Diflucan

Generic Name:

fluconazole (floo KOE na zole)

What is Diflucan?

Diflucan is an antifungal antibiotic.

Diflucan is used to treat infections caused by fungus, which can invade any part of the body including the mouth, throat, esophagus, lungs, bladder, genital area, and the blood.

Diflucan is also used to prevent fungal infection in people with weak immune systems caused by cancer treatment, bone marrow transplant, or diseases such as AIDS.

Most important fact about Diflucan

Strong allergic reactions to Diflucan, although rare, have been reported. Symptoms may include hives, itching, swelling, sudden drop in blood pressure, difficulty breathing or swallowing, diarrhea, or abdominal pain. If you experience any of these symptoms, notify your doctor immediately.

What side effects may occur?

Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Diflucan.

The most common side effect for people taking more than one dose is nausea.

For women taking a single dose to treat vaginal infection, the most common side effects are abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, and nausea; changes in taste, dizziness, and indigestion may occur less often.

Other side effects may include:

Abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, irregular heartbeat, skin rash, vomiting

Why is Diflucan prescribed?

Diflucan is used to treat fungal infections called candidiasis (also known as thrush or yeast infections). These include vaginal infections, throat infections, and fungal infections elsewhere in the body, such as infections of the urinary tract, peritonitis (inflammation of the lining of the abdomen), and pneumonia. Diflucan is also prescribed to guard against candidiasis in some people receiving bone marrow transplants, and is used to treat meningitis (brain or spinal cord inflammation) caused by another type of fungus.

In addition, Diflucan is now being prescribed for fungal infections in kidney and liver transplant patients, and fungal infections in patients with AIDS.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a Diflucan overdose may include confusion or unusual thoughts or behavior.

STORAGE:

Store the US product below 86 degrees F (30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not freeze. Do not store in the bathroom. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

What other drugs will affect Diflucan?

Before taking Diflucan, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• astemizole (Hismanal).
• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
• cyclosporine (Gengraf, Sandimmune, Neoral);
• an oral diabetes medicine such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase, Glynase), tolbutamide (Orinase), tolazamide (Tolinase), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), and others;
• rifabutin (Mycobutin) or rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane);
• a sedative such as diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), alprazolam (Xanax), or midazolam (Versed);
• seizure medication such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or valproic acid (Depakene);
• tacrolimus ((Prograf); or
• theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theolair, Theochron, Elixophyllin, Slo-Phyllin, others).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use Diflucan, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect Diflucan. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.