What is Diflucan used for?
Diflucan is a brand name of fluconazole which is an antifungal medicine. It belongs to a group of medications called synthetic triazole antifungal agents that work by inhibiting the formation of certain plant-based cholesterol that fungus needs to live.
Diflucan is used in the treatment of fungal infections which may occur in any part of the body including the bladder, genital area, mouth, throat, lungs, oesophagus, and the blood.
Diflucan is used in the treatment of yeast infections in women, thrush in the mouth and throat and also in the prevention of fungal infections in patients with compromised immune systems such as cancer, transplant and AIDS patients.
Diflucan can be obtained in different formulations, the tablets, powder for reconstitution and as sterile solutions for intravenous use. DIFLUCAN Tablets come in various strengths: 50, 100, 150, or 200 mg of fluconazole. Diflucan Powder for reconstitution contains 350 mg or 1400 mg of fluconazole. Each ml of the sterile solution contains 2mg of fluconazole.
Diflucan is usually available in the liquid, cream and pill form and can be obtained as an over the counter medication.
There should be strict adherence to the prescribed dosage and the amount of medication prescribed should be exhausted before discontinuing treatment unless your doctor says otherwise. Diflucan tablets can be taken by mouth with or without food once daily as directed by your doctor or pharmacist.
In adults, for the treatment of mouth thrush and fungal infections of the oesophagus, an initial dose of 200 mg is usually prescribed on the first day, followed by 100 mg per day for the next two weeks for mouth thrush and 100 mg for three weeks for throat infection.
Administration of Diflucan should be continued for at least two weeks even after the fungus goes away. The dose of the medication may be increased to 400mg per day depending on the patient’s response to the drug and also depending on the doctor’s clinical discretion.
A one-time dosage of 150 mg of Diflucan should be administered orally, to treat yeast infections of the vagina.
Diflucan may be administered in doses of 400 mg per day to prevent fungal infections during post bone marrow transplant.
When using the liquid suspension form, each dose should be carefully measured as directed by your pharmacist or doctor. It is important to note that on reconstituting the dry Diflucan powder with 24 mL of purified water, each mL contains 10 mg to 40 mg of fluconazole.
In children, the dosing of Diflucan is determined using the weight of the child. Therefore, ask your pharmacist and doctor for the correct dose to administer. The maximum dose in children is 600mg daily.
How long does it take Diflucan to work? The effects of the drug can be felt within 24 hours of administration of the starting dose, and all symptoms of the infection usually disappear within seven days. The drug works best when the blood levels of the active ingredient, fluconazole are maintained throughout the course of the treatment. Therefore, the drug should be taken at the same time every day.
The symptoms of Diflucan overdose include: mental changes such as paranoia and hallucinations. This should be reported to your doctor as soon as they are observed.
DIFLUCAN SIDE EFFECTS
The common side effects of Diflucan include:
Unusual taste in the mouth
Loss of appetite
Acid in stomach
Cough and chills
Some of the serious Side Effects of Diflucan include:
Changes in heart rhythm or electrical activity in the heart
Liver failure and inflammation
Jaundice or yellowing of skin and eyes
Acute Pustular Eruptions on Skin
Decreased White Blood Cells
Prolonged Q-T Interval on EKG
Clay coloured stools
High triglycerides level in the blood
Low potassium levels in the blood
Severe skin reactions such as sloughing
Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
Diflucan reacts with many drugs and may alter the levels of such medication in the blood. Some of the drugs include: astemizole, procainamide, quinidine, lomitapide, ibutilide, erythromycin-containing drugs, procan, ephedrine, carvedilol, carfegot and a host of others.
You should avoid taking alcohol and Diflucan concomitantly. This may result in worsening side effects such as headache and stomach discomforts. In situations where alcohol cannot be avoided, only very small amounts should be taken.
The consumption of grapefruit juice while using Diflucan should also be closely monitored. This is due to the fact that the liver metabolises Diflucan and grapefruit juice in the same way, therefore it can result in an increase in the blood levels of Diflucan and this may lead to a greater expression of the side effects.