DIFLUCAN 50MG HARD CAPSULES

PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER

Diflucan 50 mg

hard capsules Diflucan 200 mg hard capsules fluconazole

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine. - Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again. - If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist. - This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours. - If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist. In this leaflet: 1. What Diflucan is and what it is used for 2. Before you take Diflucan 3. How to take Diflucan 4. Possible side effects 5. How to store Diflucan 6. Further information

1. WHAT DIFLUCAN IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR
Diflucan is one of a group of medicines called antifungals. The active substance is fluconazole. Diflucan is used to treat infections caused by fungi and may also be used to stop you from getting a candidal infection. The most common cause of fungal infections is a yeast called Candida. Adults You might be given this medicine by your doctor to treat the following types of fungal infections: - Cryptococcal meningitis a fungal infection in the brain - Coccidioidomycosis a disease of the bronchopulmonary system - Infections caused by Candida and found in the blood stream, body organs (e.g. heart, lungs) or urinary tract - Mucosal thrush - infection affecting the lining of the mouth, throat and denture sore mouth - Genital thrush infection of the vagina or penis - Skin infections - e.g. athletes foot, ringworm, jock itch, nail infection You might also be given Diflucan to: - stop cryptococcal meningitis from coming back - stop mucosal thrush from coming back - reduce recurrence of vaginal thrush - stop you from getting an infection caused by Candida (if your immune system is weak and not working properly) Children and adolescents (0 to 17 years old) You might be given this medicine by your doctor to treat the following types of fungal infections: - Mucosal thrush - infection affecting the lining of the mouth, throat - Infections caused by Candida and found in the blood stream, body organs (e.g. heart, lungs) or urinary tract - Cryptococcal meningitis a fungal infection in the brain You might also be given Diflucan to: - stop you from getting an infection caused by Candida (if your immune system is weak and not working properly). - stop cryptococcal meningitis from coming back

cisapride (used for stomach upsets) or pimozide (used for treating mental illness) or quinidine (used for treating heart arrhythmia) or erythromycin (an antibiotic for treating infections) as these should not be taken with Diflucan (see section: Do not take Diflucan if you). There are some medicines that may interact with Diflucan. Make sure your doctor knows if you are taking any of the following medicines: - rifampicin or rifabutin (antibiotics for infections) - alfentanil, fentanyl (used as anaesthetic) - amitriptyline, nortriptyline (used as anti-depressant) - amphotericin B, voriconazole (anti-fungal) - medicines that thin the blood to prevent blood clots (warfarin or similar medicines) - benzodiazepines (midazolam, triazolam or similar medicines) used to help you sleep or for anxiety - carbamazepine, phenytoin (used for treating fits) - nifedipine, isradipine, amlodipine, felodipine and losartan (for hypertension- high blood pressure) - ciclosporin, everolimus , sirolimus or tacrolimus (to prevent transplant rejection) - cyclosphosphamide, vinca alkaloids (vincristine, vinblastine or similar medicines) used for treating cancer - halofantrine (used for treating malaria) - statins (atorvastatin, simvastatin and fluvastatin or similar medicines) used for reducing high cholesterol levels - methadone (used for pain) - celecoxib, flurbiprofen, naproxen, ibuprofen, lornoxicam, meloxicam, diclofenac (Non-Steroidal AntiInflammatory Drugs (NSAID)) - oral contraceptives - prednisolone (steroid) - zidovudine, also known as AZT; saquinavir (used in HIVinfected patients) - medicines for diabetes such as chlorpropamide, glibenclamide, glipizide or tolbutamide - theophylline (used to control asthma) - vitamin A (nutritional supplement) Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. Taking Diflucan with food and drink You can take your medicine with or without a meal. Pregnancy and breast-feeding Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breast-feeding. You should not take Diflucan while you are pregnant or breast-feeding unless your doctor has told you to. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicines. Driving and using machines When driving vehicles or using machines, it should be taken into account that occasionally dizziness or fits may occur. Important information about some of the ingredients of Diflucan This medicine contains a small amount of lactose (milk sugar). If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, please contact your doctor before taking this medicine.



3. HOW TO TAKE DIFLUCAN
Always take your medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Swallow the capsule whole with a glass of water. It is best to take your capsules at the same time each day. The usual doses of this medicine for different infections are below: Adults Condition To treat cryptococcal meningitis Dose 400 mg on the first day then 200 mg to 400 mg once daily for 6 to 8 weeks or longer if needed. Sometimes doses are increased up to 800 mg 200 mg once daily until you are told to stop

2. BEFORE YOU TAKE DIFLUCAN
Do not take Diflucan if you - are allergic (hypersensitive) to fluconazole, to other medicines you have taken to treat fungal infections or to any of the other ingredients of Diflucan. The symptoms may include itching, reddening of the skin or difficulty in breathing - are taking astemizole, terfenadine (antihistamine medicines for allergies) - are taking cisapride (used for stomach upsets) - are taking pimozide (used for treating mental illness) - are taking quinidine (used for treating heart arrhythmia) - are taking erythromycin (an antibiotic for treating infections) Take special care with Diflucan Tell your doctor if you - have liver or kidney problems - suffer from heart disease, including heart rhythm problems - have abnormal levels of potassium, calcium or magnesium in your blood - develop severe skin reactions (itching, reddening of the skin or difficulty in breathing) Taking other medicines Tell your doctor immediately if you are taking astemizole, terfenadine (an antihistamine for treating allergies) or

To stop cryptococcal meningitis from coming back To treat coccidioidomycosis

200 mg to 400 mg once daily from 11 months for up to 24 months or longer if needed. Sometimes doses are increased up to 800 mg To treat internal fungal 800 mg on the first day then infections caused by 400 mg once daily until you Candida are told to stop To treat mucosal 200 mg to 400 mg on the first infections affecting the day then 100 mg to 200 mg lining of mouth, throat and until you are told to stop denture sore mouth To treat mucosal thrush 50 mg to 400 mg once daily dose depends on where for 7 to 30 days until you are the infection is located told to stop

To stop mucosal infections affecting the lining of mouth, throat To treat genital thrush To reduce recurrence of vaginal thrush

To treat fungal skin and nail infections

To stop you from getting an infection caused by Candida (if your immune system is weak and not working properly)

100 mg to 200 mg once daily, or 200 mg 3 times a week, while you are at risk of getting an infection 150 mg as a single dose 150 mg every third day for a total of 3 doses (day 1, 4 and 7) and then once a week for 6 months while you are at risk of getting an infection Depending on the site of the infection 50 mg once daily, 150 mg once weekly, 300 to 400 mg once weekly for 1 to 4 weeks (Athletes foot may be up to 6 weeks, for nail infection treatment until infected nail is replaced) 200 mg to 400 mg once daily while you are at risk of getting an infection

Adolescents from 12 to 17 years old Follow the dose prescribed by your doctor (either adults or children posology). Children to 11 years old The maximum dose for children is 400 mg daily. The dose will be based on the childs weight in kilograms. Condition Mucosal thrush and throat infections caused by Candida dose and duration depends on the severity of the infection and on where the infection is located Cryptococcal meningitis or internal fungal infections caused by Candida To stop children from getting an infection caused by Candida (if their immune system is not working properly) Daily dose 3 mg per kg of body weight (6 mg per kg of body weight might be given on the first day) 6 mg to 12 mg per kg of body weight 3 mg to 12 mg per kg of body weight

Use in children 0 to 4 weeks of age Use in children of 3 to 4 weeks of age: The same dose as above but given once every 2 days. The maximum dose is 12 mg per kg of body weight every 48 hours. Use in children less than 2 weeks old: The same dose as above but given once every 3 days. The maximum dose is 12 mg per kg of body weight every 72 hours. Doctors sometimes prescribe different doses to these. Always take your medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Elderly The usual adult dose should be given unless you have kidney problems. Patients with kidney problems Your doctor may change your dose, depending on your kidney function. If you take more Diflucan than you should Taking too many capsules at once may make you unwell. Contact your doctor or your nearest hospital casualty department at once. The symptoms of a possible overdose may include hearing, seeing, feeling and thinking things that are not real (hallucination and paranoid behaviour). Symptomatic treatment (with supportive measures and gastric lavage if necessary) may be adequate. If you forget to take Diflucan Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, do not take the dose that you missed. If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

- yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes (jaundice) If any of these happen, stop taking Diflucan and tell your doctor immediately. Other side effects: Additionally, if any of the following side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist. Common side effects which affect 1 to 10 users in 100 are listed below: - headache - stomach discomfort, diarrhoea, feeling sick, vomiting - increases in blood tests of liver function - rash Uncommon side effects which affect 1 to 10 users in 1,000 are listed below: - reduction in red blood cells which can make skin pale and cause weakness or breathlessness - decreased appetite - inability to sleep, feeling drowsy - fit, dizziness, sensation of spinning, tingling, pricking or numbness, changes in sense of taste - constipation, difficult digestion, wind, dry mouth - muscle pain - liver damage and yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice) - wheals, blistering (hives), itching, increased sweating - tiredness, general feeling of being unwell, fever Rare side effects which affect 1 to 10 users in 10,000 are listed below: - lower than normal white blood cells that help defend against infections and blood cells that help to stop bleeding - red or purple discoloration of the skin which may be caused by low platelet count, other blood cell changes - blood chemistry changes (high blood levels of cholesterol, fats) - low blood potassium - shaking - abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG), change in heart rate or rhythm - liver failure - allergic reactions (sometimes severe), including widespread blistering rash and skin peeling, severe skin reactions, swelling of the lips or face - hair loss If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.

5. HOW TO STORE DIFLUCAN
- Keep out of the reach and sight of children. - Do not use Diflucan after the expiry date which is stated on the pack after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month. - Store below 30C Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.

6. FURTHER INFORMATION
What Diflucan contains - The active substance is fluconazole. - Each hard capsule contains 50 mg or 200 mg of fluconazole. - The other ingredients are: Capsule content: lactose monohydrate, maize starch, colloidal silica anhydrous, magnesium stearate and sodium laurilsulfate. Capsule shell composition: 50 mg hard capsules: gelatin, titanium dioxide (E171) and patent blue V (E131) 200 mg hard capsules: gelatin, titanium dioxide (E171), erythrosine (E127) and indigo carmine (E 132). Printing ink: shellac (glaze), black iron oxide, N-Butyl alcohol, dehydrated alcohol, purified water, propylene glycol, industrial methylated spirit, isopropyl alcohol, strong ammonia solution, potassium hydroxide What Diflucan 50 mg and 200 mg hard capsules look like and contents of the pack - Diflucan 50 mg hard capsules have a white body and a turquoise blue cap. They have FLU 50 and Pfizer with black ink printed on them. - Diflucan 200 mg hard capsules have a white body and a purple cap. They have FLU 200 and Pfizer with black ink printed on them. Diflucan 50 mg and 200 mg come in packs of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12, 14, 20, 28, 30, 42, 50, 60, 100 or 500 hard capsules. Not all pack sizes may be marketed. Marketing Authorisation Holder Pfizer Limited, Ramsgate Road Sandwich, Kent CT13 9NJ. United Kingdom. Manufacturer Pfizer PGM, Zone Industrielle, 29 route des Industries, 37530 Poc sur Cisse, France. This leaflet was last approved in: 11/2011 Ref: DF 1_0 UK/IE
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4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, Diflucan can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. A few people develop allergic reactions although serious allergic reactions are rare. If you get any of the following symptoms, tell your doctor immediately. - sudden wheezing, difficulty in breathing or tightness in the chest - swelling of eyelids, face or lips - itching all over the body, reddening of the skin or itchy red spots - skin rash - severe skin reactions such as a rash that causes blistering (this can affect the mouth and tongue). Diflucan may affect your liver. The signs of liver problems include: - tiredness - loss of appetite - vomiting