What is fluconazole used for?

Fluconazole is an antifungal drug that doctors use to treat or prevent various fungal and yeast infections, such as:

• vaginal yeast infections
• oral yeast infections
• fungal skin infections
• fungal meningitis

Fluconazole, which is only available with a prescription from a doctor or licensed healthcare professional, comes in several different forms, including:

• oral tablet (Diflucan)
• oral suspension
• injection

Your dosage of fluconazole will depend on the condition it’s being used to treat. Knowing more about fluconazole can help you determine whether it’s right for you. You can talk with your doctor for more advice and a potential prescription.

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What types of conditions is fluconazole prescribed for?

Doctors prescribe fluconazole to treat or prevent candidiasis, a type of infection caused by the fungus Candida. Some examples of candidiasis include vaginal yeast infections and oral yeast infections, also known as thrush.

But candidiasis can also cause infections in other parts of your body, such as your throat, lungs, esophagus, skin, and blood. You can use fluconazole for these infections and a type of meningitis caused by another fungus called cryptococcus.

Sometimes fluconazole is used to prevent fungal infections and also as a preventive medication in people who:

• have a weakened immune system
• have recently had a bone marrow transplant
• have HIV
• are at a high risk for getting meningitis
• have had multiple vaginal yeast infections

What happens when you take fluconazole?

Fluconazole is an antifungal drug. It works by killing the candida or cryptococcus fungi so they can no longer reproduce. This helps you heal from the infection the fungus is causing.

When you take fluconazole to prevent a fungal infection, it kills any fungus as it begins to appear.

Fluconazole starts working as soon as you start taking it, but it may take a few days before you notice your symptoms going away. For most fungal infections, your symptoms are usually better after about 7 days of taking fluconazole. For more serious fungal infections, it may take 1 to 2 weeks for the drug to reach its full effect.

Fluconazole may interact with other medications. Certain antidepressants, pain medications, heart rhythm drugs, and cholesterol and blood pressure drugs could have dangerous interactions with fluconazole. Make sure you talk with your doctor about any medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking.

How much fluconazole do you need to take?

There are several different forms and strengths of fluconazole. The most commonly prescribed forms are an oral tablet, and a powder that you mix with liquid to form a suspension that you drink.

Your doctor will prescribe your dosage of fluconazole based on the condition that it’s being used to treat. For certain conditions, you may take fluconazole for at least 2 weeks after your symptoms stop.

Below are the dosages for the conditions fluconazole is commonly used to treat:

• Vaginal yeast infection: a one-time dose of 150 milligrams (mg)
• Esophagus infection: 200 mg on day 1, and then 100 mg once per day for at least 3 weeks
• Mouth and throat infection (oral thrush): 200 mg on day 1, and then 100 mg once per day for at least 2 weeks
• Blood infection, lung infection, or other serious fungal infection: 400 mg or less, once per day
• Meningitis: 400 mg on day 1, followed by 200 to 400 mg once per day
• Fungal skin infections (athlete’s foot, ringworm, jock itch, nail infection): dosage depends on the location of the infection
• Preventing fungal infections: 400 mg once per day

In children, the dosage of fluconazole may be slightly different. Note that children’s dosages are measured in mg per kilogram (mg/kg). For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb).

• mouth and throat infection (oral thrush): 6 mg/kg on day 1, then 3 mg/kg once per day
• blood infection, lung infection, or other serious fungal infection: 6 to 12 mg/kg once per day
• meningitis: 12 mg/kg on day 1, then 6 to 12 mg/kg once per day

Does fluconazole have side effects?

Like most drugs, fluconazole may cause certain side effects. Common side effects reported with fluconazole include:

• nausea
• indigestion
• headache
• dizziness
• diarrhea

In rare cases, fluconazole may cause more serious side effects like liver damage and adrenal gland problems. Make sure you contact your doctor right away if you experience any serious side effects, or side effects that don’t go away.

Fluconazole may be prescribed for children ages 6 months and older to treat fungal infections. In children, side effects such as vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea were more common than in adults.

Summary

Fluconazole is used to treat and prevent a variety of fungal infections. Doctors may prescribe fluconazole to treat or prevent fungal infections of the genitals, throat, lungs, esophagus, skin, and blood, as well as fungal meningitis. It works by killing the fungi so they can no longer reproduce.

Your dosage of fluconazole will depend on what condition it’s being used to treat. It usually takes about a week to notice relief in your symptoms. Fluconazole may cause certain side effects, including nausea and headache.

Talk with your doctor to learn more about the uses and possible side effects of fluconazole.