Fluconazole is an azole antifungal used to prevent and
treat a variety of fungal infections. It works by stopping the growth of
fungus.
This medication is given by injection into a vein as
directed by your doctor, usually once daily. The dosage is based on your
medical condition and response to treatment. Children's dosage is also
based on weight.
If you are giving this medication to yourself at home,
learn all preparation and usage instructions from your health care
professional. Before using, check this product for particles or
discoloration. If either is present, do not use the liquid. Learn how to
store and discard medical supplies safely.
This medication works best when the amount of medicine
in your body is kept at a constant level. Use this drug at evenly spaced
intervals.
Continue to take this medication until the full
prescribed amount is finished, even if symptoms disappear. Stopping the
medication too early may result in a return of the
infection.
Tell your doctor if your condition lasts or gets
worse.
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach/abdominal pain, hair
loss, or headache may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse,
tell your doctor promptly.
Remember that this medication has been prescribed
because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the
risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious
side effects.
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side
effects, including:
- easy bruising/bleeding
- signs of your adrenal glands not working well (such as loss
of appetite, unusual tiredness, weight loss)
Get medical help right away if you have any very serious
side effects, including:
- severe dizziness
- fainting
- fast/irregular heartbeat
- seizures
This drug may rarely cause serious (possibly fatal)
liver disease. Get medical help right away if you develop any signs of
liver disease, including:
- nausea/vomiting that doesn't stop
- severe stomach/abdominal pain
- yellowing eyes/skin
- dark urine
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.
However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a
serious allergic reaction, including:
- fever that doesn't go away
- new or worsening lymph node swelling
- rash
- itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
- severe dizziness
- trouble breathing
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If
you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or
pharmacist.
In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at
www.fda.gov/medwatch.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about
side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at
1-866-234-2345.
Before using fluconazole, tell your doctor or pharmacist
if you are allergic to it; or to other azole antifungal drugs (such as
itraconazole); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain
inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems.
Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or
pharmacist your medical history, especially of:
- liver disease
- kidney disease
Fluconazole may cause a condition that affects the heart
rhythm (QT prolongation). QT prolongation can rarely cause serious (rarely
fatal) fast/irregular heartbeat and other symptoms (such as severe
dizziness, fainting) that need medical attention right
away.
The risk of QT prolongation may be increased if you have
certain medical conditions or are taking other drugs that may cause QT
prolongation. Before using fluconazole, tell your doctor or pharmacist of
all the drugs you take and if you have any of the following
conditions:
- certain heart problems (heart failure, slow heartbeat, QT
prolongation in the EKG)
- family history of certain heart problems (QT prolongation in
the EKG, sudden cardiac death)
Low levels of potassium or magnesium in the blood may
also increase your risk of QT prolongation. This risk may increase if you
use certain drugs (such as diuretics/"water pills") or if you have
conditions such as severe sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting. Talk to your
doctor about using fluconazole safely.
Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects
of this drug, especially QT prolongation (see above).
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become
pregnant. You should not become pregnant while using fluconazole.
Fluconazole may harm an unborn baby, especially during the first 3 months
of pregnancy. Ask about reliable forms of birth control while using this
medication and for 1 week after the last dose. If you become pregnant, talk
to your doctor right away about the risks and benefits of this
medication.
This drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor
before breastfeeding.
Drug interactions may change how your medications work
or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not
contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you
use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and
share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the
dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
A product that may interact with this drug
is:
Many drugs besides fluconazole may affect the heart
rhythm (QT prolongation), including pimozide, quinidine, macrolide
antibiotics (such as erythromycin), among others.
Fluconazole can slow down the removal of other
medications from your body, which can affect how they work. Examples of
affected drugs include abrocitinib, asunaprevir, domperidone, flibanserin,
lemborexant, lomitapide, macitentan, mavacamten, nirogacestat, among
others.
If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such
as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison
control center right away. US residents can call 1-800-222-1222. Canada
residents can call 1-844-764-7669. Symptoms of overdose may include:
hallucinations, mental/mood changes.
Lab and/or medical tests (such as liver function) should
be done while you are using this medication. Keep all medical and lab
appointments. Consult your doctor for more details.
It is important to get each dose of this medication as
scheduled. If you miss a dose, ask your doctor or pharmacist right away for
a new dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.
Consult the product instructions and your pharmacist for
storage details. Keep all medications away from children and
pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them
into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when
it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste
disposal company.