Diflucan

To treat thrush (yeast infection of the mouth and throat), the recommended adult dose is 100 mg taken by mouth once daily for at least 2 weeks.

To treat esophageal candidiasis (yeast infection of the tube leading to the stomach), the recommended adult dose ranges from 100 mg to 200 mg taken daily for at least 3 weeks. Fluconazole must be taken for at least 2 weeks after the symptoms of the infection resolve to prevent the infection from returning.

To treat yeast infection that has spread throughout the body (disseminated yeast infection), the recommended adult dose of fluconazole is 200 mg to 400 mg once daily, for at least 4 weeks. Again, Diflucan must be taken for at least 2 weeks after the symptoms of the infection resolve to prevent the infection from returning.

To treat cryptococcal meningitis, the recommended dose of fluconazole is 200 mg to 400 mg once daily. Fluconazole should be taken for at least 10 weeks when treating this condition. To prevent cryptococcal meningitis, 200 mg taken once daily is recommended.

Children's doses are based on the child's body weight and will be calculated by the prescriber. A child's dose should not exceed 12 mg per kilogram of body weight.

Doses greater than 600 mg daily are not recommended for adults or children.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is very important to take Diflucan on a regular schedule as prescribed by the doctor. Continue to take the full course of Diflucan even if you start to feel better. If you miss a dose of Diflucan, take it as soon as you remember it. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Diflucan at room temperature and keep it out of the reach of children. The reconstituted liquid is stable for two weeks at room temperature.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

In addition to its desired action, this medication may cause some adverse effects, notably: it may cause headaches; it may cause diarrhea; it may cause stomach ache; it may cause nausea and vomiting. Each person may react differently to a treatment. If you think this medication may be causing adverse effects (including those described here, or others), talk to your health care professional. He or she can help you to determine whether or not the medication is the source of the problem.

IV
Each mL of sterile aqueous solution for direct infusion contains 2 mg of fluconazole and 9 mg of sodium chloride.

Powder for Oral Suspension
On reconstitution with water (24 mL) each mL of the orange-flavoured suspension contains 10 mg of fluconazole (i.e., equivalent to fluconazole 50 mg/5 mL). Nonmedicinal ingredients: citric acid, colloidal silicon dioxide, natural orange flavour, sodium benzoate, sodium citrate, sucrose, titanium dioxide, and xanthan gum.

Tablets

Diflucan tablets are no longer being manufactured for sale in Canada. For brands that may still be available, search under fluconazole. This article is being kept available for reference purposes only. If you are using Diflucan, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for information about your treatment options.

Do not take Diflucan if you:

• are allergic to fluconazole or to any of the ingredients of the medication
• are taking cisapride, terfendine, erythromycin, Pimozide, or quinidine

There may be an interaction between fluconazole and any of the following:

• alpha blockers (e.g., Alfuzosin, Doxazosin, Silodosin, Tamsulosin)
• Amiodarone
• amphotericin B
• anti-psychotics (e.g., Chlorpromazine, Clozapine, Haloperidol, olanzaine, Quetiapine, Risperidone)
• Apixaban
• Aprepitant
• barbiturates (e.g., butalbital, pentobarbital Phenobarbital)
• benzodiazepines (e.g., Alprazolam, Chlordiazepoxide, Clonazepam, Clorazepate, Diazepam, Flurazepam, midazolam)
• Bisoprolol
• birth control pills
• Bosentan
• Bromocriptine
• Buspirone
• Calcitriol
• calcium channel blockers (e.g., Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Nifedipine, nisoldipine, Verapamil)
• cancer medications (e.g., Busulfan, Docetaxel, Etoposide, Ifosfamide, Irinotecan, mestranol, Tamoxifen, Temsirolimus, Vinblastine, Vincristine)
• cannabis
• Carvedilol
• Celecoxib
• chloroquine
• Clopidogrel
• Colchicine
• conivaptan
• Cyclosporine
• dabigatran
• Dantrolene
• Dapsone
• Darifenacin
• deflazacort
• Degarelix
• Diabetes medications (e.g., chlorpropamide, glipizide, Glyburide, Tolbutamide, Repaglinide insulin, Metformin, Rosiglitazone, Sitagliptin)
• didanosine
• Disopyramide
• dofetilide
• Domperidone
• Dronedarone
• Eplerenone
• ergot alkaloids (e.g., ergotamine, Dihydroergotamine)
• estrogens (e.g., conjugated estrogen, Estradiol, ethinyl estradiol)
• Ethosuximide
• Everolimus
• Flecainide
• Flutamide
• Guanfacine
• HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs; e.g., delavirdine, efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine)
• HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., darunavir, indinavir, lopinavir, saquinavir, tipranavir)
• Hydroxyzine
• Indapamide
• inhaled corticosteroids (e.g., budesonide, ciclesonide, fluticasone)
• Ivabradine
• Ivacaftor
• lidocaine
• Lomitapide
• Losartan
• macrolide antiobiotics (e.g., azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin)
• maraviroc
• Mefloquine
• Methadone
• mifepristone
• Mirtazapine
• Moclobemide
• Modafinil
• Montelukast
• Naloxegol
• narcotic pain relievers (e.g., Codeine, Fentanyl, Morphine, Oxycodone)
• nefazodone
• nitrates (e.g., isosorbide dinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate, Nitroglycerin)
• oral corticosteroids (e.g., Dexamethasone, Methylprednisolone, Prednisone)
• other "azole" antifungals (ketoconazole, itraconazole, Voriconazole)
• Perampanel
• phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (e.g., Sildenafil, Tadalafil, Vardenafil)
• Pimecrolimus
• pimozide
• praziquantel
• Primaquine
• procainamide
• progestins (e.g., Dienogest, Levonorgestrel, medroxyprogesterone, Norethindrone)
• Propafenone
• proton pump inhibitors (e.g., Omeprazole, Esomeprazole, Lansoprazole)
• quinidine
• quinine
• quinolone antibiotics (e.g., levofloxacin, Norfloxacin, moxifloxacin)
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• rilpivirine
• Rivaroxaban
• Romidepsin
• saccharomyces boulardii
• salmeterol
• seizure medications (e.g., Carbamazepine, Gabapentin, Levetiracetam, Phenytoin, Topiramate)
• simeprevir
• Solifenacin
• Sotalol
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; e.g., Citalopram, Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Sertraline)
• serotonin antagonists (anti-emetic medications; e.g., Granisetron, Ondansetron)
• "statin" cholesterol medications (e.g., Atorvastatin, Lovastatin, Simvastatin)
• sulfonamide antibiotics (e.g., sulfadiazine, sulfamethoxazole)
• Tacrolimus
• tetrabenzine
• Tetracycline
• theophyllines (e.g., Aminophylline, Oxtriphylline, Theophylline)
• Ticagrelor
• Tolterodine
• Tolvaptan
• Tramadol
• Trazodone
• tretinoin
• tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., Amitriptyline, Desipramine, Imipramine, Nortriptyline)
• Trimethoprim
• "triptan" migraine medications (e.g., Eletriptan, Sumatriptan)
• tyrosine kinase inhibitors (e.g., Crizotinib, Dasatinib, imatinib, Nilotinib)
• Ulipristal
• Venlafaxine
• Warfarin
• Zafirlukast
• zidovudine
• Zolpidem
• Zopiclone

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Diflucan. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications that you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, decongestants, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Diflucan.

Allergies: Be cautious in taking fluconazole if you are allergic to other "azoles" such as ketoconazole or itraconazole. If you develop symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as skin rash, hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face, tongue, or throat, seek immediate medical attention.

Driving and operating heavy machinery: Fluconazole may occasionally cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how Diflucan affects you.

Kidney function: Decreased kidney function or Kidney Disease can cause Diflucan to build up in the body, causing side effects. People with kidney disease or reduced kidney function should discuss with their doctor how Diflucan may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Diflucan, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Liver damage: In rare cases, Diflucan may cause liver damage in people with serious medical conditions. Your doctor may monitor you with regular blood tests to check for side effects while you are taking fluconazole. If you notice signs of liver damage such as abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark or amber urine, or pale stools, contact your doctor right away.

QT prolongation: In rare cases, Diflucan can affect the electrical activity of the heart and cause a condition known as QT prolongation. Your doctor will monitor your heart rhythm regularly while you are taking Diflucan with a test called an electrocardiogram (ECG). You should not take Diflucan if your ECG already shows that you have QT prolongation or if you are taking a medication that can cause QT prolongation.

Pregnancy: Diflucan should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking Diflucan, contact your doctor immediately. Women who take fluconazole and who may become pregnant should consider using adequate birth control. Birth control should be continued for at least 1 week after taking the last dose of fluconazole.

Breast-feeding: Diflucan passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking fluconazole, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: Diflucan has been shown to be safe and effective for children over 6 months of age. Although the safety and effectiveness of Diflucan have not been determined for newborns less than 6 months of age, a small number of babies have been safely treated with fluconazole.

Generally, this medication is used as a single treatment. However, your pharmacist may have suggested a different schedule that is more appropriate for you. Important: Follow the instructions on the label. Do not use more of this product, or more often, than prescribed. This medication may be taken with or without food. Avoid consuming alcohol or alcohol-containing products while taking this medication.