FLUCONAZOLE oral

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    Last updated: September 2023

     

    Prescription under medical supervision

     

    Therapeutic action

    • Antifungal

    Indications

    • Oesophageal candidiasis
    • Moderate to severe oropharyngeal candidiasis
    • Secondary prophylaxis of recurrent candidiasis in immunocompromised patients
    • Cryptococcal meningitis, after treatment with amphotericin B + flucytosine or in combination with amphotericin B or flucytosine
    • Secondary prophylaxis of cryptococcal infections

    Forms and strengths

    • 50 mg and 200 mg capsules
    • 50 mg/5 ml oral suspension

    Dosage and duration

    Oesophageal candidiasis, oropharyngeal candidiasis, secondary prophylaxis of recurrent candidiasis

    • Child 1 month and over: 3 to 6 mg/kg (max. 200 mg) once daily
    • Adult: 50 to 200 mg (max. 400 mg) once daily

    The treatment lasts 14 to 21 days for oesophageal candidiasis; 7 to 14 days for oropharyngeal candidiasis; as long as required for secondary prophylaxis.

     

    Cryptococcal meningitis

     

    After treatment with
    amphotericin B + flucytosine
    Child
    ≥ 1 month

    12 mg/kg once daily for 1 week
    then 6 to 12 mg/kg once daily for 8 weeks

    Max. 800 mg once daily

    Adult 1200 mg once daily for 1 week
    then 800 mg once daily for 8 weeks

    or

    In combination with
    amphotericin B
    or flucytosine
    Child
    ≥ 1 month

    12 mg/kg once daily for 2 weeks (with amphotericin B or flucytosine)
    then 6 to 12 mg/kg once daily for 8 weeks

    Max. 800 mg once daily

    Adult 1200 mg once daily for 2 weeks (with amphotericin B or flucytosine)
    then 800 mg once daily for 8 weeks

     

    Secondary prophylaxis of cryptococcal infections

    • Child: 6 mg/kg (max. 200 mg) once daily, as long as required
    • Adult: 200 mg once daily, as long as required

    Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

    • Administer with caution to patients with hepatic or renal impairment, cardiac disorders (bradycardia, heart rhythm disorders, etc.).
    • Reduce the dose by half in patients with renal impairment.
    • May cause: gastrointestinal disturbances, headache, skin reactions sometimes severe, anaphylactic reactions; severe hepatic disorders, haematologic (leukopenia, thrombocytopenia) and cardiac disorders (QT-prolongation). Stop treatment in the event of anaphylactic reaction, hepatic disorders or severe skin reaction.
    • In the event of prolonged treatment, monitor hepatic function.
    • Do not administer simultaneously with rifampicin, administer 12 hours apart (rifampicin in the morning, fluconazole in the evening).
    • Avoid or monitor combination with:
      • drugs that prolong the QT interval (amiodarone, chloroquine, erythromycin, haloperidol, mefloquine, pentamidine, quinine);
      • warfarin, carbamazepine, phenytoin, rifabutin, benzodiazepines, calcium-channel blockers, certain antiretrovirals (e.g. nevirapine, zidovudine): increased plasma concentrations of these drugs.
    • Pregnancy and breast-feeding: to be used only in severe or life-threatening infections, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy (risk of foetal malformations).

    Remarks

    • As in neonates the half-life of fluconazole is prolonged, it should be administered every 72 hours (neonates < 14 days) or every 48 hours (neonates ≥ 14 days).
    • For the treatment of histoplasmosis, fluconazole is less effective than itraconazole. In patients unable to tolerate itraconazole, the dose of fluconazole is:
      • child: 10 to 12 mg/kg (max. 400 mg) once daily for 6 to 12 weeks
      • adult: 400 mg on D1 then 200 to 400 mg once daily for 6 to 12 weeks
    • For the treatment of genital candidiasis (vulvovaginitis, balanitis), fluconazole is only used if local treatment fails: 150 mg single dose in adults.

    Storage

     
    –  Below 25 °C 
    Once reconstituted, oral suspension keeps for 2 weeks.