Fluconazole is an antifungal medicine that 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.

Fluconazole is also used to prevent fungal infection in people who have a weak immune system caused by cancer treatment, bone marrow transplant, or diseases such as AIDS.

Fluconazole is also used to treat a certain type of meningitis in people with HIV or AIDS.

Fluconazole may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Many drugs can interact, and some drugs should not be used together.

Fluconazole comes as a tablet and a suspension (liquid) to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day, with or without food. 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 carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take fluconazole exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

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.

You should begin to feel better during the first few days of treatment with fluconazole. If your symptoms do not improve or get worse, call your doctor.

Continue to take fluconazole until your doctor tells you that you should stop, even if you feel better. Do not stop taking fluconazole without talking to your doctor. If you stop taking fluconazole too soon, your infection may come back after a short time.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Your dose will depend on the infection you are treating. Vaginal infections are often treated with only one pill. For other infections, your first dose may be a double dose. Carefully follow your doctor's instructions.

Fluconazole oral is taken by mouth. Fluconazole injection is given as an infusion into a vein.

You may take fluconazole oral with or without food.

Shake the oral suspension (liquid) before you measure a dose. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).

Fluconazole injection is given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give your first dose and may teach you how to properly use the medication by yourself. Prepare an injection only when you are ready to give it. Do not use if the medicine looks cloudy, has changed colors, or has particles in it. Call your pharmacist for new medicine.

Use fluconazole for the full prescribed length of time, even if your symptoms quickly improve. Skipping doses can increase your risk of infection that is resistant to medication. Fluconazole will not treat a viral infection such as the flu or a common cold.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not freeze.

You may store the oral suspension between 86 F (30 C) and 41 F (5 C), but do not allow it to freeze. Throw away any leftover liquid that is more than 2 weeks old.

You should not use fluconazole if you are allergic to it.

Some drugs should not be used with fluconazole. Your treatment plan may change if you also use:

• lemborexant, abrocitinib, theophylline, fentanyl, alfentanil, methadone, pimozide, tofacitinib, tolvaptan, or a vitamin A supplement;

• an antibiotic, antifungal, or antiviral medicine;

• a blood thinner;

• cancer medicine;

• cholesterol medication;

• oral diabetes medicine;

• heart or blood pressure medication;

• medicine for malaria or tuberculosis;

• medicine to prevent organ transplant rejection;

• medicine to treat depression or mental illness;

• an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug);

• seizure medicine; or

• steroid medicine.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• liver or kidney disease;

• low levels of potassium in your blood;

• heart problems; or

• if you are allergic to other antifungal medicine (such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, miconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole, and others).

The liquid form of fluconazole contains sucrose. Talk to your doctor before taking this form of fluconazole if you have a problem digesting sugars or milk.

May harm an unborn baby. Use effective birth control while using fluconazole and for at least 1 week after your last dose. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant.

Ask a doctor if it is safe to breastfeed while using fluconazole.

Use the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not use two doses at one time.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Overdose symptoms may include confusion or unusual thoughts or behavior.

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Dispose of any unused liquid medication after 14 days.

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how fluconazole will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Fluconazole may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

• fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, and sudden dizziness (like you might pass out);

• seizure (convulsions);

• skin rash or skin lesions;

• decreased adrenal gland hormones--nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, feeling tired or light-headed, muscle or joint pain, skin discoloration, craving salty foods; or

• liver problems--loss of appetite, stomach pain (upper right side), tiredness, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common side effects of fluconazole may include:

• nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, upset stomach;

• headache;

• dizziness; or

• changes in your sense of taste.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Fluconazole can cause a serious heart problem. Your risk may be higher if you also use certain other medicines for infections, asthma, heart problems, high blood pressure, depression, mental illness, cancer, malaria, or HIV.

Many drugs can affect fluconazole, and some drugs should not be used at the same time. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your response to fluconazole.

Do not let anyone else use your medication. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about refilling your prescription. If you still have symptoms of infection after you finish taking the fluconazole, call your doctor.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

For minor infections, your symptoms should improve within a week of taking fluconazole. If you have a more serious fungal infection, it may take one to two weeks.

Keep taking fluconazole for as long as your doctor tells you to, even if you start feeling better. This will help prevent the infection from returning.

Your dosage will depend on the type of infection you have, how serious your infection is, the formulation you take, your overall health, and other factors.

Fluconazole is used to treat many types of fungal infections, some of which aren’t listed in this medical guide.