Diflucan (Fluconazole) Tablets

Diflucan contains fluconazole in oral tablet form, one of the most widely prescribed antifungal medicines for yeast and related fungal infections. We offer it in five strengths - 50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, 200 mg, and 400 mg - so that the tablets can match a range of treatment plans, from a single dose for a straightforward yeast infection to longer courses for more persistent or systemic fungal disease. This article explains what fluconazole is, how it works, what its use generally involves, and how our current offer of Diflucan relates to other antifungal options.

Because fluconazole is prescribed for very different situations - a one-time vaginal yeast infection versus a serious systemic infection in a hospitalized patient - the details below are organized to give a clear, general picture rather than a single fixed regimen. A prescriber who knows a patient's specific infection, kidney function, and other medicines is always the right source for an individual dosing decision.

What Diflucan Is and How It Fits Into Antifungal Treatment

The active ingredient in Diflucan is fluconazole, a synthetic triazole antifungal. It belongs to the azole class of antifungals, which also includes itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, and isavuconazole, all of which share a similar mechanism but differ in spectrum, tissue penetration, and typical clinical use. Fluconazole tablets are taken by mouth and are absorbed efficiently, which is part of why this medicine has become a mainstay for both simple and more complicated Candida infections. Readers can also browse our antifungal medicines to compare relevant treatment options.

The Fungal Infections Fluconazole Is Used For

Yeast infections caused by Candida species are extremely common. Vaginal candidiasis affects a large share of women at least once, and oral or esophageal candidiasis (thrush) is frequent in people with weakened immune systems, those using inhaled or systemic corticosteroids, and those with diabetes. Fluconazole is also used for more serious systemic candidiasis, for fungal infections of the urinary tract and peritoneum, and it has a long-established role in the treatment and long-term suppression of cryptococcal meningitis, a serious infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord that occurs mainly in people with significantly weakened immunity. In transplant recipients and other immunocompromised patients, fluconazole is sometimes used preventively to reduce the risk of invasive fungal infection during periods of high vulnerability.

How Fluconazole Works

Fluconazole interferes with a fungal enzyme called lanosterol 14-alpha-demethylase, part of the cytochrome P450 system that fungi use to build ergosterol, the main structural component of their cell membranes. By blocking this enzyme, fluconazole prevents the fungus from producing a stable membrane, which weakens the cell and stops it from growing and dividing. This action is described as fungistatic against most Candida species, meaning it slows and halts fungal growth rather than immediately destroying every cell, which is one reason full courses of treatment matter even after symptoms improve. Fluconazole's selectivity for the fungal version of this enzyme, compared with the equivalent human enzyme, is what allows it to be taken systemically with a manageable safety profile, although it still has measurable effects on certain human liver enzymes, which explains many of its drug interactions.

Absorption, Distribution, and What the Evidence Shows

One of fluconazole's most useful pharmacological properties is its oral bioavailability, which exceeds 90% and is not meaningfully reduced by food, so the tablets can be taken with or without a meal. Fluconazole also distributes well into body fluids and tissues, including saliva, sputum, skin, and notably the cerebrospinal fluid, where its concentration can reach a substantial fraction of the blood level. This central nervous system penetration is why fluconazole became a standard tool for cryptococcal meningitis, a condition where many other antifungals cannot reach the site of infection effectively by mouth. Clinical experience spanning several decades, including landmark trials in the 1990s that established fluconazole's role in maintenance therapy for cryptococcal meningitis in patients with advanced HIV disease, supports its continued place in fungal infection management, alongside more recent data guiding its use for candidemia and other invasive infections.

Formulation and What Diflucan Tablets Contain

Diflucan tablets deliver fluconazole as the sole active ingredient, formulated for oral administration, with the tablet strength determining how much drug is delivered per dose. We currently supply 50 mg tablets in packages of 60, 90, 120, 180, 270, or 360 pills. The 100 mg, 150 mg, 200 mg, and 400 mg strengths are each available in packages of 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, or 270 pills. These options allow a single tablet, or a small combination of tablets, to cover many standard adult regimens without excessive splitting or multiplying of doses. As with any tablet formulation, the inactive components mainly support tablet stability, appearance, and disintegration rather than contributing therapeutic activity.

General Dosing Principles

Fluconazole dosing varies substantially by indication, and prescribers tailor it to the specific infection, its severity, and the patient's kidney function. As general background rather than a personal recommendation, a single 150 mg dose is a widely used regimen for uncomplicated vaginal yeast infections. Oropharyngeal candidiasis commonly involves 200 mg on the first day followed by 100 mg once daily, with treatment continuing for at least two weeks. Esophageal candidiasis generally requires a loading dose followed by daily treatment for at least three weeks and for at least two weeks after symptoms resolve; higher daily doses may be used based on clinical response. Systemic and invasive candidiasis often calls for higher daily doses, sometimes starting with a loading dose to reach target blood levels faster, while cryptococcal meningitis is usually treated with higher initial doses followed by a lower daily maintenance dose that may continue for many months. In children six months and older, dosing is calculated by body weight for established pediatric indications, and fluconazole's safety and effectiveness have not been established in infants younger than six months. People with reduced kidney function generally need a lower repeated dose or a longer interval between doses, since the kidneys are the main route of elimination.

Elimination and Half-Life

Fluconazole is eliminated mainly by the kidneys, with roughly 80% of a dose excreted unchanged in urine and only a small portion metabolized by the liver. Its elimination half-life in adults with normal kidney function is approximately 30 hours, one of the longer half-lives among oral antifungals, which is why many regimens use once-daily dosing, or in some cases a single dose, and still maintain effective drug levels. This long half-life also means it takes several days for fluconazole to reach steady-state concentrations with repeated daily dosing, and a similar period for levels to fall once treatment stops. In people with impaired kidney function, this half-life lengthens further, which is the pharmacological basis for the dose or interval adjustments prescribers make in that setting.

Safety Considerations Worth Understanding

Fluconazole is generally well tolerated, but it carries several safety points that deserve attention. It can prolong the QT interval on an electrocardiogram in susceptible people, which is why it must not be combined with certain medicines that can increase the risk of dangerous heart rhythm disturbances. Liver enzyme elevations and, rarely, more serious liver injury have been reported, so prescribers may monitor liver function during longer courses. Serious skin reactions, though uncommon, have occurred. Anyone with a history of hypersensitivity to fluconazole should not take it, and anyone who has reacted to another azole antifungal should discuss this with a clinician before starting treatment because cross-reactivity has not been ruled out. Fluconazole can occasionally cause dizziness or, rarely, seizures, so caution is warranted around driving or operating machinery until a person knows how the medicine affects them. In pregnancy, fluconazole has been linked to fetal harm, particularly with high-dose or prolonged use, so its benefits and risks require individual clinical assessment. Fluconazole also passes into breast milk at concentrations similar to maternal blood levels, so nursing mothers should use it with medical guidance.

Prescription Status and How We Handle Orders

Fluconazole is authorized for human medical use in the United States, and oral fluconazole tablets are classified as prescription medicines. Our team, including licensed pharmacists, is available 24/7 through email, online chat, and phone to answer questions about our current ordering process, clarify strength and package-size options, and support customers through checkout and delivery. We have operated this pharmacy since 2008, and our support and fulfillment experience is built around making the process as clear and reliable as possible for every order.

Who Should Avoid Fluconazole or Use It With Caution

Fluconazole is contraindicated in anyone with a known hypersensitivity to fluconazole or to any component of the formulation. Prior hypersensitivity to another azole antifungal warrants caution because cross-reactivity has not been ruled out. Fluconazole must also not be combined with certain medicines that prolong the QT interval and are metabolized through affected enzyme pathways, including cisapride, pimozide, quinidine, and erythromycin, because these combinations can raise the risk of dangerous heart rhythm disturbances. People with significant liver disease, a history of drug-induced liver injury, kidney impairment, electrolyte abnormalities, or existing heart rhythm problems should discuss fluconazole carefully with a prescriber before starting it, since these conditions can affect dosing or change the benefit-risk balance.

Interactions With Other Medicines

Fluconazole is a strong inhibitor of CYP2C19 and a moderate inhibitor of CYP2C9 and CYP3A4, enzymes that many other drugs rely on for clearance, so it can raise blood levels of a wide range of medicines. Clinically important interactions include increased effects of warfarin and other coumarin anticoagulants, higher levels of phenytoin, increased exposure to cyclosporine and tacrolimus used after organ transplantation, and elevated concentrations of certain statins, which raises the risk of muscle-related side effects. It also increases exposure to sulfonylurea diabetes medicines, which can precipitate clinically significant low blood sugar, so blood glucose monitoring and possible dose adjustment are often advised for people taking both. Rifampin can lower fluconazole levels by speeding up its clearance, while hydrochlorothiazide can raise fluconazole blood levels. Anyone starting fluconazole should give a prescriber or pharmacist a full list of current medicines, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements, so interactions can be checked in advance.

Side Effects and When to Act

Most people tolerate fluconazole with only mild, temporary effects such as headache, nausea, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, or a mild rash. These may resolve on their own, but persistent or troublesome symptoms should be discussed with a clinician. A smaller number of effects are more serious and call for prompt medical attention, including signs of liver problems such as yellowing of the skin or eyes, severe or blistering skin reactions, signs of an allergic reaction such as facial swelling or difficulty breathing, and an irregular heartbeat or fainting, which can point to QT-related rhythm changes. The comparison below separates common symptoms from serious warning signs so it is easier to recognize which effects can be monitored and which require urgent evaluation.

If a serious warning sign appears, seek immediate medical care rather than waiting to see whether it resolves.

Overdose and Toxicity

Taking substantially more fluconazole than directed can cause serious problems. Reports of overdose describe symptoms such as hallucinations and unusual or paranoid behavior at very high exposures. There is no specific antidote, so management focuses on supportive care. Because fluconazole has relatively low protein binding, hemodialysis can meaningfully lower blood levels in a severe overdose and may be used in a hospital setting. Anyone who has taken substantially more than directed, or who develops severe symptoms after fluconazole use, should seek emergency medical care or contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 in the United States.

Storing Diflucan Tablets

Store Diflucan tablets at controlled room temperature, between 59°F and 86°F, in a tightly closed container away from excess moisture, direct heat, and humidity. A bathroom cabinet is generally not suitable. Keep the tablets out of reach of children and pets, and dispose of expired or unused medicine properly rather than keeping it beyond its expiration date.

Benefits and Trade-Offs of Fluconazole Treatment

Fluconazole's main practical benefits are its oral convenience, high bioavailability, long half-life allowing simple dosing schedules, and its unusually good penetration into the central nervous system, which few oral antifungals match. These properties make it especially useful for uncomplicated yeast infections that respond to a single dose, as well as for conditions such as cryptococcal meningitis that require sustained systemic and central nervous system drug levels. The trade-offs include a real potential for drug interactions given its effect on liver enzymes, the need for caution in pregnancy and breastfeeding, and the fact that some Candida species, notably Candida glabrata and Candida krusei, have reduced or intrinsic resistance to fluconazole, meaning it is not the right choice for every yeast infection. For localized, mild vaginal candidiasis, some patients and prescribers weigh an oral tablet against topical antifungal creams or suppositories, which act locally and avoid many systemic interactions but do not treat infections outside the vagina.

Generic Fluconazole and Other Antifungal Alternatives

Fluconazole is the generic name for the active ingredient in Diflucan, and readers comparing options may also see it listed simply as fluconazole tablets. Fluconazole was originally introduced under the brand name Diflucan by Pfizer Inc., and generic fluconazole tablets are now manufactured by a number of companies, including Apotex Inc. and Teva Canada Limited, among others. For infections that do not respond well to fluconazole, or for fungal organisms known to resist it, prescribers may turn to other triazoles such as itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, or isavuconazole, each with a different spectrum and tissue penetration profile, or to entirely different antifungal classes such as the echinocandins, including caspofungin and micafungin, or amphotericin B. These alternatives are often used for more severe or resistant systemic infections, and many are given intravenously in a hospital setting.

In the United States, oral fluconazole tablets are well-established prescription antifungal medicines with decades of clinical use. When selected for a susceptible fungal infection and used with appropriate attention to dosing, kidney function, interactions, and safety, Diflucan provides a practical oral fluconazole option under a clinician's guidance.