PATIENT
INFORMATION LEAFLET (UK)
Please read this leaflet
This
leaflet tells you about Diflucan 150. Please read it
before you start to take this medicine. It will help
you. If you do not understand or you want to know
more, ask your doctor or pharmacist (chemist). Keep
this leaflet. You may want to read it again.
The name
of this medicine is Diflucan 150. The active
ingredient is fluconazole.
What is
in your medicine?
Each light
turquoise blue capsule contains 150mg fluconazole. They
have "FLU 150" and "PFIZER" printed on them.
Colouring
agents: patent blue V (E131), titanium dioxide (E171)
(in the capsule shell only).
Other
ingredients: Colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium
stearate, maize starch, lactose and sodium lauryl
sulphate, gelatin (Capsule shell only).
Diflucan 150
comes in a pack containing one capsule.
What
type of medicine is Diflucan 150?
Your
medicine is an agent which you take by mouth for
treating a fungal infection called vaginal thrush (in
women) or candidal balanitis (in men).
What is
your medicine for?
Diflucan 150
is used to treat vaginal thrush or candidal balanitis.
What
is vaginal thrush?
Vaginal
thrush is caused by a tiny yeast called
Candida. Many women
have the yeast living quite happily and problem-free
within their bodies, but when something happens to
upset the natural balance that keeps
Candida under control,
candidal infections occur. The most common symptoms
are:
-
itching around the outside of the vagina
-
soreness which becomes worse with rubbing and
scratching
-
a white, non-smelling discharge from the vagina
Not
every woman who has thrush will have all of these
symptoms.
Some
general advice to help stop thrush coming back:
-
wash regularly
-
avoid tight clothing
-
wear cotton underwear and stockings rather than
tights
-
avoid perfumed soaps and bath additives
What
is candidal balanitis?
Balanitis is the medical term used to describe
inflammation of the end of the penis. The foreskin
may also be inflamed. Candidal balanitis is caused
by a yeast called Candida.
The most
common symptoms are:
-
soreness and redness of the penis
-
tightness of the foreskin
-
a white, non-smelling discharge from the penis
Not
every man who has candidal balanitis will have all
of these symptoms.
Before
you take Diflucan 150
If the
answer is YES to any of these
questions - tell your doctor before you take Diflucan
150:
- Are
you pregnant or trying to become pregnant?
- Are
you breast feeding?
- Are
you aged under 16 years?
- Have
you ever had an allergic reaction to any of the
ingredients of Diflucan or any other medicine which
you have been prescribed for thrush or candidal
balanitis? This may have been itching, reddening of
the skin or difficulty breathing.
- Are
you taking either terfenadine (an antihistamine) or
cisapride (used for stomach upsets)?
- If
you have any disease or illness affecting your liver
or kidneys or have had unexplained jaundice.
- Do
you suffer from heart disease, including heart
rhythm problems?
- Has
your doctor told you that you have abnormal levels
of potassium, calcium or magnesium in your blood?
Inform your
doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
-
warfarin or coumarin drugs (to prevent blood clots)
- oral
sulphonylureas such as chlorpropamide, glibenclamide,
glipizide or tolbutamide (to control diabetes)
-
diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide, used to
treat fluid retention and high blood pressure
-
benzodiazepines (used as tranquillizers)
-
phenytoin (used to control epilepsy)
-
rifampicin or rifabutin (antibiotics)
-
cyclosporin or tacrolimus (used to affect the immune
response)
-
theophylline (used to control asthma)
-
astemizole (an antihistamine)
-
zidovudine, also known as AZT (used in HIV-infected
patients).
How to
take your medicine
Follow your
doctor's directions and read the label on the pack.
Diflucan 150
should only be taken by mouth.
The whole
course of treatment for vaginal thrush or candidal
balanitis is one capsule which you take by mouth. Take
the capsule with a glass of water.
You can take
your medicine with or without a meal at any time of day.
What
if you take too many capsules?
You need
to take only one capsule. Taking more than this is
unlikely to be dangerous unless many capsules are
taken at once. In that case, do not delay; contact
your doctor or your nearest hospital casualty
department.
How
quickly will the treatment start to work?
Vaginal Thrush
Your
condition should start to clear up within a few days
- some women notice an improvement in one day.
If your
condition does not clear up within a few days you
should go back to your doctor.
Candidal Balanitis
Your
condition should start to clear up within a few days
but it may take up to a week.
If your
condition has not cleared up after one week, you
should go back to your doctor.
Does
your medicine cause undesirable effects?
Most people
taking this medicine find it causes no problems.
The
commonest undesirable effects are:
-
nausea
-
stomach discomfort
-
diarrhoea
- wind
- rash
-
headache
These
undesirable effects are usually mild but if they cause
you discomfort or are long lasting, check with your
doctor or pharmacist.
Rare
undesirable effects
The
following have occurred rarely in patients taking
Diflucan, but they may not all be due to the drug.
-
itching
-
vomiting
-
seizure
-
abnormalities in blood/liver function/urine and
other biochemical tests
-
liver toxicity
-
severe skin reactions
-
hair loss
-
dizziness
-
swelling of the face
-
altered sense of taste
-
change in heart rate or rhythm
A few
people develop allergic reactions to medicines. If
you develop any of the following undesirable
effects, tell your doctor
immediately:
-
Sudden wheeziness, difficulty breathing or
tightness in the chest
-
Swelling of eyelids, face or lips
-
Skin lumps or red itchy spots
-
Itch all over the body.
Tell
your doctor or pharmacist if you become unwell or
have any other discomfort you do not understand.
Look
after your medicine
This
treatment is for YOU. Do not
give it to others. It may not suit them.
Do not take
Diflucan 150 after the date stamped on the pack.
Where to keep your medicine
-
Store below 30°C.
-
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Further
information
This leaflet
does not contain all the information about this
medicine. If you have any questions or are not sure
about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
The
information in this leaflet is about Diflucan 150
Capsules only.