Common Use

Diflucan is an anti-fungal antibiotic used to treat fungal infections such as candidiasis. It is prescribed for various infections including vaginal, throat, urinary tract, peritonitis, and pneumonia. Diflucan works by killing sensitive fungi by interfering with the formation of the fungal cell membrane.

Dosage and Direction

Take Diflucan orally once a day, with or without food, using the measuring spoon. For best results, take it at the same time each day with a full glass of water. Improvement is often felt within 24 hours, but symptoms may take a few days to completely disappear. If there is no improvement after a few days, consult your doctor immediately.

Dosage for Adults

• Genital thrush - 150mg as a single dose
• Mucosal thrush - 50mg once daily for one month
• Fungal skin infections - 50mg once daily for 2-4 weeks
• Internal fungal infections - 400mg on the first day, then 200-400mg once daily for 6-8 weeks or longer if needed
• Prevention of fungal infections - 50-400mg once daily while at risk
• Prevention of Cryptococcus infection recurrence - 100-200mg once daily indefinitely

Dosage for Children

• Mucosal infections - 3mg/kg once daily
• Internal fungal infections - 6-12mg/kg once daily
• Prevention of fungal infections - 3-12mg/kg once daily while at risk
• Children 2-4 weeks old - Same dose as above, given once every 2 days (max 12mg/kg)
• Children less than 2 weeks old - Same dose as above, given once every 3 days (max 12mg/kg)

Note: Always consult your doctor before use for optimal results.

Precautions

For vaginal yeast infections, a single dose of Diflucan is usually prescribed. If symptoms persist after 5 days, contact your doctor. Exercise caution if you have a history of liver or kidney disease. Diflucan may cause dizziness, so avoid driving or operating machinery. Limit alcohol intake. Do not use during pregnancy, if planning to become pregnant, or while breastfeeding without medical advice.

Contraindications

Diflucan is contraindicated in individuals with hypersensitivity to Fluconazole or other antifungal azole preparations (e.g., clotrimazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole). It is also contraindicated in cases of:

• Kidney and liver disorders
• Cardiovascular diseases, including heart rhythm disturbances
• Low blood levels of calcium, magnesium, or potassium

Possible Side Effects

Common side effects include:

• Allergic reactions (hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat)
• Nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice
• Fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms
• Severe blistering, peeling, or red skin rash
• Easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness
• Seizures

Less serious side effects may include mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, unusual taste, or skin rash. Discontinue use and consult your doctor if any side effects occur.

Drug Interactions

Diflucan may interact with:

• Blood thinners like warfarin (Coumadin)
• Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Sandimmune, Neoral)
• Oral diabetes medications
• Rifabutin (Mycobutin) or rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane)
• Sedatives like diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), alprazolam (Xanax), or midazolam (Versed)
• Seizure medications like phenytoin (Dilantin) or valproic acid (Depakene)
• Tacrolimus (Prograf)
• Theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theolair, Theochron, Elixophyllin, Slo-Phyllin, others)

Consult your doctor to manage potential drug interactions.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.

Overdose

Symptoms of overdose may include confusion or unusual behavior. Seek immediate medical attention if overdose is suspected.

Storage

Store Diflucan at room temperature (59-77°F or 15-25°C) away from light, moisture, children, and pets. Do not use after the expiration date.

Disclaimer

This information is for general purposes only and does not cover all directions, drug interactions, or precautions. It should not be used for self-treatment or self-diagnosis. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized advice. We are not responsible for any errors, omissions, or consequences resulting from the use of this information.