Fluconazole is an antifungal drug that doctors use to treat or prevent various types of fungal and yeast infections, such as:
- vaginal yeast infections
- oral yeast infections (oral thrush)
- 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 (a powder that you mix with liquid to form a suspension that you drink)
- injection (only given by healthcare professionals)
Your dosage of fluconazole will depend on the condition it’s being used to treat. Regardless of your dosage, it is important to take fluconazole at the same time every day. For fluconazole to work well, a certain amount needs to be in your body at all times.
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How much fluconazole do you need to take?
Your doctor will prescribe your dosage of fluconazole based on the condition that it’s being used to treat. For some conditions, you may take only a single dose of fluconazole, for others, you may take it for a few weeks or longer.
Below are the dosages for the conditions fluconazole is commonly used to treat. Note that children’s dosages are measured in mg per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg). For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds:
| Condition | Dosage for adults | Dosage for children |
|---|---|---|
| Vaginal yeast infection | a one-time dose of 150 milligrams (mg) | check with your child’s doctor for the exact dosage |
| Esophagus infection | 400 mg on day 1, and then 200 to 400 mg once per day for up to 3 weeks | 6 mg/kg on day 1, then 3 mg/kg once daily for at least 3 weeks |
| Mouth and throat infection (oral thrush) | 200 mg on day 1, and then 100 to 200 mg once per day for at least 2 weeks | 6 mg/kg on day 1, then 3 mg/kg once per day for at least 2 weeks |
| Blood infection, lung infection, or other serious fungal infection | 400 mg or less, once per day | 25 mg/kg on day 1, then 9 to 12 mg/kg once per day |
| Meningitis | 400 mg on day 1, followed by 200 to 400 mg once per day | 12 mg/kg on day 1, then 6 to 12 mg/kg once per day |
| Fungal skin infections (athlete’s foot, ringworm, jock itch, nail infection) | dosage depends on the location of the infection | dosage depends on the location of the infection |
| Preventing fungal infections | 400 mg once per day | check with your child’s doctor for the exact dosage |
How to take fluconazole
It’s important to take fluconazole as directed by your doctor or healthcare professional. They will prescribe the right amount of the drug to treat your condition.
Fluconazole oral tablet may be crushed, chewed, or split. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re having difficulty taking your medication. They can offer recommendations about taking it. If it’s hard for you to swallow tablets, you might view this article. It provides suggestions on how to swallow medications that come in pill form.
To mix fluconazole oral solution, first tap the bottle of powder a few times to loosen it up. Then, you add 24 milliliters (mL) of distilled or purified water to the bottle. After shaking the bottle well, it is ready to use. You can store the reconstituted solution at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Make sure you shake the bottle well each time you take it.
A doctor may prescribe you fluconazole oral solution if you have a hard time swallowing pills.
You can take fluconazole with or without food. It won’t make a big difference whether you take fluconazole in the morning or at night, but it’s important to take your dose around the same time every day.
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.
It’s important to keep taking fluconazole until you finish the amount your doctor prescribes you. If you stop taking fluconazole early, your infection may not fully get better, or it could get worse.
What if you miss a dose of fluconazole?
If you miss a dose of fluconazole, you can take it as soon as you remember. But if you remember just a few hours before your next scheduled dose, make sure you only take one dose. Even if you forgot to take one dose, don’t try to catch up by taking two doses at once. This could cause dangerous side effects.
For fluconazole to work well, a certain amount needs to be in your body at all times. For tips on how to plan your doses of fluconazole and avoid missing a dose, read this article.
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Get free cardIs one dose of fluconazole enough for a vaginal yeast infection?
If you have more severe symptoms or have recurring vaginal yeast infections, your doctor or healthcare professional may recommend taking more than one dose of fluconazole.
For more severe or recurring vaginal yeast infections, you may need to take one 150 mg oral tablet of fluconazole every 3 days (every 72 hours) for a total of 2 to 3 doses. This is often followed by maintenance doses of fluconazole.
Also, if your yeast infection causes more severe symptoms, your doctor may prescribe a higher dosage of fluconazole. They may also prescribe a higher dose if you experience vaginal yeast infections more than four times per year.
To ensure a yeast infection doesn’t return, your doctor may prescribe one 150 mg oral tablet of fluconazole that you take once a week for about 6 months.
Is there anything you need to avoid while taking fluconazole?
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.
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Summary
Fluconazole is prescribed to treat a variety of fungal and yeast infections. It comes in several forms, and you usually take it by mouth. You can take it with or without food at any time of day. Try to take your fluconazole dose at the same time each day.
Your dosage of fluconazole will depend on the condition it’s been prescribed to treat. Most dosages range from 150 to 400 mg, taken one time daily for 2 weeks or more.
If your doctor prescribes this medication, they’ll determine the dosage that’s best for you. Do not change your dosage of fluconazole without your doctor’s recommendation.