Diflucan may be prescribed for fungal infections such as oral thrush or other yeast infections. It is a medication that may have interactions with other drugs you might consume along with it.
Therefore, being careful about what you eat and drink while on Diflucan is necessary. Keep reading to find out whether or not it is safe to combine alcohol with Diflucan.
What Is Diflucan?
Diflucan is a medication whose brand name is Fluconazole. It is a topical fungal medicine used for treating esophageal and oral infections.
Diflucan can be used to treat fungal urinary tract and cryptococcal meningitis. It can also help to heal candida infections. Those who go through chemotherapy and radiation or bone marrow transplant are likely to get candida, which can be prevented with Diflucan.
Diflucan comes in many forms and can be taken orally, topically, or injected. The method by which you take Diflucan doesn’t change its’ effectiveness.
When prescribed Diflucan or Fluconazole as antifungal medication, take it for the entire course of the infection or as many days as your doctor prescribes, per your medical condition. This may be as short as one week or as long as six months.
Alcohol will not undermine the effectiveness of this drug, but there can be other detrimental effects on your health. From liver toxicity to other health issues, the results of mixing alcohol and Diflucan can vary from person to person. The chronic use of alcohol can affect your system by widely affecting your immune system. It can also compromise the effectiveness of your system to combat an infection.
How Diflucan Works
Diflucan and Fluconazole work by inhibiting the synthesis of ergosterol in the fungal cell membrane to kill the fungus.
The half-life of Fluconazole is between 30-50 hours. It ultimately takes five half-lives to eliminate and clear from your body completely. Which means, it could stay up to 6 to 10 days in your system.
A single dose each day is adequate to eradicate most infections. It is recommended to seek advice from a medical professional before consuming alcohol while taking antifungal medication.
What to Know About Alcohol and Diflucan
Diflucan warns never to combine these drugs with alcohol. In some circumstances, mixing Diflucan with alcohol would cause serious liver troubles.
Diflucan has a long half-life, meaning it stays in the body for a long time after use, so you should ensure that it is completely eliminated from your system before drinking. Please speak with your physician for more specific recommendations regarding its use.
The toxicity that develops with alcohol and Diflucan isn’t very common, but it can be dangerous. People consuming alcohol with Diflucan are advised to seek professional medical help as it can have severe adverse health effects.
Patients with liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatitis must avoid taking Diflucan.
Diflucan has a long half-life, meaning it stays in the body for a long time, so be sure the drug has completely vacated your system before consuming alcohol.
Speak with your physician for specific recommendations.
Diflucan Effects with Alcohol
Many people debate the general idea that alcohol can make antibiotics ineffective. You might believe that this antifungal medication is ineffective when mixed with alcohol, but the reality is that medicine remains as effective as ordinary.
However, there can be an increased risk of developing potentially dangerous side effects such as:
- Stomach Upset
- Cramps
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headache
- Flushing
- Hot Flashes
- Abdominal Pain
- Seizures
Mixing Diflucan and Alcohol
When combined with alcohol, Diflucan can rarely bring problems such as allergic reactions, hives, and blood platelet issues and a higher risk of anaphylaxis (closing of the throat).Though uncommon, if you start to experience a reaction, seek medical assistance immediately.
Sometimes moderate drinking can result in severe problems. As per CDC, moderate drinking is between one to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. Drinking every day can be very detrimental to your health in the long run.
Side Effects of Mixing Diflucan and Alcohol
Whether or not Alcohol and Diflucan are combined, there are some possible side effects with Diflucan, or the brand Fluconazole.
Common Diflucan side effects include:
- Nausea
- Abdominal Pain
- Headache
- Dyspepsia
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Rash
There are also some other possible severe but rare side effects.
It is not advisable to consume alcohol with Fluconazole. A healthcare professional always recommends avoiding alcohol consumption when you are taking medications.
Though it is a harmless drug it can still cause damage to your liver. The damage combining these substances can cause severe problems such as developing jaundice and other symptoms of liver failure.
The ability to harm the liver means Fluconazole could be problematic when mixed with alcohol. Studies have proven that 5% of people using Diflucan deal with elevated liver enzymes.
There can be several signs of liver damage, including yellow eyes, and dark urine, among other symptoms. Minimal damage occurs to a healthy liver and is still curable. The consumption of alcohol, along with Fluconazole, can bring strenuous pressure on your liver.
Be on the safe side and abstain from alcohol consumption when using Fluconazole. Alcoholic drinks can lead to serious side effects when mixed with Fluconazole and can put you in severe medical distress.
Consuming alcohol could lead to liver damage and other additional health problems for which seeking medical attention is essential. When you take Fluconazole, the side effects produced depend on how much you currently drink.
If you have alcohol-induced hepatitis or liver injury, then even small amounts of Fluconazole can result in dire consequences. In such a state, mixing antifungals with alcohol is not a recommendation. There can be several drug interactions, as this prescription medication can also strain your liver.
How Much Alcohol Can You safely Drink With Fluconazole?
When using Diflucan, experts advise that it is never a good idea to mix Alcohol with Fluconazole as no amount of alcohol is safe to consume.
There are some harm-reduction guidelines such as avoiding yeast and sugary types of alcohol, like sweet cocktails and beers. Some types of alcohol can elevate your fungal infection irrespective of the Fluconazole attempt to kill those microbes.
Secondly, it is important to avoid binge drinking. Overindulging in drinking will harm your liver. Medical research states that 30 grams of alcohol regularly per day could lead to damaging the liver. Thirty grams of alcohol could be equivalent to two 12 ounces of beer, 1.5 shots of liquor, or 5 ounces of wine. It can be challenging for someone dealing with alcohol addiction to stop their alcohol use while taking Diflucan. When you cannot control your cravings, it can be a sign of alcohol use disorder.
A substance use disorder is typically characterized by drinking regardless of adverse effects. A person who goes through alcohol addiction may continue to drink when they know their personal, social, and financial well-being is being sacrificed.
Those who encounter an addiction often spend their time thinking about alcohol and seeking recovery. There are many cases where people end up drinking more than they initially intended. It is best to seek help from a healthcare provider.
When you are displeased with your drinking levels, feel stuck or are unable to cut down on your alcohol consumption, you can seek help from The Haven-South Florida. Our comprehensive treatment and programs, including careful detoxification, can help as we assist you each moment to fight back against addiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you drink alcohol while taking Diflucan?
It is advised not to drink alcohol while taking Diflucan, as it can bring adverse drug interactions. Knowing what is safe to eat or drink while taking your antifungal medications is vital. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are confused about your prescriptions.
Can I drink alcohol while taking antifungals?
Antifungal medications can stay up to 10 days in your system due to the long half-life. Until the antifungal treatment is complete, and completely void of your system, it is best to avoid drinking alcohol entirely.
Seek Treatment at The Haven
If you or a loved one has an alcohol problem, seek help from a rehab center that offers a comprehensive treatment plan for alcohol addiction, like The Haven. We give those dealing with alcoholism a safe and comfortable environment to heal at The Haven, where medical experts are available to create customized treatment plans for your unique needs.
Our proven detoxification process provides patients with everything they need to get back to living a healthy lifestyle free from drugs and alcohol.
We are here to help. Take the first step by calling (561) 328-8627 today.
