Fluconazole🔊

What is Fluconazole for?

Fluconazole is an antifungal agent that is commonly used to treat several fungal infections, but not limited to the following:

• Vaginal yeast infections (vaginal candidiasis)
• Mucosal candidiasis
• Fungal skin infections (e.g. Athlete’s foot)

How to use it?

Fluconazole can be taken by mouth or as an injection. If you are taking or have taken Fluconazole, avoid pregnancy during the treatment and for at least one week after the last dose. The suggested dosages for different uses and age groups are listed below: 

For vaginal/ vulvovaginal candidiasis

Adult

Uncomplicated: Oral: 150 mg for 1 dose

Recurrent: Oral: 150 mg every 72 hours for 3 doses, then 150 mg once weekly as maintenance doses for 6 months

For mucosal candidiasis (except genital)

Adult

Oral: The doses and duration of treatment depend on different conditions:

• For oropharyngeal candidiasis: take 50 mg once daily for 7-14 days
• For atrophic oral candidiasis associated with dentures: take 50 mg once daily for 14 days
• Other mucosal infections: take 50 mg once daily for 14-30 days. If the infections do not go away, increase to 100 mg daily

Child 12-17 years

Oral: The doses and duration of treatment depend on different conditions:

• For oropharyngeal candidiasis: take 50 mg once daily for 7-14 days
• Other mucosal infections: take 50 mg once daily for 14-30 days. If the infections do not go away, increase to 100 mg daily

Child 1 month – 11 years

Oral: The doses and duration of treatment depends on different conditions:

• For oropharyngeal candidiasis: take 3-6 mg/kg on the first day, then 3 mg/kg daily for 7-14 days
• Other mucosal infections: take 3-6 mg/kg on the first day, then 3 mg/kg daily for 14-30 days

For fungal skin infections

Adult: Oral: 50 mg once daily for 2-4 weeks, with a maximum duration of 6 weeks

For prevention of fungal infections in immunocompromised patients

Adult: Oral/ Injection: 50-400 mg once daily

Child: Oral/ Injection: 3-12 mg/ kg once daily with a maximum dose of 400 mg per dose

What are the side effects of Fluconazole?

The most common side effects of Fluconazole include headache, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, dyspepsia and taste alteration.

Where to buy Fluconazole in Hong Kong?

In Hong Kong, Fluconazole is a prescription only medicine, and requires a prescription from a doctor to be purchased in a pharmacy. It can also be obtained from doctors. To find a pharmacy near you, refer to the list of pharmacies (“Authorized Sellers of Poisons”) from the Hong Kong Department of Health.