Fluconazole is an azole antifungal used to prevent and treat a variety of fungal infections. It works by stopping the growth of fungus.

This medication is given by injection into a vein by a health care professional, usually once daily or as directed by your doctor. Learn all preparation and usage instructions for this product. Before using this product, check it visually for particles or discoloration. If either is present, do not use the liquid. If you have questions about the use of this medication, consult the doctor or pharmacist.

Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. For children, the dosage is also based on weight.

This medication works best when the amount of medicine in your body is kept at a constant level. Therefore, use this drug at evenly spaced intervals.

Continue to take this medication until the full prescribed amount is finished, even if symptoms disappear. Stopping the medication too early may result in a return of the infection.

Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach/abdominal pain, hair loss, or headache may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: easy bruising/bleeding, new signs of infection (e.g., persistent sore throat, fever).

Seek immediate medical attention if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: severe dizziness, fainting, fast/irregular heartbeat, seizures.

This drug may rarely cause serious (possibly fatal) liver disease. If you notice any of these highly unlikely but very serious side effects, seek immediate medical attention: severe stomach/abdominal pain, persistent nausea/vomiting, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine, unusual tiredness.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US -

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Before using fluconazole, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other azole antifungal drugs (e.g., itraconazole); or if you have any other allergies.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver disease, kidney disease.

Fluconazole may cause a condition that affects the heart rhythm (QT prolongation). QT prolongation can infrequently result in serious (rarely fatal) fast/irregular heartbeat and other symptoms (such as severe dizziness, fainting) that require immediate medical attention. The risk of QT prolongation may be increased if you have certain medical conditions or are taking other drugs that may affect the heart rhythm (see also Drug Interactions section). Before using fluconazole, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any of the following conditions: certain heart problems (heart failure, slow heartbeat, QT prolongation in the EKG), family history of certain heart problems (QT prolongation in the EKG, sudden cardiac death).

Low levels of potassium or magnesium in the blood may also increase your risk of QT prolongation. This risk may increase if you use certain drugs (such as diuretics/"water pills") or if you have conditions such as severe sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting. Talk to your doctor about using fluconazole safely.

Kidney function declines as you grow older. This medication is removed by the kidneys. Therefore, elderly people may be at greater risk for side effects while using this drug.

During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

This drug passes into breast milk and could have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Therefore, breast-feeding is not recommended while using this drug. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.

This drug should not be used with the following medication because very serious interactions may occur: cisapride.

If you are currently using the medication listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting fluconazole.

Many other drugs besides fluconazole may affect the heart rhythm (QT prolongation), including amiodarone, dofetilide, pimozide, quinidine, sotalol, procainamide, macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin), among others. Therefore, before using fluconazole, report all medications you are currently using to your doctor or pharmacist.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal drugs you may use, especially of: rifamycins (e.g., rifabutin, rifampin), warfarin.

Fluconazole can slow down the removal of other medications from your body, thereby affecting how they work. These affected drugs include amitriptyline, certain drugs that affect the immune system (e.g., cyclosporine, tacrolimus, sirolimus), certain calcium channel blockers (e.g., felodipine, nifedipine, nisoldipine), eplerenone, certain "statin" cholesterol medications (atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin), celecoxib, certain drugs to treat diabetes (glipizide, glyburide, tolbutamide), certain benzodiazepines (e.g., alprazolam, midazolam, triazolam), certain anti-seizure drugs (carbamazepine, phenytoin), zidovudine. This is not a complete list.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: hallucinations, mental/mood changes.

Do not share this medication with others.

Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., liver function tests) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

This medication has been prescribed for your current condition only. Do not use it later for another infection unless told to do so by your doctor. A different medication may be necessary in that case.

If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

If your brand comes in glass bottles, store between 41-86 degrees F (5-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. If your brand comes in plastic containers, store between 41-77 degrees F (5-25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. For the plastic containers, brief storage up to 104 degrees F (40 degrees C) is permitted. Do not remove the overwrap from the plastic containers until ready for use. Do not freeze this medication. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Information last revised January 2009 Copyright(c) 2009 First DataBank, Inc.