Do you need to treat an infection with Diflucan? Are you wondering if the medication is available over the counter? Unfortunately, you can’t buy Diflucan over the counter, but there are alternative medications you can use if you’re suffering from a fungal infection.
Regardless of why you’ve found this article, if you’re looking for information about Diflucan and its over-the-counter alternatives, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I’ll give you an overview of what Diflucan is and what it treats, whether or not you can get Diflucan over the counter, and discuss some similar drugs to Diflucan.
What’s Diflucan?
Diflucan is an antifungal medication that’s used to treat infections caused by fungus, such as yeast infections. It can also be used to prevent fungal infections in people who have weakened immune systems caused by treatments such as chemotherapy or transplants or illnesses such as AIDS.
Diflucan is an oral treatment brand name drug manufactured by Pfizer. It’s only available with a prescription from your doctor. The generic name for Diflucan is fluconazole, and there are many different companies that manufacture generic fluconazole.
Diflucan is normally given in a single dose of 150 mg to treat vaginal candidiasis (yeast infection). If you’re suffering from another type of fungal infection, you may receive multiple daily doses of Diflucan. The dosage and length of treatment you’ll receive will depend on your doctor’s recommendations and your reason for needing Diflucan.
Can You Buy Diflucan Over the Counter?
Unfortunately, there is no Diflucan OTC. You can only get Diflucan or fluconazole with a prescription from your doctor. There’s no oral equivalent to Diflucan that you can get over the counter.
However, if you are searching for a way to treat fungal infections without a prescription, there are some topical creams you can get over-the-counter. In the next section, I’ll talk more about over-the-counter \ Diflucan alternatives.
What Are Similar Drugs to Diflucan?
If you’re looking for an over-the-counter Diflucan or fluconazole alternative, your best bet is to use a topical over-the-counter cream.
If you’re looking to treat a yeast infection, over-the-counter drugs like Monistat and Gyne-Lotrimin are available in single-day, three-day, and seven-day regimens. Monistat typically contains an ovule insert, cream, and medicated wipes. Gyne-Lotrimin is a topical medical cream that treats the burning, itching, and discharge associated with yeast infections.
While most patients prefer taking an oral treatment like Diflucan for yeast infections over using topical creams, 90% of patients report that both the oral and topical treatments are successful in curing their yeast infections.
If you’re taking fluconazole for another reason, such as infection prevention, there are no over-the-counter alternatives. You should take the dosage of Diflucan or generic fluconazole prescribed by your doctor in order to prevent any complications.
Drug Interactions to Avoid When Taking Diflucan
Diflucan can provoke serious reactions if taken alongside other drugs, specifically cisapride, erythromycin, pimozide, prednisone, and quinidine. Make sure you inform your doctor or pharmacist of all medications that you’re taking before starting Diflucan, so your doctor or pharmacist can determine any possible complications.
Similarly, Diflucan can be harmful if you have certain pre-existing conditions, including a history of liver disease, kidney disease, or heart rhythm disorder.
Common Side Effects From Taking Diflucan
As with all drugs, Diflucan can cause annoying or possibly dangerous side effects. If you’re experiencing discomfort from any of the side effects listed below, it’s best to check with your doctor to make sure everything’s all right.
Minor Diflucan Side Effects
Most side effects from Diflucan are minor. If taking Diflucan, you may experience any of the following common minor side effects:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea
- Heartburn
- Loss of appetite
If you experience any of these minor Diflucan side effects, you don’t necessarily need to call your doctor. However, if the side effects occur over a prolonged period of time or cause you extreme discomfort, it’s always a good idea to hear what your doctor has to say.
Major Diflucan Side Effects
Occasionally, you may experience more dangerous and serious side effects from taking Diflucan. If you experience any of these side effects, you should contact your doctor immediately.
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
- Severe blistering or peeling of skin
- Unusual weakness or easy bruising
- Seizure
Recap: Is Diflucan Over the Counter?
Unfortunately, there is no Diflucan OTC available. Diflucan is only available with a prescription, meaning you have to visit your doctor in order to get this drug.
Diflucan and its generic, fluconazole, are oral medications used to treat or prevent fungal infections. If you’re looking for an over-the-counter Diflucan alternative to treating yeast infections, topical creams like Monistat or Gyne-Lotrimin are often successful treatments.