Prescription medication · Azole Antifungal
fluconazole
Also sold as Diflucan. Fluconazole treats vaginal yeast infections.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 67,703
- FDA reportsOften reported
- 67
- InteractionsMany interactions
- 78% less
- Generic vs brandBig savings
- $1.09
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
fluconazole (Diflucan) is a prescription Azole Antifungal, more reported than most tracked drugs (67,703 FDA reports), whose generic runs roughly half the brand price or less (78% less).
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
fluconazole (Diflucan) is a prescription Azole Antifungal. Fluconazole treats vaginal yeast infections.
Fluconazole is an antifungal medicine. It is used to treat infections caused by fungus.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$1.09/unit
Generic Price
$0.24/unit
Generic Savings
78%
Generic Available
Yes (14 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Fluconazole treats vaginal yeast infections.
Common side effects
Headache, Nausea, Abdominal pain
Key warnings
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.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from fluconazole's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
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.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 67,703 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for fluconazole, by number of reports
- Pyrexia
Pyrexia
4,121 reports
- Nausea
Nausea
3,697 reports
- Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea
3,538 reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
3,151 reports
- Pain
Pain
3,123 reports
- Drug Interaction
Drug Interaction
2,934 reports
- Pneumonia
Pneumonia
2,851 reports
- Headache
Headache
2,807 reports
- Febrile Neutropenia
Febrile Neutropenia
2,661 reports
- Rash
Rash
2,404 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for fluconazole each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where fluconazole sits
fluconazole has more FDA adverse-event reports than 79% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is fluconazole; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 67,703 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 1999–2025.
Total Reports
67,703
Reports Mentioning Death
12,178
18.0% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
29,753
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | PYREXIA | 4,121 |
| 4 | NAUSEA | 3,697 |
| 5 | DIARRHOEA | 3,538 |
| 6 | FATIGUE | 3,151 |
| 7 | PAIN | 3,123 |
| 8 | DRUG INTERACTION | 2,934 |
| 9 | PNEUMONIA | 2,851 |
| 10 | HEADACHE | 2,807 |
| 11 | FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA | 2,661 |
| 12 | RASH | 2,404 |
| 13 | DYSPNOEA | 2,362 |
| 14 | VOMITING | 2,329 |
| 15 | DEATH | 2,137 |
| 16 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 2,134 |
| 17 | ANAEMIA | 2,070 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
(See CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Drug Interaction Studies .) Pimozide : Although not studied in vitro or in vivo , concomitant administration of fluconazole with pimozide may result in inhibition of pimozide metabolism. Increased pimozide plasma concentrations can lead to QT prolongation and rare occurrences of torsade de pointes. Coadministration of fluconazole and pimozide is contraindicated.
Mechanism: Fluconazole slows down how your body breaks down pimozide, which can cause the drug to build up and lead to dangerous heart rhythm problems.
Fluconazole No Dose Adjustment Fluconazole: [see Pharmacokinetics ( 12.3 )] Anti-Gout Agents: Colchicine (in patients with renal or hepatic impairment) Contraindicated Colchicine: Colchicine is a substrate for both CYP3A and the efflux transporter, P-glycoprotein (Pgp).
Mechanism: These two drugs do not significantly affect each other's levels in the body.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS • CYP3A Inhibitors: In post-MI HFrEF patients, do not exceed 25 mg once daily when used with moderate CYP3A inhibitors (e.g., verapamil, erythromycin, saquinavir, fluconazole).
Mechanism: Fluconazole blocks the enzyme that clears eplerenone from your body, which can lead to higher levels of the drug in your blood.
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors : The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis increases when fluconazole is coadministered with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors metabolized through CYP3A4, such as atorvastatin and simvastatin, or through CYP2C9, such as fluvastatin.
Mechanism: Fluconazole changes how your body processes atorvastatin, which can lead to a dangerous buildup and cause muscle damage.
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors : The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis increases when fluconazole is coadministered with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors metabolized through CYP3A4, such as atorvastatin and simvastatin, or through CYP2C9, such as fluvastatin.
Mechanism: Fluconazole blocks the enzyme that breaks down simvastatin, causing the cholesterol medicine to build up in your body. This increases the risk of serious muscle damage.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
What should I do if I feel sick while taking fluconazole?
Can I drink alcohol while taking fluconazole?
How long does it take for fluconazole to work?
Can I drive while taking fluconazole?
What if my symptoms come back after I finish taking fluconazole?
Is fluconazole the same as Diflucan?
Can I buy fluconazole over the counter?
Does fluconazole interact with other medications?
Can fluconazole cause liver problems?
What do the numbers on the pill mean?
What are the common side effects of fluconazole?
Does fluconazole interact with other medications?
What drug class is fluconazole?
Is there a generic version of fluconazole?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for fluconazole?
Related Medications in Azole Antifungal
Other drugs grouped near fluconazole - same-class peers and common alternatives.
acyclovir
Zovirax
Acyclovir is an antiviral medicine.
Compare with fluconazole →
albendazole
Albenza
Albendazole is a medicine that fights parasites.
Compare with fluconazole →
amphotericin B
Ambisome, Fungizone
Amphotericin B liposome is an antifungal medicine.
Compare with fluconazole →
anidulafungin
Eraxis
Eraxis is an antifungal medicine.
Compare with fluconazole →
atovaquone/proguanil
Malarone
Malarone is a drug used to prevent and treat malaria.
Compare with fluconazole →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for fluconazole: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 67,703.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 17.99%.
- fondaparinux Δ 0.01 pts · 7,980 reports · Factor Xa Inhibitor (Injectable) 17.99%death share
- doxepin Δ 0.13 pts · 9,780 reports · Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA) 17.85%death share
- pitavastatin Δ 0.17 pts · 3,148 reports · HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin) 17.82%death share
- granisetron Δ 0.20 pts · 10,198 reports · 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonist (Antiemetic) 18.19%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for fluconazole
The FDA label for fluconazole (sold under brand names such as Diflucan) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Azole Antifungal class. Fluconazole treats vaginal yeast infections. Official labeling lists 3 commonly reported side effects, including Headache, Nausea, Abdominal pain.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 67,703 voluntary reports. The database also lists 67 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.24 versus $1.09 for the brand - a 78% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: November 17, 2025
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages