Generic Diflucan - fluconazole - 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.
Fluconazole also can be used 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.
Another use of fluconazole is for fungal infections in kidney and liver transplant patients, and fungal infections in patients with AIDS.


 

FAQ

What is a vaginal yeast infection?
It is normal for a certain amount of yeast to be found in the vagina. Sometimes too much yeast starts to grow in the vagina and this can cause a yeast infection. Vaginal yeast infections are common. About three out of every four adult women will have at least one vaginal yeast infection during their life.

Diflucan uses
Fluconazole is indicated for the treatment of:
• Vaginal candidiasis (vaginal yeast infections due to Candida).
• Oropharyngeal and esophageal candidiasis.
• Cryptococcal meningitis.
The drug is also indicated to decrease the incidence of candidiasis in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation who receive cytotoxic chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.

Diflucan dosage
Diflucan is usually taken once a day. Take it by mouth with or without food. You can take Diflucan at any time of the day.
Fluconazole keeps working for several days to treat the infection. Generally the symptoms start to go away after 24 hours. However, it may take several days for your symptoms to go away completely. If there is no change in your symptoms after a few days, call your doctor. Continue to take Diflucan even if you feel well. Do not stop taking it without talking to your doctor.
Fluconazole can be used in children and has been effective down to the age of 6 months of age.

Diflucan side effects
If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Diflucan and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately: an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); liver damage (pale stools, yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, unusual fatigue, or dark urine); or a rash. Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. If you experience any of the following side effects, continue taking Diflucan and talk to your doctor: nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain; diarrhea; headache; dizziness; fatigue; or itching. Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

More Information
Avoid alcohol or use it in moderation while taking Diflucan. Alcohol and Fluconazole can both affect the liver. Use caution when driving or performing other hazardous activities. Diflucan may cause dizziness. If you experience dizziness, avoid these activities.


IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Do not take Diflucan if you are taking cisapride (Propulsid). Combined with cisapride (Propulsid), fluconazole could cause serious, even fatal, heart problems. Before taking fluconazole, tell your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, especially kidney disease, or if you take other medicines. You may not be able to take Diflucan, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during your treatment. Diflucan is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether it will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take Diflucan without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. Fluconazole passes into breast milk and may be harmful to a nursing baby. For this reason, it should not be taken by nursing mothers. Do not take Fluconazole without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.