Sometimes you may have a fungal infection and your doctor may prescribe a medicine. One of the most commonly prescribed medications is Fluconazole. This is given as a syrup, or suspension, especially to young children and those who have difficulty swallowing pills. So today, let's talk about Fluconazole syrup, how to use it, what to be careful about, and all the side effects.
What is Fluconazole?
Simply put, Fluconazole is an antifungal . This means that this medicine is used to control and cure infections caused by various types of fungi, such as yeast, that grow in our bodies.
But one thing must be kept in mind. This medicine will not cure viral infections like colds and flu, nor other bacterial infections. This is a medicine specifically for fungal infections.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine
Before prescribing Fluconazole to you, it is very important that your doctor knows about your health condition. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions:
- If you have an irregular heartbeat .
- If you have kidney disease .
- If you have liver disease .
- If you have been told that your blood potassium level is low.
- If you have previously had an allergic reaction to Fluconazole or other similar 'azole' type antifungals.
- If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant .
- If you are a breastfeeding mother .
How exactly do you use this medicine?
To get the most out of a medication, it is essential to use it correctly.
- This is a syrup that you take by mouth. Take it exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
- Shake the bottle well before use. Because this is a syrup, particles of the medicine may settle at the bottom of the bottle.
- Use only a specially marked spoon or measuring cup provided by your doctor or from a pharmacy to measure your medication. Do not use household teaspoons or rice spoons, as they may not give you an accurate measurement.
- You can take this before or after meals. That's no problem.
- Take your medicine at the time prescribed by your doctor, at the prescribed intervals. Don't rush things.
- A mistake many people make is to stop taking the medicine when the pain subsides a little. Don't do that. You need to complete the number of days the doctor prescribed. Otherwise, the infection may not be completely cured and may recur.
- When giving to children: Special care is needed when giving this medicine to young children. It is usually used in children over 6 months of age. However, ask your doctor for the exact dosage and method of giving it to your child.
What to do if you overdose?
If you think you have taken too much medicine, do not panic. But immediately go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU). Or call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.
What if I miss a dose of medication?
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose on time. Never take a double dose.
Other drugs that may interact with this medicine (Drug Interactions)
Fluconazole is a medication that can interact with many other medications, so it is very important to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking.
| Type of medicine | Description |
|---|---|
| Do not take Fluconazole with this medicine. | |
| Flibanserin, Lomitapide, Lonafarnib, Triazolam | Taking these together can cause serious side effects. |
| Other drugs that prolong the QT interval | Medications that can cause heart rhythm abnormalities. |
| Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking this medication. | |
| Antibiotics and antivirals | Medicines such as Rifampin, Rifabutin, and those used for HIV or Hepatitis |
| Heart disease and high blood pressure medications | Medications for blood pressure, heart disease, and heart rhythm disorders |
| Cholesterol-lowering medications | Atorvastatin, Lovastatin, Simvastatin, etc. |
| Diabetes medicine | Glipizide, such as Glyburide |
| Painkillers and anti-inflammatories | NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen and Naproxen |
| Other | Warfarin (for blood thinning), Phenytoin (for epilepsy), Amitriptyline (for depression), Prednisone (steroid), Cyclosporine, Tacrolimus, Vitamin A and many other medications. |
This list is not exhaustive. Therefore, tell your doctor about all the medications you take (including vitamins, herbal remedies, and supplements). Don't forget to tell your doctor if you smoke or drink alcohol.
Possible Side Effects
Like any medicine, Fluconazole can cause side effects in some people. Some of them can be serious, so it's important to be aware of them.
| Side effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Side effects that you should report to your doctor immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. |
| Changes in heart rate | Feeling like your heart is beating fast, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, chest pain, difficulty breathing. |
| Symptoms of liver damage | Pain in the upper right abdomen, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stools, dark yellow/brown urine, yellowing of the eyes/skin, extreme fatigue. |
| Serious skin reactions | Skin redness, blistering, peeling (even inside the mouth). |
| Seizures | Sudden convulsions. |
| Side effects that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Headache | |
| Nausea, stomach pain | |
| Diarrhea | |
| Change in taste in the mouth | |
How to store the medicine?
- Keep it out of the reach and sight of children.
- Store at room temperature (between 5 and 30 Celsius). Protect from extreme heat and extreme cold (by placing in the refrigerator).
- Keep the bottle cap tightly closed.
- Since this is a honey, throw away any leftovers after two weeks of making it.
Take-Home Message
- Fluconazole is a medicine used to treat fungal infections. It does not treat viral or bacterial infections.
- Before taking the medicine, be sure to inform your doctor about any other medical conditions you have and any other medications you are taking.
- Shake the bottle well before using the medicine. Use only a proper measuring device.
- Even if your symptoms subside, do not stop taking the medication until the number of days prescribed by your doctor has been completed.
- If you experience any serious side effects (such as skin rash, difficulty breathing, severe dizziness), seek medical advice immediately.
- Discard the remaining honey two weeks after opening.
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