How Long Does Fluconazole Last In The Body?
The pharmacist answers our latest reader question regarding how long the drug fluconazole lasts in the body.
How long does Fluconazole last in the body (healthy adult)? Trying to gauge how long to wait before I can have a glass of wine.
May 10, 2022- Fluconazole has an average half-life of 30 hours and takes about 7 days to clear from the body in people with normal kidney function.
- The long time fluconazole stays in your system is why a single dose can treat a yeast infection.
- Alcohol is not directly contraindicated with fluconazole but should be used in moderation as it may increase gastrointestinal side effects.
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We are more than happy to answer this question regarding fluconazole for you.
What Is Fluconazole?
Fluconazole, also commonly known by the brand name Diflucan, is a synthetic antifungal agent that has a broad spectrum of activity and is indicated for the treatment of a wide variety of fungal infections.
Most commonly, it is used to treat yeast infections, and based on how the drug works, it oftentimes can be dosed as a single pill for treatment.
How Long Does Fluconazole Last In The Body?
The amount of time that it takes fluconazole to clear your system can vary greatly from person to person.
Fluconazole is mainly excreted by the kidneys, so having normal kidney function is a key component in determining the time it may take fluconazole to be cleared from your body.
If kidney function is normal, the half-life for fluconazole is anywhere from 20 to 50 hours with 30 hours considered to be average.
It takes around 5.5 half-lives for a drug to be considered cleared from the body.
If we use the average half-life for fluconazole (30 hours), this would lend that the average time it takes fluconazole to be cleared from the body of a healthy adult at 165 hours or just under 7 days.
If you ever wondered why you can often treat a yeast infection with just a single pill of fluconazole, this is why. It lasts an extremely long time in the body.
Alcohol With Fluconazole
Drinking alcohol while taking fluconazole is not contraindicated as they do not have any direct drug interactions.
However, alcohol should be used in moderation or with caution while taking fluconazole as it has the potential to increase the risk of gastrointestinal side effects.
Taking certain other anti-infective medications, such as metronidazole (which is an anti-protozoal/antibiotic), with alcohol can cause a "disulfiram-like" reaction.
A disulfiram-like reaction is caused by a medication or natural compound inducing a hypersensitive effect to alcohol, resulting in symptoms that can be severe and include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Abdominal discomfort
- Flushing
Final Words
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Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Antifungal
- A medication that kills or stops the growth of fungal infections.
- Broad spectrum
- Effective against a wide variety of different types of organisms or infections.
- Indicated
- Approved or recommended by medical standards for treating a specific condition.
- Half-life
- The amount of time it takes for half of a drug dose to be eliminated from the body.
- Excreted
- Removed and eliminated from the body, typically through urine or other bodily processes.
- Contraindicated
- Not recommended or inadvisable because it may cause harm or dangerous effects.
- Anti-infective
- A medication that fights against infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites.
- Disulfiram-like reaction
- A severe allergic-type response to alcohol triggered by certain medications, causing nausea, vomiting, and other uncomfortable symptoms.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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