans are not the same as those for dogs. And if your dog is given too much fluconazole, they may have a higher risk of serious side effects or overdose.

For more information about fluconazole’s side effects in dogs, talk with your veterinarian.

Will fluconazole 150 mg cause more side effects than the drug’s other strengths?

Maybe. In general, higher strengths of a drug are more likely to cause side effects than lower strengths.

In studies, side effects were similar across doses of fluconazole. But people who took the 150-milligram (mg) single dose for vaginal yeast infection were more likely to have headache, nausea, and abdominal pain. This was compared with people who took multiple doses of fluconazole.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about your risk of side effects from fluconazole based on your dose.

Are side effects of fluconazole similar to those of antibiotics?

Yes, fluconazole causes side effects similar to those caused by antibiotics.

Some common side effects caused by fluconazole and antibiotics include:

• headache
• diarrhea
• nausea and vomiting
• abdominal pain
• upset stomach

Keep in mind that fluconazole is prescribed to treat fungal infections. It isn’t prescribed to treat bacterial infections, whereas antibiotics are.

If you’d like to know more about this, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

How long do side effects of fluconazole last?

It depends. Most side effects caused by fluconazole are temporary and shouldn’t last longer than a few hours or days.

In rare cases, the drug may cause long-term side effects. See the “Does fluconazole cause long-term side effects?” question below to learn more. You can also talk with your pharmacist or doctor if you have more questions about how long fluconazole’s side effects may last.

How do fluconazole’s side effects compare in adults vs. children?

In most cases, side effects caused by fluconazole in adults are expected to be the same as those reported in children.

To learn more about side effects reported more commonly in children than adults taking fluconazole, see the “Side effects of fluconazole in children” section above. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Does fluconazole cause long-term side effects?

Yes, in some cases, fluconazole oral tablet may cause long-term side effects. These can occur if you take the drug for a long time.

Examples of long-term side effects include:

• adrenal insufficiency (a condition in which your adrenal glands don’t produce enough hormones, such as cortisol), which may go away with treatment and if fluconazole is stopped
• liver problems, including liver damage, which may not go away even if treatment is stopped
• long QT syndrome*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of fluconazole in detail” section below.

Talk with your doctor to learn more about these side effects and how to manage them best. Ask your doctor for more information about how long these side effects of fluconazole may last.

Coupon for fluconazole

Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for fluconazole when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs. 

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

Side effects of fluconazole in detail

Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of fluconazole oral tablet.

Headache

In studies, headache was common in people taking fluconazole oral tablet. It was much more common in people who took fluconazole 150 milligrams (mg) once to treat vaginal yeast infection. It was less common in people using fluconazole to treat other fungal infections.

This side effect is usually mild.

With a headache, you may have discomfort in your neck or shoulders in addition to pain in your head.

Ways to manage

If you have headache symptoms, tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend:

• a home remedy, such as a cold compress or yoga
• an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol), if one is safe for you to take

Fluconazole is usually a short-term treatment, so your doctor is unlikely to recommend stopping treatment due to headache. That is, unless your symptoms are severe and interfere with your daily activities.

Long QT syndrome

In rare cases, fluconazole can cause long QT syndrome, a type of irregular heart rhythm. However, it’s important to note that this side effect wasn’t reported in studies of fluconazole. There have been reports of this side effect in people using fluconazole since it was approved for use. But it’s not known how often this has happened or whether fluconazole or another factor was the cause.

This side effect may be serious when it does occur.

Long QT syndrome usually doesn’t cause symptoms, but you may experience:

• dizziness, lightheadedness, or weakness
• tiring quickly during physical activity
• fatigue (lack of energy)
• shortness of breath

Certain factors can increase the risk of long QT syndrome when taking fluconazole oral tablet. These include taking other medications that can cause long QT syndrome. One example is the antibiotic erythromycin. It should not be used with fluconazole because of this risk.

Other risk factors for having long QT syndrome from taking fluconazole include:

• having a low blood level of potassium or magnesium
• having a slow heart rate
• having heart failure
• being age 65 years or older

Ways to manage

If you have symptoms of long QT syndrome, tell your doctor right away. They’ll likely recommend setting an appointment so they can evaluate your symptoms. Your doctor will probably order tests to check your heart rhythm.

If your doctor determines you have long QT syndrome, they’ll likely have you stop taking fluconazole. They can also suggest treatment to manage your heart rhythm.

Serious skin reactions

While rare, fluconazole can cause serious skin reactions. It’s important to point out that these reactions weren’t seen during fluconazole’s studies. They’ve been reported since fluconazole was approved for use. But it isn’t clear how often these reactions have happened and whether fluconazole or another factor was the cause.

Skin reactions may be serious or even life threatening.

Serious skin reactions caused by fluconazole include:

• Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS syndrome). DRESS syndrome causes a blistering, “erupting” skin rash. It can also cause other symptoms, including swollen lymph nodes and fever.
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS). Among other symptoms, SJS produces a rash that causes your skin to loosen and peel.
• Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). Among other symptoms, TEN causes severe skin blistering and peeling.

Symptoms of a serious skin reaction may happen after your first dose of fluconazole. But they could also appear several weeks after you take your last dose. 

Ways to manage

If you have symptoms of serious skin reactions described above, stop taking fluconazole and immediately seek medical help. Call 911 or your local emergency number. These reactions are life threatening and require urgent treatment.

Warnings for fluconazole

Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking fluconazole oral tablet.

Warnings

It may not be safe for you to take fluconazole oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether fluconazole oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.

Before taking fluconazole oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:

• having a heart rhythm problem
• having a kidney condition, such as chronic kidney disease
• having a liver condition, such as alcohol-related liver disease
• having a low blood potassium level
• taking any other medication, as fluconazole has many drug interactions
• past allergic reaction to fluconazole

Fluconazole and pregnancy

There are risks and benefits to taking fluconazole oral tablet during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

Fluconazole and breastfeeding

There are risks and benefits to taking fluconazole oral tablet while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before using this medication.

Fluconazole and alcohol

Fluconazole oral tablet is not known to interact with alcohol.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with fluconazole oral tablet.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes common and serious side effects of fluconazole oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• How do side effects of fluconazole compare with those of other antifungal drugs that could treat my infection?
• If I have side effects from fluconazole, can you prescribe a lower dose for me to try?
• Does my health history raise my risk for side effects from taking fluconazole?
• Do any of my medications interact with fluconazole and raise my risk for side effects?

Related articles

• Foods to avoid while taking fluconazole
• How long do fluconazole side effects last?
• How long does it take for fluconazole to work?
• Fluconazole tablet dosage
• How to take fluconazole

Disclaimer: Optum Perks 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.