Does Fluconazole Work for Vaginal Yeast Infection?

Does Fluconazole Work for Vaginal Yeast Infection?

 

 

In this article, I’ll take a closer look at Fluconazole (often sold as Diflucan), a common oral antifungal medication prescribed for vaginal yeast infection.

 

Studies show that a single dose of fluconazole (150mg) is effective in up to 80% of women with a vaginal yeast infection, which means that in 80% of cases Candida species were completely removed from the vagina.  

 

Does Fluconazole Work for Vaginal Yeast Infection?

 

What’s more, research shows that a single dose of oral fluconazole is as effective as antifungal vaginal suppositories, such as clotrimazole. Fluconazole is:

 

  • easier to use than suppositories, which can cause some discomfort and be a bit messy

 

  • its price is comparable with that of antifungal suppositories

 

  • it’s got low incidence of side effects.

 

I also found an interesting study that focused on improving the effectiveness of fluconazole.

 

They found out that women who took a probiotic supplement with Lactobacillus rhamosus and Lactobacillus reuteri for 4 weeks following a single dose of fluconazole showed significantly fewer Candida cells in their vaginal discharge.

 

If you’re looking for the right probiotic supplement to treat or prevent vaginal yeast infections, check my article about the best probiotic supplements for vaginal yeast infection. 

 

Where to buy fluconazole?

 

If you want to buy Fluconazole, try Amazon. They offer free international shipments to Europe and the U.S.

 

Buying Fluconazole in the U.S. can be expensive. Why not try a more affordable option that carries less risk of side effects and drug interactions: BoriCap Boric Acid Suppositories.

 

Boric acid is a very effective treatment for vaginal yeast infection and will bring you relief within hours from first use.

 

It’s recommended to use one suppository before going to bed for 7 consecutive nights. For more information, check my article about using boric acid for yeast infection

 

Does Fluconazole Work for Vaginal Yeast Infection?

How long does fluconazole take to work?

 

You should be able to notice a significant improvement within 24 hours, but sometimes it can take as long as  3 days for your symptoms to disappear.

 

In some cases, you may have to wait up to 7 days to completely recover from a vaginal yeast infection.

 

How long does fluconazole stay in your system?

 

 

Fluconazole will stay in your system for 72 hours after taking a single 150 mg tablet, so you have to take it into consideration if you’re taking other medication.

 

how-long-does-fluconazole-take-to-work

 

Fluconazole is known to interact with 639 medications, such as aspirin and ibuprofen. To find if your medication can interact with fluconazole visit Drugs.com.

 

Does fluconazole affect the contraceptive pill?

 

Fluconazole interacts with many drugs, hormonal drugs included.

 

It means that it can make your birth control pills ineffective, so while taking fluconazole it’s recommended to use a different kind of contraception, such as condoms or a diaphragm, to prevent pregnancy.

Does fluconazole give side effects?

 

Apart from an occasional headache or nausea, fluconazole doesn’t usually give any side effects. However, in rare cases it can trigger the following symptoms:

 

  • irregular heartbeat

 

  • severe dizziness

 

  • fainting

 

  • allergic reaction

 

  • liver disease (abdominal pain, skin yellowing, vomiting, dark urine)

Does fluconazole work for yeast infection

If you notice any of these side effects after taking fluconazole, you should seek medical help immediately.

 

What to do if Fluconazole Doesn’t Work?

 

If you don’t see any improvement within 48 hours from taking fluconazole it may be because you yeast infection was caused by a fluconazole-resistant strain, such as Candida glabrata.

 

Another reason, especially if you self-diagnose, is that you’ve got a different kind of vaginal infection, such as BV or trichomoniasis.

 

The good news is that there is a natural over-the-counter treatment that has been shown to work for difficult-to-treat yeast infections as well as BV. It’s called boric acid.

 

Boric acid suppositories have got excellent antifungal and antibacterial properties and they’re often used when other treatments fail.

 

They rarely give any side effects and provide quick results, you can check boric acid suppositories reviews on Amazon.

 

Is fluconazole safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding?

 

Taking fluconazole is not recommended during pregnancy. A new study from 2016 shows that taking oral fluconazole in pregnancy can significantly increase the risk of spontaneous abortion.

Is fluconazole safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding

When it comes to physical defects in a baby, taking one 150 mg pill of fluconazole to treat vaginal candidiasis is considered safe.

 

Having said that, taking fluconazole during pregnancy is not recommended and it only should be prescribed to patients with potentially life-threatening infections.

 

Fluconazole is known to be excreted in mother’s milk and its effects on the nursing infant have not been investigated.

 

In the UK, women can continue breastfeeding after a single dose of up to 200 mg but should discontinue after repeated dosing or after a high dose.

 

In the US it’s recommended to avoid taking fluconazole while nursing. Contact your doctor to find out what is the best option for you.

Conclusion

 

Fluconazole is a very effective treatment for yeast infection and it’s supported by numerous studies.

 

It’s a mess-free option, as very often one pill is enough to cure your infection for good without the need of using suppositories.

 

However, it comes with some risks, so if you think you may suffer an adverse reaction, boric acid suppositories will be a much safer option for you.

 

Buy Boric Acid Suppositories Today

 

I’m interested to hear about your experiences with fluconazole. Did it help you get rid of a vaginal yeast infection? Did it give you any side effects? Please share your experiences and questions in the comment section below.

18 comments

  • I have just taken one dose 150mg I have been going back and forth to the bathroom like crazy I have discomfort in my stomach. Is this normal? If so, how long will this last?

  • Hi Honey, I cannot advise you on that because I’m not a doctor. If the pain doesn’t go away or gets worse it’s best to seek medical help immediately. I wish you all the best.

  • Hi i have also taken fluconazole twice (2 days apart) and another daily antibiotics for 7 days. Just wondering because it seems like its not working on me. How long really can i observe the results?

  • I was prescribed 1 200 mg , will it interfer if I have one glass of wine with dinner?

    • Hi Lin, drinking alcohol while taking fluconazole is not recommended. It can cause a headache or upset stomach. If you’ve got any fluconazole related side effects, drinking alcohol can make them worse. So it’s best to skip alcohol until your treatment is over. Good luck!

  • Hi am breastfeeding my baby is now 6months old. I have vaginal candidiasis. My doctor advised me to use a single dose of fluconazole 150mg. Ist safe during breastfeeding?

    • Hi Ruth, it’s considered safe for a breastfeeding woman to take one dose of up to 200mg, as long as she’s not taking it regularly. When taken on daily basis, the concentration of fluconazole in breast milk is high enough to cause side effects in an infant. In one study, 7 out of 96 women who took fluconazole every other day reported upset stomach and runny stools in their breastfed babies. However, one 150mg dose of fluconazole should be enough to treat your candidiasis, so you don’t have to worry. Good luck with your treatment!

  • Hi,

    I have taken fluconazole 150mg twice – 2 days apart and it worked to stop the infection. My question is, i am trying to get pregnant and i took total 300mg 24 days before my fertile cycle. Would this have an effect if ever i am positively pregnant?

    Thanks

    • Hi Jo, according to a study I found (you can read it here) fluconazole exposure is not linked to any congenital malformations in foetus. One study looked at 9000 women who were taking fluconazole when pregnant and they found that there was no indication of increased risk of foetal abnormalities. I hope it will give you a peace of mind, so you can fully enjoy your pregnancy. Wishing you all the best Jo!

  • Am 7 months pregnant, i started with a waterly discharge and a burning and took the 3dose pessaries which made the infection dissapear for a while and then returned… i took a one dose fluconazole tablet and after 24 hours i could feel a difference, by the second day i feel alot of comfort and the symptoms are fully gone. i hope the infection wount appear any longer
    thankful…

  • Hi.
    I started with a water infection & two antibiotics later gave me the yeast infection twice!
    I’ve just taken Fluconazole 24 hrs ago. Already my symptoms have eased. I’m also using a Lactobacillus pessary for 6 days and a Probiotic twice a day. I’m not sure just using the Fluconazole would work for me, it really all depends how clean your digestion is, the Candida also grows in your digestion with eating too much sugar or Food Intolerances.

  • Blessed to find your article.
    Recently I had VYI and I bought fluconazole (fonzela) I think.
    I was hoping for recovery since it’s my second day.
    Though I didn’t buy diflucan.

  • Hi Kams,

    I really enjoyed reading your article, I found it very interesting!
    I am prone to yeast vaginal infections like many women, I suppose and it get even worse with time. I’ve never used the Fluconazole before, but I would definitely give a try! You have given all the information required, so I don’t think I need to ask any question about it:) I have bookmarked your website so I can read more of your great articles later.
    Thank you very much for this awesome review!

    • Hi Daniella, I’m great you found some useful information in my article. Fluconazole is often the medication of choice by many doctors to treat a vaginal yeast infection because it’s very effective.

  • Does Fluconazole Work for Vaginal Yeast Infection? So important for women as a new drug I see that there are many precautions to also use.

    One of the important ones I saw was – Birth Control pills, that it can make them ineffective.

    My Question though – how superior is this to its Competition seeing the many precautions that have to be taken?

    • Hi Rowan, the most common competition to Fluconazole is Itraconazole, but studies show it’s not as effective as fluconazole. It’s very important that women are reminded by their doctors of pharmacists that it can affect the contraceptive pill, I’ve used fluconazole a few times and nobody told me about it.

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