Fluconazole Injection (patient information)

About your treatment

Your doctor has ordered fluconazole, an antifungal antibiotic, to help treat your infection. The drug will be added to an intravenous fluid that will drip through a needle or catheter placed in your vein for 1-2 hours once a day.

Fluconazole is used to treat many kinds of fungal infections, including blood, lung, and skin infections. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Your health care provider (doctor, nurse, or pharmacist) may measure the effectiveness and side effects of your treatment using laboratory tests and physical examinations. It is important to keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. The length of treatment depends on how your infection and symptoms respond to the medication.

Precautions

Before administering fluconazole:

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to fluconazole or any other drugs.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin), antiviral agents such as zidovudine (AZT, Retrovir), astemizole (Hismanal), asthma medications, cisapride (Propulsid), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), didanosine (DDI), hydrochlorothiazide, medications for stomach problems such as cimetidine (Tagamet), oral contraceptives, oral medicine for diabetes, phenytoin (Dilantin), rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin), tacrolimus (Prograf), terfenadine (Seldane), and vitamins.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney or liver disease or a history of alcohol abuse.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking fluconazole, call your doctor.
• tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.

Administering your medication

Before you administer fluconazole, look at the solution closely. It should be clear and free of floating material. Gently squeeze the bag or observe the solution container to make sure there are no leaks. Do not use the solution if it is discolored, if it contains particles, or if the bag or container leaks. Use a new solution, but show the damaged one to your health care provider.

It is important that you use your medication exactly as directed. Do not stop your therapy on your own for any reason because your infection could worsen and result in hospitalization. Do not change your dosing schedule without talking to your health care provider. Your health care provider may tell you to stop your infusion if you have a mechanical problem (such as a blockage in the tubing, needle, or catheter); if you have to stop an infusion, call your health care provider immediately so your therapy can continue.

Side effects

Minor side effects

Fluconazole may cause side effects. Tell your health care provider if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• upset stomach
• loss of appetite
• altered sense of taste
• diarrhea or loose stools
• headache
• dizziness
• fatigue

Severe side effects

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your health care provider immediately:

• rash
• itching
• vomiting
• yellowing of the skin or eyes
• dark urine
• pale stools
• unusual bleeding or bruising

Storing your medication

Your health care provider will probably give you a 1- or 2-day supply of fluconazole at a time and tell you to store it at room temperature or in the refrigerator and avoid direct light. If you store it in the refrigerator, take your next dose from the refrigerator 1 hour before using it; place it in a clean, dry area to allow it to warm to room temperature. Do not allow fluconazole to freeze.

Store your medication only as directed. Make sure you understand what you need to store your medication properly.

Keep your supplies in a clean, dry place when you are not using them, and keep all medications and supplies out of reach of children. Your health care provider will tell you how to throw away used needles, syringes, tubing, and containers to avoid accidental injury.

In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Signs of infection

If you are receiving fluconazole in your vein or under your skin, you need to know the symptoms of a catheter-related infection (an infection where the needle enters your vein or skin). If you experience any of these effects near your intravenous catheter, tell your health care provider as soon as possible:

• tenderness
• warmth
• irritation
• drainage
• redness
• swelling
• pain

Brand names

• Diflucan®
• Diflucan® in Iso-osmotic Dextrose Injection
• Diflucan® in Iso-osmotic Sodium Chloride Injection