What is fluconazole?

• Fluconazole is an antifungal medication. It is used to treat fungal infections.
• Fluconazole is used to treat yeast infections of the mouth, throat, and esophagus; vaginal yeast infections; fungal urinary tract infections; pneumonia caused by yeast; and fungal infections throughout the whole body and in the blood. Fluconazole is also used to prevent fungal infections from occurring in people with suppressed immune systems such as cancer chemotherapy patients, organ transplant patients, and AIDS patients.
• Fluconazole may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my doctor before taking fluconazole?

• Do not take fluconazole 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 fluconazole, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during your treatment.
• Fluconazole 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 fluconazole 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, fluconazole should not be taken by nursing mothers. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take fluconazole?

• Take fluconazole exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water.
• A single dose of this medication is often used to treat vaginal yeast infections.
• In multiple-dose therapy, a double dose of fluconazole is often taken on the first day of treatment to quickly get the proper amount of medicine into the body. Follow your doctor's directions.
• Shake the suspension well before measuring a dose. To ensure that you get the correct dose, measure the suspension using a dose-measuring spoon, cup, or dropper, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can get one.
• It is important to take fluconazole regularly to get the most benefit.
• Store the tablets at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
• The suspension can be stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Do not let it freeze. Throw away any unused suspension after 14 days.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only the next regularly scheduled dose as directed. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

What happens if I overdose?

• Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.
• Symptoms of a fluconazole overdose include confusion, hallucinations, paranoia, decreased movement, decreased breathing, tearing eyes, drooling, urinary incontinence, seizures, and death.

What should I avoid while taking fluconazole?

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

What are the possible side effects of fluconazole?

• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking fluconazole 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 fluconazole 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.

What drug(s) may interact with ?

• bosentan
• cilostazol
• cisapride
• cyclosporine
• dofetilide
• doxercalciferol
• certain medicines for anxiety or difficulty sleeping
• medicines for diabetes that are taken by mouth
• medicines for high cholesterol such as atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, or simvastatin
• medicines for yeast or fungal infections
• paricalcitol
• phenytoin
• pimozide
• ramelteon
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• tacrolimus
• terfenadine
• warfarin
• water pills

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.

Other Useful Information:

Calcium: A mineral found mainly in the hard part of bones, where it is stored. Calcium is added to bones by cells called osteoblasts and is removed from bones by cells called osteoclasts. Calcium is essential for healthy bones. It is also important for muscle contraction, heart action, nervous system maintenance, and normal blood clotting. Food sources of calcium include dairy foods, some leafy green vegetables such as broccoli and collards, canned salmon, clams, oysters, calcium-fortified foods, and tofu. According to the National Academy of Sciences, adequate intake of calcium is 1,200 milligrams a day (four glasses of milk) for men and women 51 and older, 1,000 milligrams a day for adults 19 through 50, and 1,300 milligrams a day for children 9 through 18. The upper limit for calcium intake is 2.5 grams daily.

Cavities: Holes in the two outer layers of a tooth called the enamel and the dentin. The enamel is the outermost white hard surface and the dentin is the yellow layer just beneath enamel. Both layers serve to protect the inner living tooth tissue called the pulp, where blood vessels and nerves reside. Small cavities may not cause pain, and may be unnoticed by the patient. Larger cavities can collect food, and the inner pulp of the affected tooth can become irritated by bacterial toxins, foods that are cold, hot, sour, or sweet - causing toothache.

Naturopathy: A system of therapy based on preventative care, and on the use of heat, water, light, air, and massage as primary therapies for disease. Some naturopaths use no medications, either pharmaceutical or herbal. Some recommend herbal remedies only. A few who are licensed to prescribe may recommend pharmaceuticals in those cases where they feel their use is warranted.

Naturopathy is an American healthcare profession. It was founded in the US as a formal healthcare system at the turn of the 20th century by medical practitioners from various natural therapeutic disciplines. By the early 1900s, more than 20 naturopathic medical schools existed, and naturopathic physicians were licensed in most States. Today there are more than 1,000 licensed naturopathic doctors in the US.

As practiced today, naturopathic medicine integrates traditional natural therapeutics -- including botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, homeopathy, acupuncture, traditional oriental medicine, hydrotherapy, and naturopathic manipulative therapy -- with modern scientific medical diagnostic science and standards of care. The medical research base of naturopathic practice consists of empirical documentation of treatments using case history observations, medical records, and summaries of practitioners' clinical experiences.

At present, the two accredited naturopathic medical schools in the US have active research departments. Naturopathic researchers have investigated the pharmacology and physiological effects of nutritional and natural therapeutic agents, and naturopathic physicians have been active in the investigation of new homeopathic remedies and in the natural treatment of women's health problems. The most recently completed naturopathic study in women's health tested the clinical and endocrine effects of a botanical formula as an alternative to estrogen replacement therapy.

Blood: The familiar red fluid in the body that contains white and red blood cells, platelets, proteins, and other elements. The blood is transported throughout the body by the circulatory system. Blood functions in two directions: arterial and venous. Arterial blood is the means by which oxygen and nutrients are transported to tissues while venous blood is the means by which carbon dioxide and metabolic by-products are transported to the lungs and kidneys, respectively, for removal from the body.

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is produced primarily by the contraction of the heart muscle. It's measurement is recorded by two numbers. The first (systolic pressure) is measured after the heart contracts and is highest. The second (diastolic pressure) is measured before the heart contracts and lowest. A blood pressure cuff is used to measure the pressure. Elevation of blood pressure is called "hypertension".

Brain: That part of the central nervous system that is located within the cranium (skull). The brain functions as the primary receiver, organizer and distributor of information for the body. It has two (right and left) halves called "hemispheres."

Disease: Illness or sickness often characterized by typical patient problems (symptoms) and physical findings (signs). Disruption sequence: The events that occur when a fetus that is developing normally is subjected to a destructive agent such as the rubella (German measles) virus.

Doctor: In a medical context, any medical professional with an MD, a PhD, or any other doctoral degree. The term doctor is quite nonspecific. A doctor may, for example, be a physician, psychologist, biomedical scientist, dentist, or veterinarian. In a nonmedical context, a professor of history might be addressed as doctor, an eminent theologian might be named a doctor of a church, and a person awarded an honorary doctorate by a college or university might also be called a doctor.

The word "doctor" comes from the Latin "docere" meaning to teach. A doctor was a teacher, especially a learned or authoritative one.