Fluconazole

1 medicine

Fluconazole is an antifungal that blocks fungal cell-membrane production to treat infections like thrush and serious systemic fungal disease. It can affect heart rhythm and interacts with many other medicines, so your prescriber needs a full list of what you take.

Diflucan

Fluconazole

50/100/150/200mg

Diflucan is a antifungals medication containing Fluconazole, available as 50/100/150/200mg tablets.

from $1.16 / tablet View

Key facts

  • Fluconazole (sold as Diflucan and many generics) is an azole antifungal. It stops fungi building ergosterol, a substance they need for their cell membrane, so the fungus cannot grow or repair itself.
  • Vaginal thrush often needs only a single dose; skin, mouth and more serious internal infections need daily dosing for days to weeks, or longer in people with weakened immune systems.
  • Fluconazole blocks liver enzymes that clear many other drugs and can prolong the heart's QT interval. Combining it with certain other medicines can trigger a dangerous irregular heartbeat, so your prescriber and pharmacist need a full list of everything you take.
  • Seek urgent care for yellowing skin or eyes, a severe blistering rash, or a fast or irregular heartbeat.

What fluconazole treats

Fluconazole treats vaginal yeast infections, oral and oesophageal thrush, and fungal infections of the skin, nails and groin. Higher doses treat serious internal infections such as candidaemia (fungus in the bloodstream) and cryptococcal meningitis, a severe brain infection that mainly affects people with weakened immune systems, where it is also used long-term to stop the infection returning.

How fluconazole works

Fungal cells build their outer membrane from a fatty substance called ergosterol, using an enzyme (CYP51) to make it. Fluconazole blocks that enzyme. Without ergosterol the membrane becomes leaky and unstable, and the fungus stops growing.

Before you take it

  • Avoid fluconazole during pregnancy where possible. High or repeated doses have been linked to miscarriage and birth defects; a single low dose for vaginal thrush carries less certain but not zero risk.
  • Tell your prescriber about liver disease, any history of an irregular heartbeat or long QT syndrome, and every other medicine you take, including warfarin, statins, ciclosporin, some seizure medicines and certain antihistamines.
  • Do not take fluconazole if you have had a serious allergic reaction to it or another azole antifungal.

Side effects

Common effects include headache, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhoea and a metallic or altered taste.

Stop and seek urgent medical care for any of these:

  • Yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or persistent nausea and stomach pain (possible liver injury).
  • A severe rash, blistering, or peeling skin.
  • A fast, irregular or pounding heartbeat, or fainting.
  • Swelling of the face, lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing.

Safety essentials

  • Fluconazole can prolong the QT interval. Tell your prescriber if you take other medicines that do the same, such as certain antiarrhythmics, some antipsychotics or methadone, or if you have low potassium or magnesium levels.
  • Because fluconazole blocks the liver enzymes that break down many drugs, doses of warfarin, statins and some other medicines may need adjusting while you take it.
  • With courses longer than a few weeks, your prescriber may check liver function. Stop and get medical advice if you notice signs of liver trouble.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.