Fluconazole Coupon & Discounts

Fluconazole Information:

• What

Why is this medication prescribed?

Fluconazole is used to treat fungal infections, including yeast infections of the vagina, mouth, throat, esophagus (tube leading from the mouth to the stomach), abdomen (area between the chest and waist), lungs, blood, and other organs. Fluconazole is also used to treat meningitis (infection of the membranes covering the brain and spine) caused by fungus. Fluconazole is also used to prevent yeast infections in patients who are likely to become infected because they are being treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy before a bone marrow transplant (replacement of unhealthy spongy tissue inside the bones with healthy tissue). Fluconazole is in a class of antifungals called triazoles. It works by slowing the growth of fungi that cause infection.

• How

How should this medicine be used?

Fluconazole comes as a tablet and a suspension (liquid) to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day, with or without food. You may need to take only one dose of fluconazole, or you may need to take fluconazole for several weeks or longer. The length of your treatment depends on your condition and on how well you respond to fluconazole. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take fluconazole exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Your doctor may tell you to take a double dose of fluconazole on the first day of your treatment. Follow these directions carefully.

Shake the liquid well before each use to mix the medication evenly.

You should begin to feel better during the first few days of treatment with fluconazole. If your symptoms do not improve or get worse, call your doctor.

Continue to take fluconazole until your doctor tells you that you should stop, even if you feel better. Do not stop taking fluconazole without talking to your doctor. If you stop taking fluconazole too soon, your infection may come back after a short time.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.

• Other Uses

Other uses for this medicine

Fluconazole is also sometimes used to treat serious fungal infections that begin in the lungs and can spread through the body and fungal infections of the eye, prostate (a male reproductive organ), skin and nails. Fluconazole is also sometimes used to prevent fungal infections in people who are likely to become infected because they have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or cancer or have had a transplant operation (surgery to remove an organ and replace it with a donor or artificial organ). Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this medication for your condition.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

• Precautions

What special precautions should I follow?

Before taking fluconazole,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to fluconazole, other antifungal medications such as itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), posaconazole (Noxafil), or voriconazole (Vfend), any other medications, or any of the ingredients in fluconazole tablets or suspension. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
• tell your doctor if you are taking astemizole (Hismanal) (not available in the US), cisapride (Propulsid) (not available in the US), pimozide (Orap), quinidine (Quinidex), or terfenadine (Seldane) (not available in the US). Your doctor will probably tell you not to take fluconazole if you are taking any of these medications.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking, or plan to take. Also you should tell your doctor you have taken fluconazole before starting to take any new medications within 7 days of receiving fluconazole. Be sure to mention any of the following: amitriptyline; amphotericin B (Abelcet, AmBisome, Amphotec, Fungizone); anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); benzodiazepines such as midazolam (Versed); calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine (Norvasc, in Caduet, in Lotrel), felodipine (Plendil, in Lexxel), isradipine (DynaCirc), and nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia); carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Tegretol); celecoxib (Celebrex); cholesterol-lowering medications (statins) such as atorvastatin (Lipitor, in Caduet), fluvastatin (Lescol), and simvastatin (Zocor, in Simcor, in Vytorin); clopidogrel (Plavix); cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan); cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune); diuretics ('water pills') such as hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL, Microzide); erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin); fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora, Sublimaze); isoniazid (INH, Nydrazid); losartan (Cozaar, in Hyzaar); methadone (Methadose); nevirapine (Viramune); nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan); oral contraceptives (birth control pills); oral medication for diabetes such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase, Glycron, others), and tolbutamide (Orinase); nortriptyline (Pamelor); phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek); prednisone (Sterapred); rifabutin (Mycobutin); rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, in Rifamate, in Rifater); saquinavir (Invirase); sirolimus (Rapamune); tacrolimus (Prograf); theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Uniphyl, others); triazolam (Halcion); valproic acid (Depakene, Depakote); vinblastine; vincristine; vitamin A; voriconazole (Vfend); and zidovudine (Retrovir). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with fluconazole, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had cancer; acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS); an irregular heartbeat; a low level of calcium, sodium, magnesium, or potassium in your blood; rare, inherited conditions where the body is not able to tolerate lactose or sucrose;or heart, kidney, or liver disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, especially if you are in the first 3 months of your pregnancy, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking fluconazole, call your doctor. Fluconazole may harm the fetus.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking fluconazole.
• you should know that fluconazole may make you dizzy or cause seizures. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.

What special dietary instructions should I follow?

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

• Missed Dose

What should I do if I forget a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

• Side Effects

What side effects can this medication cause?

Fluconazole may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• headache
• dizziness
• diarrhea
• stomach pain
• heartburn
• change in ability to taste food

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately or get emergency treatment:

• nausea
• vomiting
• extreme tiredness
• unusual bruising or bleeding
• lack of energy
• loss of appetite
• pain in the upper right part of the stomach
• yellowing of the skin or eyes
• flu-like symptoms
• dark urine
• pale stools
• seizures
• rash
• blistering or peeling skin
• hives
• itching
• swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• difficulty breathing or swallowing

Fluconazole may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

• Storage

What storage conditions are needed for this medicine?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Throw away any unused liquid medication after 14 days. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

• Overdose

In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Symptoms of overdose may include thw following:

• hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
• extreme fear that others are trying to harm you

• Additional Info

What other information should I know?

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your response to fluconazole.

Do not let anyone else use your medication. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about refilling your prescription. If you still have symptoms of infection after you finish taking the fluconazole, call your doctor.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

Brand names

• Diflucan^®

• What

What is fluconazole?

Fluconazole is a triazole antifungal medication used to treat or prevent severe fungal infections in patients who have developed resistance to other antifungal drugs, are recuperating from bone marrow or other transplant procedures, or are more susceptible to fungal infections due to immune deficiencies from cancer and radiation treatments or as part of their Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) regimen. Fluconazole is used to treat fungal infections that occur in the vagina, smooth muscle tissue, blood and organs, typically caused by candidiasis, peritonitis, or fungal meningitis. It also is effective in treating serious fungal infections which can spread to infect eyes, prostate, skin, and nails. Fluconazole side effects tend to be minimal and the drug is typically well-tolerated by most people. Fluconazole is commonly marketed under the names Diflucan and Trican and is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines as one of the most important medications needed in a basic health system.

• How

How do I take fluconazole?

Save on the high fluconazole price by purchasing your medications in your local pharmacy using our free fluconazole coupon or discount card. Fluconazole is available in tablet form and as a liquid, both to be taken by mouth. It is usually taken once per day and can be taken with or without food. Your doctor will determine, based on your symptoms and your response to the medication, whether you need only one dose or whether you should take fluconazole for a longer period.  You should follow your doctor’s or pharmacist’s directions carefully and asked for an explanation of any instruction you do not understand. Do not take more or less fluconazole at any one time or longer than your doctor prescribes.

• Precautions

Before taking fluconazole, tell your doctor if:

• You are allergic to fluconazole pills or oral solution or any other antifungal medications.
• You have ever taken fluconazole in the past.
• You are taking or have recently taken any other medications, whether administered by a doctor in the U.S. or by a medical provider overseas.
• You are taking any prescription or nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements or herbal products.
• You have or have ever had cancer or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
• You have an irregular heartbeat, low levels of calcium, sodium, magnesium, or potassium, or a rare, inherited condition resulting in intolerance to lactose or sucrose.
• You have or ever had heart, kidney, or liver disease.
• You are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking fluconazole, inform your doctor immediately as fluconazole can harm your fetus.
• If you are having surgery, inform your doctor or dentist that you are taking fluconazole.
• Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of taking fluconazole?

While fluconazole pills are generally well-tolerated, they do, although rarely, cause liver problems. Fluconazole also rarely causes an allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.  Fluconazole may cause some people to become dizzy, drowsy, or less alert. Before operating machinery, driving, or engaging in any activity which could be dangerous, make certain you know how you will react to this medication.

While not a complete list, the following potential fluconazole side effects can be serious and should be immediately reported to your doctor: nausea, vomiting, pain in the upper stomach, change in appetite, dark colored urine, clay colored stools, yellowing of the skin or eyes, fever, chills, body aches, extreme tiredness, flu-like symptoms, blistering or peeling, red skin rash, difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling around the face or throat or other extremities, easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, or convulsions. 

• Missed Dose

What if I forget to take a dose of fluconazole?

If you miss a dose of fluconazole, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose.

• Storage

How do I store fluconazole?

Fluconazole pills or liquid should be stored in the container in which it came. It should remain tightly closed and out of the reach of children. Store fluconazole at room temperature below 86 degrees, away from excess heat and moisture. You should not store fluconazole in your bathroom. Any leftover medication which will not be used or is expired should be properly disposed of.  Any unused liquid fluconazole should be discarded after 14 days. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the proper way to dispose of this medication.

• Overdose

What happens if I overdose on fluconazole?

Symptoms of possible fluconazole overdose include hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist) or an extreme fear that others are attempting to harm you. Should an overdose be suspected, contact your local poison control center. If the patient has collapsed or is not breathing, contact your local emergency services by dialing 911.

• Additional Info

Warnings

Fluconazole has been associated with QT interval prolongation, which can result in cardiac arrhythmias. Caution should be taken in patients with risk factors for prolonged QT interval, such as an imbalance in electrolytes or use of other drugs associated with prolonged QT interval. This medicine has also rarely been associated with hepatotoxicity and, consequently, extreme caution should be used in patients with pre-existing liver disease. Patients allergic to azoles may be allergic to fluconazole. Fluconazole should not be taken during pregnancy. High doses greater than 400 mg per day have been associated with birth defects in infants.

Brand Names

Fluconazole is the generic name for Diflucan and CanesOral. In Canada, fluconazole is sold under the brand names Monicure and Canesten. To reduce the high price of fluconazole, take advantage of our free fluconazole coupons or fluconazole discount card to save up to 29% in your local pharmacy.