Medicines/Generics/Fluconazole

Fluconazole

Generic medicine reference

Not yet clinically reviewed

This entry was migrated from the earlier Pharmapedia app bundle and has not been reviewed by a named clinician on this site. It is provided for educational reference only — verify dosage and safety information against current, authoritative sources and a qualified healthcare professional before any clinical use.

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Overview

Fluconazole is a prescription azole antifungal medication that may be used to treat serious fungal or yeast infections including those that affect the vagina, mouth or throat, lungs, bladder, or blood. It is available as an oral tablet, suspension, or injectable form. Examples of conditions treated by fluconazole include vaginal candidiasis, oropharyngeal candidiasis, esophageal candidiasis, and cryptococcal meningitis. Fluconazole may also be used to prevent fungal infections in people with a weak immune system caused by cancer or cancer treatment including radiation therapy, bone marrow transplant, conditions such as AIDS, or children on life support (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation [ECMO]). Fluconazole works by targeting a key enzyme (lanosterol 14-alpha-demethylase) responsible for building a crucial cell wall component (ergosterol) in fungi. By blocking this enzyme, Fluconazole prevents the fungus from forming a normal cell wall, leading to the buildup of abnormal sterols. These abnormal sterols weaken the fungal cell wall, hindering its growth. Fluconazole's mechanism of action means it has a much greater effect on this enzyme in fungi compared to the same enzyme in human cells. This selectivity helps minimize side effects. Fluconazole was first FDA approved on January 29, 1990. Brand names for fluconazole include Diflucan and generic fluconazole is available.

Indications

Contraindications

Do not take fluconazole if you are allergic to fluconazole, Diflucan, other azole antifungals (such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, miconazole, or voriconazole), or any inactive ingredients in the fluconazole preparations. Do not take fluconazole if you also take other medications known to prolong the QT interval and which are metabolized via the enzyme CYP3A4 such as erythromycin, pimozide, and quinidine. Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions including if you: have any liver problems have kidney disease have low levels of potassium in your blood have heart problems take any over-the-counter medicines you can buy without a prescription, including natural or herbal remedies are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant are breastfeeding. The liquid form of fluconazole contains sucrose. Talk to your doctor before taking this form of fluconazole if you have a problem digesting sugars or milk.

Side Effects

The most common side effects of fluconazole are: headache diarrhea nausea or upset stomach dizziness stomach pain changes in the way food tastes.

Warnings

Fluconazole can cause serious side effects including the following. Allergic reactions to fluconazole. These are rare, but they can be serious and may include anaphylaxis. If you cannot reach your doctor, go to the nearest hospital emergency room. Signs of an allergic reaction can include shortness of breath; coughing; wheezing; fever; chills; throbbing of the heart or ears; swelling of the eyelids, face, mouth, neck, or any other part of the body; or skin rash, hives, blisters or skin peeling. Liver injury . Fluconazole has been associated with rare cases of serious liver toxicity, including death primarily in patients with serious underlying medical conditions including pre-existing liver disease. In some cases, there was no obvious relationship to the total daily dose, duration of therapy, sex, or patient age. Fluconazole liver toxicity has usually, but not always, been reversible once treatment has stopped. Tell your healthcare provider if you experience signs of liver problems which may include loss of appetite, stomach pain (upper right side), tiredness, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). Skin conditions , including exfoliative skin disorders that have resulted in death in patients with serious underlying diseases, have been reported. Patients with deep-seated fungal infections who develop rashes during treatment with fluconazole should be monitored closely by a healthcare provider. Tell your doctor right away if you get a skin rash or lesions while taking fluconazole. Cases of reversible adrenal insufficiency have been reported with fluconazole. Tell your doctor if you experience chronic, or long-lasting fatigue, muscle weakness, loss of appetite, weight loss, or abdominal pain. Fluconazole may harm an unborn baby . 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 the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

High Risk Groups

Adult Dosage

100 to 800 mg /day (450 (450)) 24 hourly IV — for Mucocutaneous candidiasis 200 to 500 mg (350 (350)) 24 hourly PO,IV — Maintenance, As Required 400 mg (400 (400)) As recommended. PO,IV — Initially for Once Scraped Dose — Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed. Fluconazole oral tablets and liquid suspension are taken by mouth. Fluconazole injection is given as an infusion into a vein, usually by a healthcare provider. Use fluconazole for the prescribed length of time, even if your symptoms quickly improve. Skipping doses can increase your risk of infection that is resistant to medication. Fluconazole will not treat viral infections such as the flu or common cold. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse.

Child Dosage

1 to 2 mg/kg (1.5 (1.5)) 24 hourly Slow IV — -

Neonatal Dosage

1 to 2 mg/kg (1.5 (1.5)) 24 hourly Slow IV — -

Drug Interactions

Other drugs may interact with fluconazole, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using. Fluconazole can cause serious problems if taken with certain medicines. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including: diabetes medicines such as glyburide, tolbutamide, glipizide blood pressure medicines like hydrochlorothiazide, losartan, amlodipine, nifedipine or felodipine blood thinners such as warfarin cyclosporine, tacrolimus or sirolimus (used to prevent rejection of organ transplants) rifampin or rifabutin for tuberculosis astemizole for allergies phenytoin or carbamazepine to control seizures theophylline to control asthma cisapride for heartburn quinidine (used to correct disturbances in heart rhythm) amiodarone (used for treating uneven heartbeats ‘arrhythmias’) amitriptyline or nortriptyline for depression pimozide for psychiatric illness amphotericin B or voriconazole for fungal infections erythromycin for bacterial infections olaparib, cyclophosphamide, or vinca alkaloids such as vincristine or vinblastine for the treatment of cancer fentanyl, afentanil or methadone for chronic pain halofantrine for malaria lipid-lowering drugs such as atorvastatin, simvastatin, and fluvastatin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs including celecoxib, ibuprofen, and naproxen prednisone, a steroid used to treat skin, gastrointestinal, hematological or respiratory disorders antiviral medications used to treat HIV like saquinavir or zidovudine tofacitinib for rheumatoid arthritis vitamin A nutritional supplements. Fluconazole can cause a serious heart problem. Your risk may be higher if you also use certain other medicines for infections, asthma, heart problems, high blood pressure, depression, mental illness, cancer, malaria, or HIV, such as erythromycin, astemizole, pimozide, quinidine, and cisapride. Since there are many brand names for fluconazole, check with your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. Many drugs can affect fluconazole, and some drugs should not be used at the same time. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here.

Storage

Tab, Oral Susp Store Below 40°C. Protect from Sunlight and Moisture.

Available Brands in Pakistan

140 active brands listed alphabetically.

Fluconazole

Available Brands in Pakistan

AFCON

ALFUMET

AMFLU

AMPHOZOLE

APTUS

AVIFLU

BACTOCAN

BECONAZOLE

CAESAF

CAESAF150MG

CANDIA

CANDIRID

CANDIZOL

CANZO

CAP

CARATIN

CEASAFSUSPENSION

COHEIM

CONA

CONA

CONACAR

CONASH

CONAZIT

CONOSAVE

CONTRAZOLE

COZIL

DECONAZOL

DEROCON

DEYEAST

DIDACON

DIFLOZE

DIFLUCAN

DOTARA

FANAZE

FAVRIZOL

FCOZOLE

FC-ZOLE

FLISK

FLOC

FLOCOSH

FLOZEX

FLUCAL

FLUCAL

FLUCANOL

FLUCATON

FLUCOADVAN

FLUCOAID

FLUCOGALS

FLUCON

FLUCOVAL

FLUCOZOLE

FLUDERM

FLUDERM

FLUFUNG

FLUIN

FLUKA

FLUMAG

FLUNAZ

FLUNAZ

FLUNAZONE

FLUREN

FLURULZ

FLUXAZOLE

FLU-Z

FLUZAMED

FLUZIC

FONAZ

FORCAN-150MG

FORCAN-50MG/5ML

FORMENT

FROCAN

FUGIX

FUMAC

FUNFIL

FUNGANIL

FUNGIBAN

FUNGICURE

FUNGIMED