How long does Fluconazole stay in your system? (3 clinical uses of this antifungal drug) 

In this blog post, we are going to answer the question, “How long does Fluconazole stay in your system?”. Fluconazole is an antifungal drug that has been used for decades for the treatment and management of different types of fungal infections. 

This blog will cover the safety and efficacy of this drug as well as the stay time of the drug in your system. We will also talk about the side effects and proper use of this antifungal drug. 

How long does Fluconazole stay in your system?

Fluconazole stays in your system for about 7 to 9 days, depending on the basic physiological composition of the person who took it. Fluconazole has a long half-life of about 30 hours. This means that the initial concentration of the drug in your body is reduced to half after 30 hours. 

The remaining concentration is further reduced to half after the next 30 hours. This is how the cycle repeats until the drug is completely washed out of your system. 

In the case of Fluconazole, it takes about 7 to 9 days. However, this time period can be affected by some factors, like gastric emptying rate or the presence of any underlying disease. 

If we specifically talk about gastric emptying rate, it’s the time taken by your stomach to pass its content into the intestine and the stomach becomes empty. This can significantly affect the stay time of the drug in your stomach. 

If someone has a faster gastric emptying rate, it means that the drug will not stay in the stomach long enough to be absorbed into the gastric blood capillaries. 

However, if the gastric emptying rate is slow, the drug remains available for absorption for a longer period of time. Some underlying health conditions can also affect the stay time of Fluconazole in your system. 

You have probably seen that people who have active liver and kidney diseases take doses lower than healthy people. This is because these two organs; the liver and kidney have a huge role to play in the metabolism and excretion of the drug. 

If any of these organs are diseased or their functions are compromised, the body is not able to break down and eliminate the drug effectively. In such cases, higher doses can lead to toxicity. 

What are the clinical uses of Fluconazole? 

Fluconazole, as stated earlier, is an antifungal agent and can be used for the treatment of various fungal infections. 

• Yeast infections
• Fungal meningitis 
• Prophylaxis of fungal infections during chemotherapy

Yeast infections

Yeast infections are one of the most common types of fungal infections that can occur on different body parts. The most common sites of yeast infections include the mouth, oesophagus, throat, vagina, blood, lungs, stomach and other organs. 

When yeast infection occurs on the skin, it mostly affects damp areas like the armpits, vagina, groin area, and buccal cavity (the cavity inside your mouth). 

Fluconazole is considered a strong antifungal agent and it actively controls such yeast infections by slowing down the growth of the fungus. It basically blocks the requirements of a fungus to grow naturally. 

This way it stops getting enough nutrition and starts to die down gradually. However, it is not recommended to start using any medication without your doctor’s approval. 

Fungal meningitis 

Fungal meningitis occurs when the fungal infection, present in any part of the body, spreads to the brain. This can lead to a life-threatening complication as the infection starts to disturb the functions of your brain. The most common fungal species that cause meningitis include:

• Histoplasma
• Coccidioides
• Cryptococcus
• Candida
• Blastomyces

These fungi can spread to your body in a number of ways. Some fungi are a part of our normal environment. Some live in the soil and help in the decay of dead plants and animals. 

If that soil or the decaying matter somehow contaminates the water you drink or the food you eat, it can easily get inside your body. As the disease progresses, the fungus can travel to your brain and cause complications. 

Fluconazole can cross the blood-brain barrier and can damage the growth of the fungus in your brain. This is why it is considered a good choice of antifungals for the treatment and management of fungal meningitis. 

Prophylaxis of fungal infections during chemotherapy

Fluconazole can also be used for the prophylaxis or prevention of fungal yeast infections in patients who are receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy. This is because anticancer treatments are extremely heavy on your body and your immune system.

When your immunity gets compromised, you become sensitive to different types of infections. The most common fungi that can attack you are those which are already a part of your body. Such pathogens are sometimes known as ‘opportunistic microbes’. 

Experts believe that these opportunistic microbes are usually suppressed by our immune system, which keeps them at bay. When something disrupts the immune system, these microbes start to become active and cause their respective infections. 

This is why cancer patients receive prophylactic treatments to help prevent infections caused by opportunistic microbes. 

What are the side effects associated with the use of Fluconazole? 

Like every other medication on this planet, Fluconazole is also associated with some side effects. It is considered a strong antifungal agent and may not act as a tolerable med for every other individual. 

However, there are other options available that can be used if Fluconazole does not work. Some of the side effects caused by this antifungal agent include:

• Dizziness 
• Headache 
• Nausea 
• Vomiting 
• Diarrhoea 
• Abdominal pain
• Acid reflux 
• Inability to taste food
• Fatigue

Fluconazole is also associated with some rare and serious side effects. These include:

• Allergic reactions associated with symptoms like redness of the skin, itching, burning sensation, blisters, blue-purple patches, tightness of the chest, wheezing, difficulty in breathing, hoarseness etc. 
• Pale-coloured stools
• Dark-coloured urine
• Extreme fatigue 
• Inability to move
• Severe body pain
• Pale-coloured eyes and skin
• Swelling or tenderness in different parts of the body 
• Difficulty in swallowing and breathing 
• Convulsions 

These side effects can vary from person to person. Some people may not suffer from any such side effects. However, some people can get severely affected which may lead to the discontinuation of treatment in such patients. 

Make sure you reach out to your healthcare provider if you suffer from an allergic reaction or any unusual side effect. However, it is not recommended to stop using Fluconazole on your own. Ask your doctor first if it is safe for you to stop your treatment. 

Fluconazole may also cause side effects that are not mentioned here. It’s best to monitor your symptoms closely whenever you start your treatment with a med you have not taken before. It is impossible to predict how your body will react once it is exposed to a new medication. 

What are the necessary precautions to follow before taking Fluconazole? 

• Always ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you don’t understand the proper use of Fluconazole. 
• Inform your doctor if you have taken Fluconazole or any other drug of the same class before and you’re allergic to it. 
• In case of overdose, immediately reach out to the hospital. Inform them properly how much is taken and when. 
• Give your medication history properly so your doctor can make sure that Fluconazole is safe to take with other prescription medications. 
• You should inform your doctor before starting any new medication after 7 days of using Fluconazole. 
• Tell your doctor if you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant. Also, inform them if you’re a nursing mother. 
• Inform your doctor if you have any underlying health conditions related to the kidneys, liver, lungs, or heart. Autoimmune diseases should also be mentioned. 
• Make sure to avoid overdosing on Fluconazole. If you have missed your dose, take it as soon as you remember. If a lot of time has passed and you are near to the next dose then do not take the missed dose. 
• Keep your medication away from children and pets. 

Conclusion 

In this blog, we have discussed the stay time of Fluconazole in your system. It stays in your system for about 7 to 9 days, depending on the basic physiological composition of the person who took it. Fluconazole has a long half-life of about 30 hours. 

This means that the initial concentration of the drug in your body is reduced to half after 30 hours. The remaining concentration is further reduced to half after the next 30 hours. This is how the cycle repeats until the drug is completely washed out of your system. 

Make sure you reach out to your healthcare provider if you suffer from an allergic reaction or any unusual side effects while taking Fluconazole.

FAQs: how long does fluconazole stay in your system 

How long does fluconazole 150 mg stay in your body? 

Fluconazole 150 mg stays in your system for about 7 to 9 days, depending on the basic physiological composition of the person who took it. Fluconazole has a long half-life of about 30 hours. This means that 150 mg of the drug in your body is reduced to half (75 mg) after 30 hours. The remaining concentration is further reduced to half (37.5 mg) after the next 30 hours. This is how the cycle repeats until the drug is completely washed out of your system.

How long does fluconazole side effects last? 

Side effects associated with the use of Fluconazole last for 5 to 6 days after a single dose of therapy. However, this time duration can vary from person to person. Some people recover earlier than others. Make sure you report your side effects to your healthcare provider and take the medication exactly as directed by your doctor. 

How common are side effects from fluconazole?

Like every other medication on this planet, Fluconazole is also associated with some side effects. It is considered a strong antifungal agent and may not act as a tolerable med for every other individual. However, there are other options available that can be used if Fluconazole does not work. Some of the side effects caused by this antifungal agent include:

• Dizziness 
• Headache 
• Nausea 
• Vomiting 
• Diarrhoea 
• Abdominal pain
• Acid reflux 
• Inability to taste food
• Fatigue

What happens to your body when you take fluconazole?

Fluconazole is an antifungal agent and can be used for the treatment of various fungal infections. It actively controls fungal yeast infection by slowing down the growth of the fungus. It basically blocks the requirements of a fungus to grow naturally. This way it stops getting enough nutrition and starts to die down gradually. However, it is not recommended to start using any medication without your doctor’s approval. 

What are the serious side effects of Fluconazole? 

• Allergic reactions associated with symptoms like redness of the skin, itching, burning sensation, blisters, blue-purple patches, tightness of the chest, wheezing, difficulty in breathing, hoarseness etc. 
• Pale-coloured stools
• Dark-coloured urine
• Extreme fatigue 
• Inability to move
• Severe body pain
• Pale-coloured eyes and skin
• Swelling or tenderness in different parts of the body 
• Difficulty in swallowing and breathing 
• Convulsions 

References 

• Govindarajan A, Bistas KG, Ingold CJ (2012) – Fluconazole https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537158/#_NBK537158_pubdet_
• Fluconazole https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/fluconazole/ 
• Fluconazole (Oral Route) https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/fluconazole-oral-route/description/drg-20071428
• National Library of Medicine – Fluconazole https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a690002.html#:~:text=Fluconazole%20is%20used%20to%20treat,%2C%20blood%2C%20and%20other%20organs.