General Information and Indications:
Fluconazole is used to treat fungal infections,
including yeast infections of the vagina, mouth, throat, esophagus (tube
leading from the mouth to the stomach), abdomen (area between the chest and
waist), lungs, blood, and other organs. Fluconazole is also used to treat
meningitis (infection of the membranes covering the brain and spine ) caused
by fungus. Fluconazole is also used to prevent yeast infections in patients
who are likely to become infected because they are being treated with
chemotherapy or radiation therapy before a bone marrow transplant
(replacement of unhealthy spongy tissue inside the bones with healthy
tissue). Fluconazole is in a class of antifungals called triazoles. It works
by slowing the growth of fungi that cause infection.
Information For Users:
Fluconazole comes as a tablet and a suspension (liquid)
to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day. You may need to take only
one dose of fluconazole, or you may need to take fluconazole for several
weeks or longer. The length of your treatment depends on your condition and
on how well you respond to fluconazole. Follow the directions on your
prescription label, ask your doctor or pharmacist If you have any questions.
Take fluconazole exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take
it more often than prescribed by your health care provider.
Your doctor may tell you to take a double dose of fluconazole on the first
day of your treatment. Follow these directions carefully.
Shake the liquid well before each use to mix the medication evenly.
Continue taking fluconazole until your doctor tells you that you should
stop, even if you feel better. Do not discontinue taking fluconazole without
informing your doctor. If you stop taking fluconazole too soon, your
infection may come back after a short time.
Other uses for this medicine
Fluconazole is also sometimes used to treat serious fungal infections that
begin in the lungs and can spread through the body and fungal infections of
the eye, prostate (a male reproductive organ), skin and nails. Fluconazole
is also sometimes used to prevent fungal infections in people who are likely
to become infected because they have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or
cancer or have had a transplant operation (surgery to remove an organ and
replace it with a donor or artificial organ). Talk to your doctor about the
possible risks of using this medication.
special precautions:
o Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have
allergy to fluconazole, other antifungal medications such as itraconazole (Sporanox),
ketoconazole (Nizoral), or voriconazole (Vfend) or any other ,medications.
o do not take cisapride (Propulsid) while taking fluconazole.
o Inform your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription
medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are
taking, especially amiodarone (Cordarone); anticoagulants ('blood thinners')
such as warfarin (Coumadin); , astemizole (Hismanal) (not available in the
United States) ; , benzodiazepines such as midazolam (Versed);cyclosporine (Neoral,
Sandimmune); , disopyramide (Norpace); diuretics ('water pills') such as
hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL, Microzide); dofetilide (Tikosyn);
erythromycin (E.E.S, E-Mycin, Erythrocin); isoniazid (INH, Nydrazid);
moxifloxacin (Avelox); oral contraceptives (birth control pills); oral
medicine for diabetes such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Diabeta,
Micronase, Glycron, others), and tolbutamide (Orinase); phenytoin (Dilantin);
pimozide (Orap); procainamide (Procanbid, Pronestyl); quinidine (Quinidex);
rifabutin (Mycobutin); rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane); sotalolol (Betapace);
sparfloxacin (Zagam); tacrolimus (Prograf); terfenadine (Seldane)(not
available in the United States); theophylline (TheoDur); thioridazine (Mellaril);
valproic acid (Depakene, Depakote); and zidovudine (Retrovir).
o Inform your doctor if you drink or have ever drunk large amounts of
alcohol and if you have or have ever had cancer; acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS); an irregular heartbeat; or heart, kidney or liver disease .
o Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are
breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking fluconazole, call your
doctor.
Possible Adverse
Effects:
Fluconazole may cause adverse effects. Inform
your doctor if any of the following symptoms are severe or do not go away:
o headache
o dizziness
o diarrhea
o stomach pain
o heartburn
o change in ability to taste food
Some adverse effects could be serious. If you have any of the following
symptoms, call your doctor without delay:
o upset stomach
o extreme tiredness
o unusual bruising or bleeding
o lack of energy
o loss of appetite (anorexia)
o pain in the upper right part of the stomach
o yellowing of the skin or eyes, jaundice
o flu-like symptoms
o dark urine
o pale stools
o seizures
o rash
o hives (Urticaria)
o itching
o swelling of the face , throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or
lower legs
o difficulty swallowing or breathing
Possible Symptoms
of Overdose:
o hallucinations (seeing things or hearing
voices that do not exist)
o extreme fear that others are trying to harm you
Brand Name(s):
o Diflucan ® |
