Fluconazole

Fluconazole is an oral antifungal medication usually found as a generic (unbranded) treatment. It can be used to treat infections caused by different types of fungus, such as vaginal thrush which is caused by a yeast called candida.

Fluconazole 150 mg tablets can be used to treat vaginal thrush when taken as a single dose. Each tablet contains the active ingredient fluconazole 150mg. Fluconazole is available on prescription or over-the-counter for vaginal thrush.

Some people who get thrush often (more than 4 times in a year) are diagnosed with recurrent thrush. Your doctor may prescribe fluconazole as a preventative treatment to treat recurrent thrush and stop it from coming back.

Fluconazole can also treat:

• oral thrush
• balanitis (an infection on the head of the penis)
• infections in your blood or other parts of your body

As fluconazole is an antifungal medication, it works by killing the fungus that causes your infection. Vaginal thrush is caused by an overgrowth of a yeast called candida albicans, which is a type of fungus.

Fluconazole kills fungus by damaging its cell membrane, making holes so the contents of the cell leak out. This means the fungus will die and is not able to multiply further.

How long does fluconazole 150mg take to work?

Fluconazole for thrush should make vaginal thrush symptoms better within 7 days and you may start to feel better within a few days. For more serious vaginal thrush infections, it can take 1-2 weeks to reach its full effect.

Fluconazole tablets are available in either 50mg, 150mg, or 200mg doses. Vaginal thrush is always treated with fluconazole 150mg, whether you have symptoms now or you’re taking it to prevent recurrent thrush.

Most women can take fluconazole for vaginal thrush and because it’s a single dose it’s usually well-tolerated. You’ll need to speak to a doctor or pharmacist before getting fluconazole 150mg as they’ll check your symptoms and medical history to make sure it’s suitable for you.

It may not be suitable for you if you have an allergy to any of the ingredients in the tablet or if you’re lactose intolerant (fluconazole tablets contain lactose).

For vaginal thrush, fluconazole 150mg is taken as a single dose. The tablet should be swallowed whole, with a full glass of water. You can take it with or without food, so if you have a sensitive stomach or sometimes feel sick after taking medication, it’s recommended to take it with a meal.

When should I take fluconazole?

Take fluconazole for thrush as soon as you notice symptoms. The sooner you get treatment, the faster you can get rid of the infection and feel better. It doesn’t matter what time you take it.

What should I do if I forget to take fluconazole?

As it’s only 1 dose, just take it as soon as you remember.

Fluconazole and pregnancy

In most cases, fluconazole 150mg isn’t used in pregnancy for vaginal thrush. You’ll usually be prescribed clotrimazole instead, which can be found as a cream or pessary, or as a combination treatment. You can buy these treatments online with Asda Online Doctor and our doctors will make sure they’re suitable for you during pregnancy before prescribing.

Fluconazole and breastfeeding

You can take fluconazole 150mg if you’re breastfeeding but only if your doctor or midwife has said it’s okay to do so. It’s unlikely to cause any harm or be passed onto the baby when taken as a single dose, but you can speak to your doctor if you’re worried.

If you’re planning to become pregnant

It’s recommended to wait 7 days after your single fluconazole 150mg dose to try for a baby. Fluconazole has a small risk of causing birth defects during the first stages of pregnancy, although this is more likely at higher, repeated doses.

It’s also not recommended to have sex until your vaginal thrush has cleared as it could slow down the healing process and it’s possible to pass it to your partner.

Although fluconazole for thrush is suitable for most women, you shouldn’t take it if you are allergic to fluconazole, any other ingredients in the tablets, or another antifungal medication.

You should also tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have:

• kidney or liver problems
• heart disease or heart rhythm problems
• abnormal levels of potassium, calcium, or magnesium in your blood
• ever developed a severe skin rash, skin peeling, blistering, or mouth sores after taking fluconazole

Fluconazole contains lactose – If you have lactose intolerance speak to your doctor as it may not be a suitable treatment.

Fluconazole can cause side effects like any medication, but it’s unlikely to cause serious or long-lasting side effects when taken as a single dose. If you do get any side effects, this is likely to go away within a few days.

Serious and rare side effects of fluconazole which require immediate medical attention include:

• a widespread rash, fever, and enlarged lymph nodes (drug hypersensitivity syndrome)
• difficulty breathing, itching, skin rash, and swelling (a severe allergic reaction)
• loss of appetite, vomiting (being sick), tiredness, yellowing of the eyes or skin (liver problems)

These are all medical emergencies and you should go to A&E or call 999 straight away.

Common fluconazole side effects include:

• rash
• a change in liver function as shown in blood tests
• headache
• stomach discomforts such as diarrhoea, vomiting, or nausea (feeling sick)

Uncommon fluconazole side effects include:

• a reduction in red blood cells which can cause pale skin, weakness, or breathlessness
• decrease in appetite
• inability to sleep or drowsiness
• fit
• dizziness
• a sensation of spinning, tingling, pricking, or numbness, changes in sense of taste
• constipation
• difficult digestion which may cause wind and dry mouth
• muscle pain
• liver damage and yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
• wheals (swelling of the surface of the skin with red or skin-coloured welts)
• blistering (hives)
• itching, increased sweating
• tiredness
• generally feeling unwell
• fever

Rare fluconazole side effects include:

• lower than normal white blood cells which may cause flu-like symptoms, tiredness, and generally feeling unwell
• red or purple discolouration of the skin, which may be caused by low platelet count
• other blood cell changes
• blood chemistry changes (high levels of cholesterol and fats)
• low blood potassium
• shaking
• abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG)
• change in heart rate or rhythm
• liver failure
• allergic skin reactions (sometimes severe), including widespread blistering rash and skin peeling, or severe skin reactions
• hair loss

Other side effects of fluconazole (not reported enough to determine a frequency):

• hypersensitivity reaction with a skin rash
• swollen glands
• an increase in a type of white blood cell (eosinophilia)
• inflammation of internal organs (liver, lungs, heart, kidneys and large intestine)

Fluconazole 150mg shouldn’t be taken if you’re on the following medications:

• erythromycin (an antibiotic for treating infections)
• quinidine (used for treating heart arrhythmia)
• pimozide (used for treating mental illness)
• cisapride (used for stomach upsets)
• astemizole or terfenadine (antihistamine for allergies)

Let your doctor or pharmacist know if you take any other medications, as they may need to monitor you after taking fluconazole. This isn’t as likely when only taking a single dose.

Fluconazole is an effective thrush treatment, but may not be suitable for every woman. Alternative thrush treatments for women include:

• Clotrimazole 1% cream – An external antifungal cream containing the active ingredient clotrimazole. Should be applied 2-3 times daily to the external affected areas of your skin. Usually needs to be taken for 2 weeks and can improve vaginal thrush symptoms within 3 days.
• Fluconazole 150mg tablet and clotrimazole 1% cream – Fluconazole can also be taken together with external clotrimazole 1% cream to relieve external symptoms and treat thrush. Fluconazole is an oral tablet and clotrimazole cream is applied externally to affected areas of your skin.
• Clotrimazole 500mg pessary and clotrimazole 1% cream combo – This combination treatment includes clotrimazole 1% external cream (as above) and a single clotrimazole 500mg pessary. The pessary is a tablet that’s inserted directly into your vagina and left overnight to absorb while you sleep. The cream can be applied externally 2-3 times per day, on affected areas of the skin. Clotrimazole in both forms is an antifungal treatment, so it works by killing the fungus.

Thrush in men

If your male sexual partner also has thrush symptoms, he should get treated to prevent passing the infection back to you. He’ll need to get male thrush treatment. You can get fluconazole for men, but the usual treatment is clotrimazole 1% cream which can be prescribed by Asda Online Doctor.

How should I store fluconazole?

Keep your fluconazole tablet out of reach of children and vulnerable adults. There are no other special storage conditions.

How should fluconazole be disposed of?

If you don’t use your fluconazole tablet, you can save it if you get vaginal thrush again. However, you must not use it after the expiry date. If you need to dispose of fluconazole, take it to your local pharmacy which will be able to dispose of it safely.

What does fluconazole look like?

This depends on the manufacturer, as generic medications can look slightly different depending on who made the tablet. Usually, fluconazole looks like a hard gelatin capsule filled with white to off-white powder. It may be marked with the dose on one side (150) and FL (for fluconazole) on the other.

What pack sizes are fluconazole available in?

Fluconazole 150mg capsule is available in pack sizes of 1, as you only need to take a single dose.