What It Is Used For
Fluconazole is an antifungal medicine. It treats vaginal thrush, thrush in the mouth and throat, fungal skin and nail infections, and some serious fungal infections in hospital.
How to Take It
Vaginal thrush: a single 150 mg capsule. Other infections: usually 50 mg to 400 mg once a day for the time your doctor sets; skin infections often 150 mg once a week for some weeks. It can be taken with or without food.
Who Should Not Take It
Do not take it if you are allergic to fluconazole or similar antifungals, or if you take certain medicines that affect heart rhythm (for example erythromycin or pimozide).
Side Effects
Common: headache, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhoea and rash. Rarely: liver problems (yellow skin or eyes, dark urine), irregular heartbeat, or serious skin reactions. See a doctor if these happen.
Precautions
Tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease or a heart rhythm problem. See a doctor if thrush keeps coming back, as it may need a different treatment.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Not recommended in pregnancy, especially at higher doses or for long courses. Ask your doctor; vaginal creams are often preferred in pregnancy.
Interactions
Fluconazole affects many medicines. It increases the effect of warfarin, some diabetes tablets (gliclazide, glimepiride), simvastatin and atorvastatin, phenytoin and ciclosporin, and adds to heart rhythm risks with other such medicines. Tell your doctor about everything you take.
Storage
Store below 30°C in a dry place, out of the reach of children.