Diflucan is the most common brand name of fluconazole, a chemical compound used to treat different fungal infections in your body. In particular, it’s used to combat the effects of candidiasis, a pesky fungal disease that occurs in many forms throughout one’s body.
Different diseases related to a Cryptococci genus of fungi are also a good target for Diflucan. These, alongside candidiasis, are the most common fungal infections you could possibly encounter. There are some others, and the drug is also capable of keeping those at bay.
In short, if you were fortunate enough to contract a fungal disease, you’ll probably be given fluconazole in some form – either orally or through injections. Diflucan can feel weird, but it’s unlikely to harm you in any lasting way. This drug is very selective in what it wants to kill, and you are not among these things.
Some possible side effects include nausea, vomiting, and other issues related to one’s stomach. Unlike antibiotics, which also tend to do so, Diflucan won’t generate new diseases for you and it won’t weaken your body. The adverse effects are simply your system’s reaction to this unpleasant medicine.
Fluconazole in Canada and abroad
Diflucan has a very wide price spectrum, compared to some other similar drugs, meaning it can be very cheap or very expensive. Much of its production is concentrated in Canada, where it’s produced by Pfizer. There are many other products with the same formula that may cost even less, including the ‘generic’ alternatives.
Diflucan comes in various dosages. These capsules can be 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg, which is due to a wide spectrum of diseases this drug deals with. The package sizes also differ, as do the forms of this medicine. There can be anything from 1 to 30 capsules (or an equivalent in jelly, pills, or liquid).
In terms of pricing, the cost can change a lot from one package to the other, based on the individual properties of the product inside. Here’s the cost of 1 tablet/capsule of this drug with a typical 150 mg dosage from different countries, if ordered online:
- Diflucan can cost from $10 to $200 in the US, the average price is hard to estimate;
- The drug can cost from $25 to $75 in Canada;
- In other places, the usual price seems to be about $70 per pill.
You don’t need a lot of them for a specific treatment course. The usual course takes about 7-14 days, and the usual dose per day is roughly 100 mg. That being said, it can still be an expensive treatment. Fortunately, there are ways to save on medicine without sacrificing the quality, in particular, with fluconazole.
How does it work?
Diflucan is a triazole compound. Azoles in particular are great at killing microscopic fungi and plants, making them ideal for treating patients with fungi-based diseases. This drug in particular is an advanced chemical, which doesn’t mean much to you, but it should probably instill trust.
It was discovered in the 80s, soon entering mass production. Although generally unpleasant, its high effectiveness and tendency to not ruin the person’s life with its side effects meant it soon became popular. It’s not one of the main antifungal drugs on the market, so there are alternatives too.
Triazoles work by affecting the proteins within the nasty unwanted fungi that entered your body. These proteins are also found in other parts of your very precious self. What’s good about fluconazole, though, is that it only targets fungal proteins, so it’s very picky.
It weakens the structural integrity of trespassers and makes it harder for them to reproduce and move. This is incredibly important because the main problem with candidiasis and other such illnesses is that fungi can spread very far very fast. This negates this problem, making it only a matter of time before the disease retreats.
Fluconazole Generic
A generic form of a drug includes the same main component as the brand product, but without the, well… brand. The cost of this product is, therefore, massively reduced. For instance, you can easily buy thirty 100mg tablets of fluconazole for just $90. You’ll likely never need that many, but it’s still a massive saving possibility.
These drugs can easily be bought online and delivered to you wherever in Canada you may live. In terms of quality, they are nearly identical. The only difference is that generic drugs aren’t improved. Thus, they are the same compounds of fluconazole that were developed back in the 80s.
Quality control is still strict, and flaws are very rare. It’s just that you won’t sponsor new research, nor will you benefit from it.
Doses of Diflucan
Fluconazole capsules and tablets come in different doses. The 100 mg and 150 mg are the usual sizes, but 50 mg and 200 mg pills are also found commonly enough. Since your personal daily dose can be anything from 100 to 400 mg, this variety is more than justified. Different conditions call for a different treatment, after all.
It’s a prescription drug, and you’ll need to take an exact dose of this medicine. In most cases, it’s better to pick tablets of 100 mg due to their flexibility. You can ask your doctor which product you need exactly, down to such specifics. You can then order this exact thing online or look for similar alternatives.
How to take Fluconazole Generic
Your exact daily dose of Diflucan depends on many factors. The minimal functional amount is 100 mg a day. The maximum is about 400 mg a day, but such quantities are extreme and will only be prescribed if you are absolutely full of fungi. Even then, you should be careful not to overdose.
It can be taken in different forms, both orally and via injections. For oral use, it comes in capsules, pills, liquid forms, jelly & others. A daily dose is usually taken in one go, regardless of meal time. Taking it with water, however, is very much advised. It’s better to take it around the same time every day. Some fungi require a more seldom intake, up to 3 days between each go (for instance, with a vaginal form).
The whole course of Diflucan usually takes 1-2 weeks. Some fungal diseases require longer courses. In any case, the consumption of fluconazole should not be stopped before there are signs of mass fungal withdrawal. If you do, the remission will come shortly enough.
Warnings / Cautions / Side effects of Diflucan
Some adverse effects related to Diflucan include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomachaches. Rash, headaches, sleepiness, and dizziness are also common enough side effects. ‘Common’ means that if you will have a side effect while taking this drug, it’ll probably be one of them. These are the typical side effects.
You’ll be fine if you take certain precautions. For instance, some substances should be avoided while on Diflucan. It means booze and some mood-altering drugs (like fluoxetine) are off the charts. Fluconazole usually gets well along with other drugs, which means you can negate some of the more uncomfortable effects of this drug with other medications.
Overdose on fluconazole can lead to hallucinations and paranoia. The usual treatment includes stomach pumping and excessive urination to remove the drug from the system. After that, the condition is usually normalized. So, it’s not fatal, but will be a highly uncomfortable experience.
Folks with advanced HIV are particularly sensitive to Diflucan. Patients with this virus end up showing more adverse side effects than usual, including increased risk of rashes, harsher overdoses, and general discomfort. Luckily for them, alternative antifungal medicaments are even worse.