Fungal diseases, despite their prevalence, are serious ailments that can cause a person a lot of inconvenience and pain. To cure them, there are special drugs that can not only remove unpleasant symptoms, but also eliminate the cause of the disease. One of such effective medications is Fluconazole. Instructions, price and reviews on this drug are of interest to many people. Let's find out what this medicine is, what is its spectrum of action and application.
How should I take fluconazole? According to reviews, the instructions for use in detail answer this and many other questions. It also explains what contraindications and side effects the drug has, whether it can be used in the treatment of children and pregnant women.
A little about the active substance
What important information is contained in the instructions for use with Fluconazole? The description of the drug must begin with the provision of detailed information about its composition.
The active component of the drug is fluconazole, which belongs to the group of organic compounds or triazoles. This substance is a white (or light gray) powder, the crystals of which have a specific taste, but are odorless. They are poorly soluble in water, but good in acetone and alcohol (ethyl and methyl).
Fungal diseases
These ailments are diverse in their etiology and manifestations. They are caused by various pathogens, respectively, their mode of transmission, symptoms and treatment will be different.
Candida caused by Candida fungus is considered one of the most common fungal diseases. This microorganism is very insidious, as it is found in the body of many healthy people (in the mouth, on the skin, on the vaginal mucosa, in the intestines). Not always is he a harbinger of a serious ailment, however, by coincidence, it can provoke the development of the disease.
The amount of fungus, normally present in the body of a healthy person and not causing him special harm, is clearly regulated in medical practice. This number is influenced by several factors - the immune system, the microflora of the mucous membranes of the vagina, the oral cavity and others. If one of the above changes for the worse, the number of microorganisms increases, which negatively affects the well-being of a person.
When a remedy is prescribed
What diseases use "Fluconazole"? First of all, these are cryptococcoses localized in the lungs, on the skin or in the brain. This disease can occur both in patients with a normal immune response, and in patients with AIDS, as well as organ transplants, and so on. This disease is transmitted through avian or animal feces polluting the soil. The disease can affect bones and joints, heart and kidneys, lymph nodes and the prostate gland.
Any form of candidiasis is another pathology that can be cured with fluconazole. This includes infectious lesions of the peritoneum, eyes, urinary or respiratory tract during the normal development of this process or infection, aggravated by oncological ailments. Genital or vaginal candidiasis, candidiasis of the mucous membranes (in the mouth, esophagus) are also indications for the use of the drug. Especially often prescribed "Fluconazole" with thrush. Instructions for use of this tool will tell you how to use it in the treatment of newborns and older children.
Mycoses of the skin (feet, groin area) or deep endemic diseases (such as histoplasmosis, sporotrichosis, paracoccidioidomycosis) can be cured by the use of the drug.
The diseases mentioned above are found in both men and women. Instructions for use with Fluconazole confirms this information. According to the annotation, this drug can also be used as a prophylaxis, that is, to prevent the recurrence of the ailments listed above.
How does the infection develop?
What can result from diseases caused by a fungus of the genus Candida? First of all, any bacterial or viral infections that can increase the allowable number of microorganisms have a negative effect. Also, candidiasis can provoke a violation of metabolic processes in the body, for example, diabetes mellitus or others. Constant hypothermia, nervous stress, malnutrition or malnutrition are just some of the external causes that can give an impetus to an unpleasant disease. They can be influenced and thereby prevent the development of infection.
Internal factors in the development of candidiasis and mycosis include any chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as HIV infection, cancer processes, serious surgical interventions, frequent or prolonged use of antibiotics, contraceptives, corticosteroids, and the treatment of cancers with chemo and radiation therapy.
You should know that candida fungi (also called yeast) actively develop in conditions of dampness and heat, abundant consumption of carbohydrates and sweets. Most often, infectious manifestations occur on the skin in the region of inguinal, gluteal and axillary folds, as well as under the breast. The fungus manifests itself in the form of small vesicles, which, bursting, form red-brown spots on the patient's body. Initially, skin integuments (nail plates, toes or palms) and mucous membranes (in the mouth or genitals) can be affected, then, if treatment is not started, the infection affects the internal organs such as the heart, brain, liver, pancreas, kidneys, bronchi and so on. Ailments such as cystitis, pneumonia, meningitis, myocarditis occur.
Candida fungus is also very dangerous because it can be excreted from the body along with urine, feces and sputum. Thus, the patient becomes potentially dangerous to those around him.
In the most advanced cases, fungal microorganisms cause sepsis. It is worth noting that treatment of this disease with antibiotics and does not lead to anything good. It is necessary to use special potent antifungal agents.
How the drug affects the body
What happens to candida fungi when a substance such as fluconazole enters the body? The instruction and reviews of specialists about this tool explain the spectrum of its action.
Once inside, the substance binds to blood plasma and penetrates well into various body fluids, such as breast milk, saliva, joint fluid and so on. The drug is well absorbed into the blood regardless of food intake.
Fluconazole has a negative effect on the enzymes that are in the fungal cell and are responsible for its respiration and synthesis, as well as the elimination of various poisons. By blocking these enzymes (called cytochromes 450), the drug has numerous metabolic processes occurring in the microorganism, as a result of which it becomes incapable of reproduction and protection. Over time, the fungus dies.
It is noteworthy that, according to doctors, āFluconazoleā does not affect human enzymes (cytochromes 450). Also, it has practically no effect on the hormonal background of the patient and his metabolism, which is strikingly different from other antifungal drugs, their predecessors.
The substance can accumulate in the blood, in the internal organs and even the skin, for example, in the stratum corneum and nails. Fluconazole is excreted by the kidneys (almost eighty percent).
However, as practitioners admit, the drug is not effective in combating some types of candida fungi. Moreover, with improper use of the product, it can provoke an increase in infection. Therefore, the use of "Fluconazole" is necessary only after the appointment of a specialist.
How is the active substance released?
Under the same name, fluconazole is available in the form of capsules and tablets of 50, 100 or 150 milligrams, as well as a 0.2 percent solution for infusion (or intravenous droppers), where the dosage of the active component does not exceed two hundred milligrams per hundred milliliters of solution.
Next, we will talk about the most common form of the drug - Fluconazole capsules (150 mg). The price, instructions for use and reviews about this tool are of interest to so many patients. This will be discussed below.
What is 1 capsule of āFluconazoleā? The instructions for use explain that it is a hard gelatin capsule, the appearance of which (color, shape and so on) depends on the manufacturer.
The hard-coated tablets are most often white or cream in color.
The composition of the drug
According to the instructions, 1 capsule of āFluconazole 150 mgā consists of the active substance (in the amount of 150 milligrams), as well as other auxiliary components. The availability of certain additional ingredients may vary depending on the manufacturer.
What is the composition of the fluconazole tablets? Instructions for their use explain that one tablet may contain 50, 100 or 150 milligrams of the active substance (as is the case with capsules). In relation to auxiliary components, they are more or less defined. First of all, it is potato starch, magnesium stearate, lactose, colloidal silicon dioxide, povidone 25. The shell may include hypromellose, titanium dioxide, polysorbate, talc, polyethylene glycol 6000.
So, how should this drug be taken depending on the ailment and age of the patient? Of course, the exact dosage and the schedule of administration are prescribed only by the attending physician, taking into account the individual characteristics of the body. However, there are general recommendations regarding the use of the drug. Therefore, let's carefully study the instructions for use of āFluconazole 150 mgā. Price, reviews and other features of this tool will also be indicated.
How to take the drug: general information
What does the instruction for āFluconazole 150 mgā say? Capsules should be taken only as directed by a doctor and in accordance with his prescriptions.
Most often, experts recommend using the drug in a strictly prescribed dosage, not exceeding the daily norm of fifty to four hundred milligrams. Capsules should be swallowed without chewing with a glass of water. The schedule for taking pills is independent of food intake. This is clearly written in the instructions for use with Fluconazole. The price of the drug will be presented below.
But what if you have been prescribed an infusion solution? Most often, this route of use is used for severe forms of the disease. In this case, the drug must be administered in the same dosage as indicated above. That is, the method of its introduction into the patientās body does not depend on the amount of active substance used. However, there are certain recommendations for the use of the solution. For example, the medicine should be administered very slowly (two hundred milligrams of the active substance in one hour).
Disease treatment recommendations
According to the instructions, Fluconazole capsules must be taken in a certain dosage, depending on the manifestation of the disease.
For example, in acute forms of generalized candidiasis, four hundred milligrams of the drug should be used in the first 24 hours after diagnosis, then two hundred milligrams per day. In some cases, the attending physician may increase the dosage to four hundred milligrams. The duration of the course is also determined by a specialist on the basis of laboratory studies and clinical indicators.
With cryptococcosis, the dosage and treatment schedule are almost the same as the therapy for generalized candidiasis. The duration of the pill, most often, does not exceed six to eight weeks. In order to prevent the recurrence of this disease in HIV-infected patients, two hundred milligrams of the drug should be taken every day for a rather long period of time determined by the attending physician.
How to use this drug when detecting candidiasis of the oral cavity and pharynx? A day, you need to use fifty to one hundred milligrams of the drug for one or two weeks, and sometimes a whole month (especially when it comes to candidiasis of the skin and mucous membranes). In order to prevent the recurrence of the disease in HIV-infected people, it is necessary to take 150 milligrams of the drug once every seven days.
Is it possible to cure thrush in women with the help of āFluconazoleā? Instructions for use of the drug recommends taking 150 milligrams of the active substance at a time.
This method of treatment applies to the treatment of balanoposthitis. In some cases, to consolidate the result, you can take another 150 milligrams of the active substance after a period of time determined by the doctor. Also - in order to prevent relapse of the disease - the doctor may prescribe to take one capsule every month for six months or even a year. These recommendations are recorded in the instructions for use of the capsules āFluconazole 150 mgā. The price of the product will be presented below.
According to reviews of satisfied patients, such treatment is considered not very expensive, but effective. Thanks to the capsules, they managed to get rid of burning sensation and discomfort in the vagina and other unpleasant symptoms. Many women recommend to refrain from having sex during the treatment period, which will speed recovery. Gynecologists also necessarily warn about this.
In case of skin lesions with fungal infections, fifty milligrams of Fluconazole should be taken every day, or 150 milligrams of the drug every week. It is clear that a more accurate schedule will be prescribed by your doctor after a detailed examination. In this case, the duration of the course usually does not exceed two to four weeks. If we are talking about foot mycosis, then a longer treatment will be needed - about a month and a half.
If we are talking about lesions with pityriasis versicolor, then the doctor can prescribe three hundred milligrams of the drug once every seven days, and so on for two to three weeks.
If the nails are affected by the fungus, then drug therapy covers a rather long period of time until the affected tissue is completely renewed. With onychomycosis of the palms, the duration of the course covers three to six months, and with diseases of the feet and even longer - up to a year. During the treatment period, it is necessary to take one capsule of 150 milligrams once a week.
If we are talking about severe forms of mycoses, then the duration of treatment can be two years. In this case, it will be necessary to use the drug every day for two or four hundred milligrams.
Therapy for small patients
As for children, their treatment schedule is no different from an adult. In this case, the dosage of the drug should be calculated in accordance with the age of small patients. According to the annotation for Fluconazole, the daily dose of the active substance should not exceed three to twelve milligrams per kilogram of the childās weight. According to parental reviews, the drug is relatively easily tolerated by children. Most often, doctors prescribe a remedy for babies from a year old.
When it is not recommended to take the drug
The main contraindication of "Fluconazole" is an individual intolerance to the active substance. In most cases, it is well tolerated by people of different ages, even in the presence of concomitant diseases.
On the other hand, violations in the functioning of the kidneys and liver are relative contraindications to the use of the drug. Most often, doctors simply lower the dosage of the drug to those patients who have a history of certain liver and kidney pathologies. The same applies to patients with serious heart conditions.
Under one year of age is also a contraindication to the use of āFluconazoleā for the treatment of small patients.
Pregnancy and drug
But what if fungal ailments are diagnosed in expectant or nursing mothers? Since the active substance of the drug is well absorbed into breast milk, during the treatment period, lactating women must completely abandon breastfeeding. In relation to pregnant women, the drug is also not recommended to be used, since the active component can adversely affect the development of the fetus and provoke various deviations and defects.This information is confirmed by some studies, according to which women taking Fluconazole during pregnancy gave birth to sick and retarded babies. On the other hand, the attending physician may consider it necessary to conduct a course of therapy for the expectant mother, believing that the risk to the fetus is justified by the expected health benefits of the pregnant woman.
Be that as it may, according to the numerous reviews of patients, during the treatment with Fluconazole, doctors recommended that they use proven contraceptives to minimize the chance of becoming pregnant.
Side effects
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Various rashes may occur on the skin, accompanied by swelling, itching, or burning.
Disturbances in the functioning of the hematopoietic system and metabolic processes can also be detected.
Use in conjunction with other means
It is necessary to take āFluconazoleā together with other drugs very carefully, as active substances that have entered into a general reaction can provoke unforeseen side symptoms.
It should be borne in mind that anticoagulants and fluconazole can cause hematomas and nosebleeds. The joint intake of the drug of interest to us with benzodiazepines increases the concentration of the latter, enhancing their effect. The same applies to such drugs as āPhenytoinā, āRifabutinā, āTacrolimusā and āAstemizoleā. The combined use of Fluconazole and hydrochlorothiazide-based products, on the contrary, increases the concentration of the drug of interest to us.
Sugar-lowering tablet preparations, as well as sulfonylurea derivatives, in combination with Fluconazole, can trigger hypoglycemia.
"Terfenadine" is also unacceptable to use together with the drug of interest to us, since their combination can cause severe forms of arrhythmia.
It is undesirable to take alcohol and drugs based on ethyl alcohol during the period of treatment with āFluconazoleā.
Storage Tips
You can preserve the tablet preparation at a temperature not exceeding thirty degrees with a plus mark. The optimal shelf life of the product is five years.
So, we discussed the instructions for use of āFluconazoleā 150 mg. The price of this drug is of interest to many.
Cost of funds
The price of "Fluconazole" depends on the dosage and number of capsules in the package. On average, one capsule, which contains 150 milligrams of the active substance, costs from 10 to 25 rubles. Seven capsules with a dosage of fifty milligrams are sold from thirty to fifty rubles. It all depends not only on the manufacturer, but also on the pharmacy network in which the pharmacological product is sold.
According to consumer reviews, the price of the drug is not high. Especially when you consider that in some cases, treatment may consist of using one or two capsules.
Analogs and substitutes
Such an active substance as fluconazole is produced by many domestic and foreign pharmacological companies. There are 100% preparations based on this component, as well as complex products, which include two or three active substances.
The first type of drug should include āDiflucanā, which is an injectable powder with a dosage of fifty milligrams and an infusion solution with a dosage of one hundred milligrams, as well as āMimomaxā, presented on the pharmacological market in the form of syrup, infusion solution and capsules. In this list, it is necessary to mention such drugs as āForkanā, āMikoflukanā, āMikosistā, āFlucostatā, āMiconilā and āFluconormā. Almost all of these funds are available in the form of tablets (or capsules) and solutions for infusion.
The second group of drugs, among which fluconazole is not the only active substance, include:
- āSafocideā. This tool is a set of three tablets - āAzithromycinā (in a dosage of a thousand milligrams), āSecnidazoleā (a thousand milligrams) and āFluconazoleā (150 milligrams).
- āWagisept.ā Other active ingredients are metronidazole. The drug is used to treat ailments caused by Trichomonas.
- āWagiferonā. A tool based on fluconazole, metronidazole and interferon. It is used for antimicrobial, antiprotozoal, immunomodulating purposes.
If a patient has an individual intolerance to fluconazole, drugs of a similar spectrum of action may be prescribed, which include other active ingredients:
- āIntraconazoleā. The drug is based on the same substance.
- Ketozoral. An agent whose active ingredient is imidazole.
- Mikogel. The drug is based on another active substance - miconazole nitrate.
These drugs should be taken only after the appointment of the attending physician, strictly observing the dosage and schedule.
A few words in conclusion
We have examined in detail the instructions for āFluconazole 150ā. The price of the drug and reviews about it were also presented. Based on the information presented above, it can be concluded that Fluconazole is an inexpensive antifungal agent that can cure diseases caused by Candida fungus. According to doctors and patients, the drug is well tolerated, but it has some contraindications and side effects. It is necessary to take the drug only after the recommendation of a specialist, strictly observing the dosage prescribed by him.