Diflucan

Diflucan is a form of common antifungal medication that is only available via prescription. The medication contains the active ingredient fluconazole, which is a substance belonging to the triazole antifungal family. Triazole or azole antifungals kill fungus and yeast infections throughout the body by causing holes to appear in the cell walls of the fungus. This causes essential fluids and other crucial substances within the fungus to leak out. Diflucan is available in its generic form as fluconazole, or under a branded name. Fluconazole can treat a wide variety of fungal infections, and it is available both in tablet form and as an oral suspension liquid. This overview refers to the fluconazole tablet.Diflucan is a kind of anti-fungal and anti-yeast medication that contains the active ingredient fluconazole. The Fluconazole in Diflucan helps to kill infections caused by certain yeasts and fungi. This medication is available on prescription only.

• Antifungal medicine
• Capsule or powder for oral use
• Also suitable for use in children and infants

Diflucan is an antifungal medicine. Diflucan is used to treat infections caused by fungi and yeasts. Diflucan is used to treat fungal conditions such as:

• Genital thrush (Candida infection of the vagina or penis).
• Fungal infections in the mouth, throat or food pipe (oesophagus).
• Cryptococcal meningitis (a fungal infection in the brain), fungal infections in body organs (e.g., heart, lungs) or urinary tract.
• Fungal skin and nail infections.

You might also be given Diflucan to stop fungal infections from coming back.

Diflucan is available as capsules of 50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg and 200 mg. The capsules should be swallowed whole with some water. This medicine can be taken with or without food. Try to take the capsules at the same time each day.

Diflucan powder for oral suspension is recommended for infants and young children who are unable to swallow the capsules. It is recommended that your pharmacist makes up Diflucan powder for oral suspension before giving it to you. However, where the pharmacist does not reconstitute this product, please follow the instructions provided in the package leaflet. The shelf life of the reconstituted suspension is 28 days.

Shake the closed bottle of the suspension every time before use, insert the adapter fitted onto the oral syringe into the bottle neck and withdraw the quantity of suspension prescribed by the doctor (see instructions in the package leaflet). The medicinal product may be given directly into the mouth from the oral syringe.

Dosage

Dosage varies per person and is determined by a doctor depending on the symptoms.

The recommended dose to treat genital thrush (Candida infection of the vagina or penis) is:

• Adults: 150 mg as a single dose.

The recommended dose to treat mucosal infections of the mouth and throat, and mucosal infections in people with teeth prostheses is:

• Adults: 200 mg to 400 mg on the first day, then 100 mg to 200 mg once daily until you are told to stop.

The recommended dose for fungal skin and nail infections is:

• Adults: Depending on the site of the infection 50 mg once daily, 150 mg once weekly, 300 to 400 mg once weekly for one to four weeks. (Athlete’s foot may be up to six weeks, for nail infection treatment until infected nail is replaced.)

For the appropriate dose for other conditions, see the package leaflet.

Infants, young children and adolescents up to 18 years require a different dose (see the package leaflet).

Alcohol/driving

When driving vehicles or using machines it should be taken into account that occasionally dizziness or fits may occur.

If you use more than you should/forget to use Diflucan

Taking too much Diflucan may make you unwell. Contact your doctor or your nearest hospital casualty department at once.

If you forget to take dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed.

Diflucan is not suitable for everyone. Do not use this medicine if:

• You (or your child) are allergic (hypersensitive) to fluconazole, to other medicines you have taken to treat fungal infections or to any of the other ingredients in this medicine (see section 'What Diflucan contains').
• You (or your child) are taking astemizole, terfenadine, cisapride, pimozide, quinidine or erythromycin.

When should this medicine be used with caution?

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking using Diflucan if:

• You (or your child) have liver or kidney problems or suffer from heart disease, including heart rhythm problems.
• You (or your child) have abnormal levels of potassium, calcium or magnesium in the blood.
• You (or your child) develop severe skin reactions (itching, reddening of the skin or difficulty in breathing).
• You (or your child) develop signs of ‘adrenal insufficiency’ (see the package leaflet for more information).
• You (or your child) have ever developed a severe skin rash or skin peeling, blistering and/or mouth sores after taking fluconazole.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if the fungal infection does not improve.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Pregnancy
Do not use this medicine without consulting your doctor if you are or think you could be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby. You should not take Diflucan if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are trying to become pregnant, unless your doctor has told you so. If you become pregnant while taking this medicine or within one week of the most recent dose, contact your doctor.

Fluconazole taken during the first trimester of pregnancy may increase the risk of miscarriage. Fluconazole taken at low doses during the first trimester may slightly increase the risk of a baby being born with birth defects affecting the bones and/or muscles.

Breastfeeding
You can continue breastfeeding after taking a single dose of 150 mg Diflucan. You should not breastfeed if you are taking a repeated dose of Diflucan.

Other medicines and Diflucan

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using or have recently used any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription, herbal medicines or other natural products.

Tell your doctor immediately if you are taking astemizole, terfenadine, cisapride, pimozide, quinidine or erythromycin as these should not be taken with Diflucan.

There are some medicines that may interact with Diflucan. For a complete list of these medicines, see the package leaflet. Make sure your doctor knows if you are taking any of the following medicines as a dose adjustment may be required.

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although some people may not experience any.

Stop taking Diflucan and seek medical attention immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Widespread rash, high body temperature and enlarged lymph nodes (DRESS syndrome or drug hypersensitivity syndrome).
• A severe allergic reaction. Symptoms include itching, difficulty breathing, swelling of eyelids, face or lips, skin rash. (See package leaflet for more information.)
• Signs of liver problems: tiredness, loss of appetite, vomiting, yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes (jaundice).

Other side effects of Diflucan include:

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

• Headache.
• Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting.
• Increases in blood tests of liver function.
• Skin rash.

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• Reduction in red blood cells.
• Decreased appetite.
• Inability to sleep, feeling drowsy.
• Fit, dizziness, sensation of spinning, tingling, pricking or numbness, changes in sense of taste.
• Taste changes.
• Constipation, difficult digestion, wind, dry mouth.
• Muscle ache.
• Liver damage and yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice).
• Wheals, blistering (hives), itching, increased sweating.
• Tiredness, general feeling of being unwell, fever.

For a list of rare side effects, please see the package leaflet. If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the leaflet.

The active substance in Diflucan capsules is fluconazole. Each hard capsule contains 50 mg, 150 mg or 200 mg fluconazole.

The active substance in Diflucan powder for oral suspension is fluconazole. 1 ml reconstituted suspension contains 10 mg fluconazole.