Brand Name
Apo-Fluconazole 150
Common Name
fluconazole-150 (for vaginal candidiasis)
In this drug factsheet:
What side effects are possible with this medication?
Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.
The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.
The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.
Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- headache
- heartburn
- nausea
- skin rash
- stomach pain
- taste changes
Although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not check with your doctor or seek medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
- signs of liver problems (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools)
Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:
- signs of a serious allergic reaction (i.e., abdominal cramps, difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting, or swelling of the face and throat)
- signs of a severe skin reaction such as blistering, peeling, a rash covering a large area of the body, a rash that spreads quickly, or a rash combined with fever or discomfort
Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.
Are there any other precautions or warnings for this medication?
Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.
General: If this is your first yeast infection, if you have frequent yeast infections or heart disease, if you have another yeast infection within 2 months after taking this medication, or if you have multiple sexual partners or change partners often, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medication. This medication should only be taken as a single dose.
The following symptoms are not caused by a yeast infection. Contact your doctor for treatment advice, if you experience them:
- abdominal pain
- discharge with a foul odour
- fever or chills
- lower back or shoulder pain
- nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- painful urination
If your symptoms have not improved in 3 days or disappeared in 7 days, contact your doctor.
Grapefruit juice: Taking fluconazole at the same time as drinking grapefruit juice may cause fluconazole to build up in the body and cause side effects. Avoid drinking grapefruit juice if you are taking this medication.
Intercourse: Vaginal intercourse should be avoided when women have a yeast infection. This will help reduce the risk or infecting your sexual partner(s).
QT prolongation: This medication can cause changes in the electrical activity of the heart, called QT prolongation. If you have heart disease, abnormal electrolyte levels (e.g., potassium, sodium), or are taking other medications that can cause QT prolongation (e.g., quinidine, amiodarone), discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Pregnancy: This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. Women who take fluconazole for vaginal yeast infections and who may become pregnant should consider using adequate birth control.
Breast-feeding: This medication passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking fluconazole, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.
Children and adolescents: The safety and effectiveness of fluconazole 150 mg capsules have not been established for the treatment of vaginal candidiasis in children under 12 years of age.
What other drugs could interact with this medication?
There may be an interaction between fluconazole and any of the following:
- amantadine
- anti-psychotic medications (e.g., clozapine, quetiapine, risperidone, ziprasidone)
- anti-rejection medications (e.g., pimecrolimus, sirolimus, tacrolimus)
- aprepitant
- azole anti-fungals (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole)
- benzodiazepines (e.g., alprazolam, chlordiazepoxide, clonazepam, clorazepate, diazepam, flurazepam, midazolam, triazolam)
- birth control pills
- bosentan
- buspirone
- calcium channel blockers (e.g., amlodipine, diltiazem, nifedipine, verapamil)
- carbamazepine
- celecoxib
- cimetidine
- clopidogrel
- colchicine
- corticosteroids (e.g., budesonide, methylprednisolone, prednisolone, prednisone)
- cyclosporine
- dasatinib
- desipramine
- diphenhydramine
- disopyramide
- docetaxel
- eletriptan
- eplerenone
- erlotinib
- etravirine
- everolimus
- fentanyl
- fluoroquinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, moxifloxacin)
- flecainide
- formoterol
- fosphenytoin
- losartan
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- macrolide antibiotics (e.g., clarithromycin, erythromycin)
- methadone
- montelukast
- ondansetron
- phenobarbital
- phenytoin
- phosphoesterase 5 inhibitors (e.g., sildenafil, vardenafil)
- pimozide
- proton pump inhibitors (e.g., esomeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole)
- quinidine
- quinine
- repaglinide
- rifabutin
- rifampin
- ritonavir
- saquinavir
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; e.g., citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline)
- sotalol
- "statin" cholesterol medications (e.g., atorvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin)
- sulfamethoxazole
- sulfonylureas (e.g., glipizide, glyburide)
- sunitinib
- tamoxifen
- theophylline
- tolbutamide
- tolterodine
- trazodone
- tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, imipramine, nortriptyline)
- trimethoprim
- vinblastine
- vincristine
- warfarin
- zidovudine
- zolpidem
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If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:
- stop taking one of the medications,
- change one of the medications to another,
- change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
- leave everything as is.
An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.
Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.
