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fluconazole vs prednisone

Side-by-side comparison of fluconazole and prednisone. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

Prednisone : There was a case report that a liver-transplanted patient treated with prednisone developed acute adrenal cortex insufficiency when a 3 month therapy with fluconazole was discontinued. The discontinuation of fluconazole presumably caused an enhanced CYP3A4 activity which led to increased metabolism of prednisone. Patients on long-term treatment with fluconazole and prednisone should be carefully monitored for adrenal cortex insufficiency when fluconazole is discontinued.

Recommendation: Your doctor should monitor you closely for signs of low steroid levels if you stop taking fluconazole.

Drug Class
fluconazole Azole Antifungal
prednisone Corticosteroid
Type
fluconazole Prescription
prednisone Prescription
Summary
fluconazole

Fluconazole is an antifungal medicine. It is used to treat infections caused by fungus.

prednisone

Prednisone is a steroid medicine that reduces inflammation in the body. It can treat many different conditions.

What It Treats
fluconazole

Fluconazole treats vaginal yeast infections. It also treats yeast infections in the mouth and esophagus. Fluconazole can also treat urinary tract infections, peritonitis, systemic Candida infections, and pneumonia. It can also treat cryptococcal meningitis. Fluconazole can also prevent candidiasis in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation.

prednisone

Prednisone treats conditions like arthritis, severe allergies, asthma, skin problems, and certain cancers. It can also help with lung diseases and problems with your hormone levels. Prednisone can also be used to reduce protein in the urine due to kidney problems.

How It Works
fluconazole

Fluconazole works by stopping the growth of fungi. It blocks the fungus from producing a substance it needs to grow. This helps to clear up the infection.

prednisone

Prednisone is a corticosteroid that works by decreasing inflammation. It suppresses your immune system, which reduces swelling and other immune responses. This helps control the symptoms of various diseases.

Common Side Effects
fluconazole
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal pain
prednisone
  • Fluid retention
  • Mood changes
  • Weight gain
  • Increased appetite
  • High blood pressure
FAERS Reports
fluconazole
  • Fever 4,121
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 3,695
  • Loose stools 3,536
  • Feeling tired 3,152
  • Discomfort 3,121
prednisone
  • Feeling tired 39,610
  • Aches and discomfort 36,922
  • Difficulty breathing 33,812
  • Joint pain 32,401
  • The condition got worse 27,785
Serious Warnings
fluconazole

Coadministration of other drugs known to prolong the QT interval and which are metabolized via the enzyme CYP3A4 such as erythromycin, pimozide, and quinidine are contraindicated in patients receiving fluconazole.

prednisone

If you take prednisone for a long time, your body may not produce enough of its own natural steroids. This can make it hard for your body to respond to stress, like during an illness or surgery. You should not stop taking prednisone suddenly, as this can cause serious withdrawal symptoms.

Pregnancy
fluconazole

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Fluconazole may not be safe for your baby. Talk to your doctor about breastfeeding while taking fluconazole.

prednisone

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Prednisone may harm an unborn baby. It can also pass into breast milk and may affect the nursing infant.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This fluconazole vs prednisone Comparison

fluconazole is classified in the Azole Antifungal drug class, while prednisone sits within the Corticosteroid class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, fluconazole has 17,625 submissions while prednisone has 170,530. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to when you stop taking fluconazole, your body starts breaking down prednisone much faster. this can cause your steroid levels to drop too low, which can be dangerous.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between fluconazole and prednisone - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.