What is Diflucan?

Diflucan is an antifungal antibiotic that is used to treat infections caused by fungus. This could affect any part of your body including the mouth, throat, esophagus, lungs, bladder, genital area, and the blood. Diflucan is effective in preventing fungal infection in individuals who have a weak immune system that is resultant of cancer treatment, bone marrow transplant, or conditions like AIDS. Diflucan does not treat a viral infection like the common cold or flu. Store Diflucan tablets at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

How does Diflucan work?

Diflucan affects best when quantity of medicine in your body is kept at constant. This is possible by taking medication at equal spaced intervals. Different conditions necessitate dissimilar methods of use. Diflucan is to be consumed once daily.

Another dosing method requires taking the drug for one week per month until treatment is completed. Stopping the medication too early can permit yeast (fungus) to persist, resulting in a relapse.

How to Take Diflucan?

• Take this Diflucan for the full period that it has been prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms could better before the infection is completely treated but you should not stop the medication.
• Do not take the medication in larger amounts or for longer than suggested by your doctor.
• Follow the directions on your prescription label.
• Vaginal infections are often treated with only one pill.
• In case of other infections, your first dose may be a double dose.
• Take this medicine with a full glass of water.
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember and avoid it if it's almost time for your next dose. Do not take additional medicine to make up the missed dose and get emergency medical attention if you think you have taken Diflucan in excess.

Side effects of Diflucan

Seek emergency medical attention if you have any signs of an allergic reaction.
This includes:

• hives
• difficulty breathing
• Swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat

Call your doctor if you experience:

• nausea
• stomach pain
• low fever
• loss of appetite
• dark urine
• clay-colored stool
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms
• severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash
• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness
• seizure (convulsions)

Less serious side effects include:

• mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or upset stomach
• headache
• dizziness
• unusual or unpleasant taste in your mouth
• skin rash or itching

Side effects other than those listed could occur. Talk to your doctor about anything that seem strange or bothers you.

What should I discuss with my doctor before taking Diflucan?

Prior to beginning Diflucan, tell your doctor if you are use either of the following drugs:

• astemizole (Hismanal)
• warfarin , a blood thinner such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Sandimmune, Neoral)
• oral diabetes medicine : this includes glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase, Glynase), tolbutamide (Orinase), tolazamide (Tolinase), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), and others
• rifabutin (Mycobutin) or rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane)
• sedatives like diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), alprazolam (Xanax), or midazolam (Versed)
• seizure medication including phenytoin (Dilantin) or valproic acid (Depakene)
• tacrolimus ((Prograf)
• theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theolair, Theochron, Elixophyllin, Slo-Phyllin, others)

Use of such medication does not permit the use of Diflucan simultaneously. The drug can in such cases be used only after the doctor conducts tests and adjusts medicine dosage.

Other drugs can affect Diflucan. Tell your doctor regarding any prescription and over-the-counter medication you use.
This includes:

• vitamins
• minerals
• herbal products
• and drugs prescribed by other doctors

Do not start using new medication without discussing with your doctor.

Before taking Diflucan, tell your doctor if you have:

• liver disease
• kidney disease
• a heart rhythm disorder
• or a history of Long QT syndrome

Carefully follow your doctors' instructions. Tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve.

What should I avoid while taking Diflucan?

There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activity when using Diflucan except if your doctor has advised you separately.

Diflucan could be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Diflucan may pass into breast milk and impair a nursing baby. Do not use Diflucan without telling your doctor when breast-feeding a baby.