Diflucan Directions

Diflucan is the brand name for fluconazole, an antibiotic used to treat fungal and yeast infections. Your doctor may prescribe the medication for infections of the mouth, throat, stomach, genitals or other areas of the body. Immune system-compromised patients also may take the drug to help protect against infection. Diflucan is available as a tablet, capsule, injection and liquid suspension, but is most commonly prescribed as an oral medication. Since the drug has a powerful effect on microorganisms in the body, you should carefully follow its directions for use.

Things You'll Need

• List of your medications

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Schedule an appointment with your physician to discuss the benefits and risks of taking Diflucan. The medication is available only as a prescription, so your doctor must prescribe it for you. Tell your doctor if you ever have had an allergic reaction to Diflucan or fluconazole in the past.

• 2

  Give your doctor a list of the medications you currently take, including all over-the-counter medicines and herbal supplements. Certain medications and supplements can interfere with the action or efficacy of Diflucan, including blood thinners, anti-seizure medications, cardiac medicines and other antibiotics. Do not take the drug at the same time that you take other medicines, because combining Diflucan with other medications may increase the concentration of certain drugs or block Diflucan from being absorbed.

• 3

  Talk with your pharmacist about how you should take the medication. It sometimes is prescribed as a single-dose tablet for certain infections, so read your prescription label carefully and take the correct dose for your particular condition. Review your current medication list with your pharmacist, who can tell you which medications and supplements interfere with Diflucan.

• 4

  Take the medicine as prescribed for the full course of treatment. Discontinuing it or skipping doses may cause your infection to return. If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as possible, as long as it's not time for your next dose. Your condition may be harder to treat in the future if you do not take Diflucan correctly for the prescribed amount of time.

• 5

  Monitor yourself for adverse reactions, such as diarrhea, changes in taste, dizziness, abdominal discomfort and nausea. Contact your physician immediately if you're not able to tolerate the side effects of the drug, because your physician may want to order a different medication for you.

• 6

  Keep any appointments for blood work that may be ordered by your physician while you take Diflucan. Doctors sometimes order kidney and liver function tests to monitor for damage to these organs, which may occur in some people. Contact your doctor immediately if you have dark urine, severe stomach pain or yellowing of the eyes and skin, which may indicate kidney or liver damage.