Fluconazole

NHS information about the medicine fluconazole, including what it's used for, who can take it, how to take it and side effects.

What fluconazole is for

Fluconazole is an antifungal medicine. It's used to treat conditions such as:

yeast infections (candida), which most commonly cause thrush in your vagina, penis or mouth
skin infections, such as pityriasis versicolor
fungal nail infections
fungal infections in your blood or other parts of your body

Fluconazole can also help you stop getting fungal infections if they keep coming back, or if you're more at risk of getting them because you have a weakened immune system.

How to take fluconazole

Fluconazole usually comes as capsules or a liquid you swallow (oral suspension).

How much you need to take and for how long depends on why you’re taking it and whether your symptoms come back. Some people may only need a single (one-off) dose, while others may need to take it for several weeks or months, or longer.

If you're taking it for thrush, you'll usually only need to take a single (one-off) dose. Your symptoms should improve after 2 days. Speak to a doctor if you still have symptoms after 7 days.

When taking fluconazole:

swallow capsules whole, with a drink of water
for liquid fluconazole, shake the bottle well and use the syringe or cup that comes with it to make sure you measure the correct dose
it's best to take it at the same time each day
you can take it with or without food

Side effects of fluconazole

Like all medicines, fluconazole can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

Common side effects

Common side effects of fluconazole include:

stomach pain or discomfort
diarrhoea
headaches
feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
a rash

Fluconazole will not usually affect your ability to drive, ride a bike or use machinery, but some people can feel dizzy after taking it. If this happens to you, wait until the dizziness stops.

More about side effects

These are not all the side effects of fluconazole.

For a full list, see the leaflet that came with your medicine or search for your medicine leaflet on the electronic medicines compendium website.

You can report any side effects you get on the Yellow Card website

Who can and cannot take fluconazole

Most adults and children can take fluconazole, but it's not suitable for some people. For example, it may not be suitable if:

you've had an allergic reaction or serious side effect from fluconazole or other antifungal medicine
you have liver or kidney problems
you have heart problems, including heart rhythm problems (arrhythmia)
you have high or low levels of potassium, calcium or magnesium in your blood
you have porphyria, a rare blood condition

Check the packet or leaflet that comes with your medicine to see if it's suitable for you. Speak to a pharmacist or doctor if you're not sure if you can take or use it.

Breastfeeding and fluconazole

Speak to a pharmacist or doctor if you're breastfeeding.

Fluconazole can often be used while breastfeeding, but it's best to check because the medicine can pass into your breast milk in small amounts.

If you're taking fluconazole while breastfeeding, speak to a healthcare professional if you have any concerns about your baby.

Pregnancy and fluconazole

Speak to a doctor or pharmacist before taking fluconazole if you're pregnant or think you might be pregnant. They may suggest taking a different medicine.

Fluconazole is not usually recommended in pregnancy but may be used if the benefits outweigh the risks.

Find out more about taking fluconazole for thrush during pregnancy on the Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy) website

Taking fluconazole with other medicines, food and drink

There are some medicines, remedies and supplements that may not mix well with fluconazole.

This includes:

some types of antibiotic, such as erythromycin or rifampicin
medicines for high blood pressure, such as nifedipine or losartan
medicines to prevent blood clots (anticoagulants), such as warfarin
some types of antidepressant, such as such as escitalopram, citalopram, amitriptyline or nortriptyline
medicines to help lower cholesterol, such as statins

Check the packet or leaflet that comes with your medicine to see if it's suitable for you. Speak to a pharmacist or doctor if you're not sure you can take it.

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