Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is It?When It Starts WorkingIts Half-LifeStudies/EfficacyDosing GuidelinesSide EffectsInteractionsPreventing Yeast InfectionsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is It?
When It Starts Working
Its Half-Life
Studies/Efficacy
Dosing Guidelines
Side Effects
Interactions
Preventing Yeast Infections
Frequently Asked Questions
Fluconazole, the generic version of the brand-name product Diflucan, is an oral and injectable antifungal medication used to treat various fungal infections or yeast infections affecting the vagina, mouth, throat, lungs, and other organs.
It belongs to a class of drugs known as triazole antifungals, more commonly referred to as azole antifungals or simply antifungals.
Because yeast infections can cause uncomfortable and painful symptoms that affect a person’s quality of life, it helps to know how fast fluconazole will work.
To answer this question, this article will examine the factors that affect how quickly fluconazole begins to work, alongside other pertinent information regarding this medication’s safe and effective use, including dosing guidelines, potential side effects, storage information, and more.
WLADIMIR BULGAR/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images
What Is Fluconazole?
It is Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved to treat the following conditions:
Off-Label Uses of Fluconazole
Off-label prescribing is when a healthcare provider prescribes an FDA-approved medication for a non-approved condition.
Some examples of off-label uses of fluconazole include but are not limited to:
How Quickly Does Fluconazole Start to Work?
How long fluconazole takes to work can depend on factors such as the type of infection and its severity, other medical conditions, and other individual factors.
It may take longer to see results for more severe, persistent, or recurring infections. Ask your healthcare provider what to expect in terms of how fast fluconazole will work for you.
If you take fluconazole for a vaginal yeast infection, symptoms may fade within 24 hours, though it may take a few days for the infection to disappear completely. If symptoms worsen or do not improve after a few days, notify your healthcare provider.
In comparison, symptoms should improve within a week of taking fluconazole for an oral infection.
If you have a severe fungal infection, however, discuss with your healthcare provider how long it will take for fluconazole to start to work. Generally, it may take one to two weeks for more severe infections before fluconazole reaches its full effect.
Overall, you should begin to feel better during the first few days of treatment with fluconazole.
How Long Does Fluconazole Last in the Body?
The half-life of a drug is the amount of time it takes for half the drug’s active substance to clear from the body. It takes about five half-lives to clear from the body after you stop taking fluconazole.
The half-life of fluconazole is about 30 hours, so it takes about six days after the medication is finished to clear the body.Fluconazole keeps working even after you stop taking it.
Proven Efficacy
Studies have shown that fluconazole is an effective treatment for various yeast infections.
For example, one study compared three treatment regimens for vaginal yeast infections and found that one dose of fluconazole is effective for this condition.
In another study, one dose of fluconazole resulted in 97% of people being cured or significantly improved after five to 16 days.
Studies also show that long-term weekly treatment with fluconazole can help prevent recurrent vaginal yeast infections
Fluconazole is also available as an oral suspension (an oral liquid that contains one or more active ingredients) that contains 10 mg per milliliter (mL) or 40 mg/mL. It is also available as an intravenous (IV) solution (injected into a vein).
Dosage will depend on the infection being treated, its severity, and factors regarding the individual, such as a compromised immune system or other medical conditions.
Examples of standard adult dosages (orally administered) include:
In comparison, general dosing guidelines for injectable fluconazole include:
Side Effects & Safety
Like all drugs, fluconazole has potential side effects that range from benign to severe. As such, if you take fluconazole, consistently monitor yourself for emerging side effects.
Common Side Effects
Common side effects of fluconazole in adults include:
Children who take fluconazole may experience common side effects of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain.
Severe Side Effects
Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening, or you think you have a medical emergency.
Report Side Effects
Fluconazole may cause other side effects. Call your healthcare provider if you have unusual problems while taking this medication.
(800) 332-1088
Who Should Not Take Fluconazole?
Fluconazole is not safe for everyone. Before taking fluconazole, inform your healthcare provider of any and all medical conditions you have, your medical history, and your family history.
Additionally, fluconazole may be prescribed with caution and close monitoring in some people only if the healthcare provider determines it is safe. This includes those with certain medical conditions like liver, kidney, or heart problems.
Individuals who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding should consult their healthcare provider for medical advice.
Potential for Interaction
Tell your healthcare provider about all your medicines, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, and vitamins and supplements.
While taking fluconazole, do not start any new medications without approval from your healthcare provider.
Some drug interactions include but are not limited to:
This is a partial list of drug interactions. Other drug interactions may occur with fluconazole.
Consult your healthcare provider for more information about drug interactions and how they may affect you.
Besides taking any medication that is prescribed, some measures you can take that may help reduce yeast infections include:
Summary
If you take fluconazole for a vaginal yeast infection, your symptoms will likely fade after one day, although it may take several days to disappear completely.
If your symptoms worsen or do not improve after a few days, contact your healthcare provider for medical advice.Know that various factors can affect how long it takes for fluconazole to work, which can vary from person to person.
You may need to take fluconazole longer to see results for more severe, persistent, or recurring infections. Ask your healthcare provider regarding what you should expect when taking fluconazole.
Store fluconazole at room temperature (between 68 and 77 degrees F). Keep away from direct light, heat, and moisture. Keep this medicine out of reach and sight of children and pets.
The cost will depend on the dosage and quantity. You can ask your pharmacist to calculate the cost of your fluconazole prescription based on your insurance coverage.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Fluconazole.MedlinePlus.Fluconazole injection.DailyMed.Label: Diflucan- fluconazole tablet Diflucan- fluconazole powder, for suspension.DailyMed.Label: Fluconazole injection.Boedeker KS, Kilzer WJ.Fluconazole dose recommendation in urinary tract infection.Ann Pharmacother. 2001;35(3):369-372. doi:10.1345/aph.10170Alkeswani A, Cantrell W, Elewski B.Treatment oftineacapitis.Skin Appendage Disord. 2019;5(4):201-210. doi:10.1159/000495909Falotico JM, Lipner SR.Updated perspectives on the diagnosis and management of onychomycosis.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2022;15:1933-1957. doi:10.2147/CCID.S362635Karakaş M, Durdu M, Memişoğlu HR.Oral fluconazole in the treatment of tinea versicolor.J Dermatol. 2005;32(1):19-21. doi:10.1111/j.1346-8138.2005.tb00707.xNational Health Service.Common questions about fluconazole.Brammer KW, Farrow PR, Faulkner JK.Pharmacokinetics and tissue penetration of fluconazole in humans.Rev Infect Dis. 1990;12 Suppl 3:S318-S326. doi:10.1093/clinids/12.supplement_3.s318Mikamo H, Izumi K, Ito K, et al.Comparative study of the effectiveness of oral fluconazole and intravaginal clotrimazole in the treatment of vaginal candidiasis.Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 1995;3(1):7-11. doi:10.1155/S1064744995000238Multicentre Study Group.Treatment of vaginal candidiasis with a single oral dose of fluconazole.Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1988;7:364-367. doi:10.1007/BF01962338Sobel JD, Wiesenfeld HC, Martens M, et al.Maintenance fluconazole therapy for recurrent vulvovaginalcandidiasis.N Engl J Med. 2004;351:876-883. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa033114Prescribers' Digital Reference.Diflucan.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Fluconazole.MedlinePlus.Fluconazole injection.DailyMed.Label: Diflucan- fluconazole tablet Diflucan- fluconazole powder, for suspension.DailyMed.Label: Fluconazole injection.Boedeker KS, Kilzer WJ.Fluconazole dose recommendation in urinary tract infection.Ann Pharmacother. 2001;35(3):369-372. doi:10.1345/aph.10170Alkeswani A, Cantrell W, Elewski B.Treatment oftineacapitis.Skin Appendage Disord. 2019;5(4):201-210. doi:10.1159/000495909Falotico JM, Lipner SR.Updated perspectives on the diagnosis and management of onychomycosis.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2022;15:1933-1957. doi:10.2147/CCID.S362635Karakaş M, Durdu M, Memişoğlu HR.Oral fluconazole in the treatment of tinea versicolor.J Dermatol. 2005;32(1):19-21. doi:10.1111/j.1346-8138.2005.tb00707.xNational Health Service.Common questions about fluconazole.Brammer KW, Farrow PR, Faulkner JK.Pharmacokinetics and tissue penetration of fluconazole in humans.Rev Infect Dis. 1990;12 Suppl 3:S318-S326. doi:10.1093/clinids/12.supplement_3.s318Mikamo H, Izumi K, Ito K, et al.Comparative study of the effectiveness of oral fluconazole and intravaginal clotrimazole in the treatment of vaginal candidiasis.Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 1995;3(1):7-11. doi:10.1155/S1064744995000238Multicentre Study Group.Treatment of vaginal candidiasis with a single oral dose of fluconazole.Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1988;7:364-367. doi:10.1007/BF01962338Sobel JD, Wiesenfeld HC, Martens M, et al.Maintenance fluconazole therapy for recurrent vulvovaginalcandidiasis.N Engl J Med. 2004;351:876-883. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa033114Prescribers' Digital Reference.Diflucan.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Fluconazole.MedlinePlus.Fluconazole injection.DailyMed.Label: Diflucan- fluconazole tablet Diflucan- fluconazole powder, for suspension.DailyMed.Label: Fluconazole injection.Boedeker KS, Kilzer WJ.Fluconazole dose recommendation in urinary tract infection.Ann Pharmacother. 2001;35(3):369-372. doi:10.1345/aph.10170Alkeswani A, Cantrell W, Elewski B.Treatment oftineacapitis.Skin Appendage Disord. 2019;5(4):201-210. doi:10.1159/000495909Falotico JM, Lipner SR.Updated perspectives on the diagnosis and management of onychomycosis.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2022;15:1933-1957. doi:10.2147/CCID.S362635Karakaş M, Durdu M, Memişoğlu HR.Oral fluconazole in the treatment of tinea versicolor.J Dermatol. 2005;32(1):19-21. doi:10.1111/j.1346-8138.2005.tb00707.xNational Health Service.Common questions about fluconazole.Brammer KW, Farrow PR, Faulkner JK.Pharmacokinetics and tissue penetration of fluconazole in humans.Rev Infect Dis. 1990;12 Suppl 3:S318-S326. doi:10.1093/clinids/12.supplement_3.s318Mikamo H, Izumi K, Ito K, et al.Comparative study of the effectiveness of oral fluconazole and intravaginal clotrimazole in the treatment of vaginal candidiasis.Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 1995;3(1):7-11. doi:10.1155/S1064744995000238Multicentre Study Group.Treatment of vaginal candidiasis with a single oral dose of fluconazole.Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1988;7:364-367. doi:10.1007/BF01962338Sobel JD, Wiesenfeld HC, Martens M, et al.Maintenance fluconazole therapy for recurrent vulvovaginalcandidiasis.N Engl J Med. 2004;351:876-883. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa033114Prescribers' Digital Reference.Diflucan.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.
MedlinePlus.Fluconazole.
MedlinePlus.Fluconazole injection.
DailyMed.Label: Diflucan- fluconazole tablet Diflucan- fluconazole powder, for suspension.
DailyMed.Label: Fluconazole injection.
Boedeker KS, Kilzer WJ.Fluconazole dose recommendation in urinary tract infection.Ann Pharmacother. 2001;35(3):369-372. doi:10.1345/aph.10170
Alkeswani A, Cantrell W, Elewski B.Treatment oftineacapitis.Skin Appendage Disord. 2019;5(4):201-210. doi:10.1159/000495909
Falotico JM, Lipner SR.Updated perspectives on the diagnosis and management of onychomycosis.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2022;15:1933-1957. doi:10.2147/CCID.S362635
Karakaş M, Durdu M, Memişoğlu HR.Oral fluconazole in the treatment of tinea versicolor.J Dermatol. 2005;32(1):19-21. doi:10.1111/j.1346-8138.2005.tb00707.x
National Health Service.Common questions about fluconazole.
Brammer KW, Farrow PR, Faulkner JK.Pharmacokinetics and tissue penetration of fluconazole in humans.Rev Infect Dis. 1990;12 Suppl 3:S318-S326. doi:10.1093/clinids/12.supplement_3.s318
Mikamo H, Izumi K, Ito K, et al.Comparative study of the effectiveness of oral fluconazole and intravaginal clotrimazole in the treatment of vaginal candidiasis.Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 1995;3(1):7-11. doi:10.1155/S1064744995000238
Multicentre Study Group.Treatment of vaginal candidiasis with a single oral dose of fluconazole.Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1988;7:364-367. doi:10.1007/BF01962338
Sobel JD, Wiesenfeld HC, Martens M, et al.Maintenance fluconazole therapy for recurrent vulvovaginalcandidiasis.N Engl J Med. 2004;351:876-883. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa033114
Prescribers' Digital Reference.Diflucan.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Vaginal yeast infections.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
