Fluka 150: Uses, How It Works, Side Effects
Also known as: Fluka, Fluka 150 mg, Fluka 150 tablet, Fluconazole 150 mg
Fluka 150 contains 150 mg of fluconazole, an antifungal used to treat fungal infections such as vaginal thrush and other yeast infections. For vaginal thrush or balanitis, a single 150 mg dose is the usual treatment given by the NHS. It should be taken on medical advice, and a first or repeated infection should be seen by a doctor.
- Active ingredient
- Fluconazole 150 mg
- Type of medicine
- Antifungals
- Used for
- Fungal infections
- Starts working in
- Symptoms of thrush usually ease over a few days; the NHS says thrush should clear within 7 to 14 days
- Effect lasts
- A single dose stays active in the body for days; follow the label or your doctor's advice
- With or without food
- Can be taken with or without food; taking it after a meal or snack may help if it upsets your stomach
- Alcohol
- Avoid excess alcohol; ask your doctor, especially if you have liver problems
- Pregnancy
- Used in pregnancy only if other treatments have not worked; tell your doctor if you are or may be pregnant
- Habit-forming
- No
- Made by
- VERIFY on pack
Pharmacist review in progress. This page is based on the sources listed below and is being checked by our registered pharmacist.
On this page
- What is Fluka 150 used for?
- How does Fluka 150 work?
- How to take Fluka 150
- Side effects of Fluka 150
- Who should be careful
- Medicines and things that interact with Fluka 150
- If someone takes too much
- Storage
- Regulatory status in India
- Other brands with the same medicine
- Other strengths and forms
- Common questions
What is Fluka 150 used for?
Fluka 150 is used, on a doctor's advice, to treat certain fungal infections caused by yeasts.
- Treating vaginal thrush (vaginal candidiasis) and balanitis (thrush of the penis head)
- Treating yeast infections of the mouth and throat, and other yeast infections that a doctor judges need a tablet
- Helping to prevent yeast infections in some people with a weakened immune system, when a doctor judges it suitable
How does Fluka 150 work?
Fluconazole stops the fungus from making a substance called ergosterol that its cell membrane needs. With the membrane damaged, the fungus cannot grow, and the infection clears as the body deals with it.
What happens in your body after you take it
You swallow it
The medicine is absorbed from the gut into the blood. It can be taken with or without food.
It spreads through the body
Fluconazole travels in the blood to many tissues, including the vagina, mouth, throat and gut, where the yeast is growing.
It blocks a fungal enzyme
Inside the fungus, it blocks an enzyme needed to make ergosterol, a part of the fungal cell membrane.
The fungus cannot grow
With a damaged membrane the yeast stops multiplying, and the symptoms ease over the following days.
The body clears it slowly
Fluconazole stays in the body for a long time and leaves mainly through the kidneys, which is why one dose can be enough for some infections.
How to take Fluka 150
Take Fluka 150 exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has advised or as printed on the pack. For vaginal thrush or balanitis the NHS says one 150 mg dose is usual; for other infections the doctor decides the dose and how long you need it.
- Swallow it whole with a drink of water. It can be taken with or without food.
- For vaginal thrush or balanitis it may be a single dose. Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you if anything more is needed.
- For other infections, keep taking it for as long as your doctor says, even if you feel better. Do not stop without talking to your doctor.
- If you miss a dose, take it when you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Do not take two doses together.
- Tell your doctor if symptoms do not clear within the expected time, or if they come back.
Side effects of Fluka 150
Most people take fluconazole without serious problems. Some side effects are common and mild, but a few need medical help.
Uncommon or mild
- Headache
- Stomach pain, nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Skin rash
- Dizziness or a change in taste
Rare but serious: get medical help
- Swelling of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue, difficulty breathing or a blistering, peeling rash (a severe allergic reaction). Get medical help immediately
- Yellow skin or eyes, pale stools or dark urine (possible liver problems)
- A fast or irregular heartbeat (a heart rhythm change)
- Easy bruising or catching infections easily (possible blood disorder)
- Seizures
Who should be careful
Some people need to check with a doctor before taking Fluka 150, or need extra care while taking it.
When the label says not to use it
- Allergy to fluconazole or any ingredient of the product
- Taking certain medicines that affect heart rhythm, as advised by your doctor
- Allergy to fluconazole or other antifungal medicines: tell your doctor
- Heart conditions, including irregular heart rhythm, or abnormal blood levels of potassium, calcium or magnesium
- Kidney or liver problems
- Acute porphyria, a rare inherited blood disorder
- Pregnancy or planning a baby: it is used only if other treatments have not worked, and birth control may be advised during treatment and for a week afterwards
- Breastfeeding: it passes into breast milk; tell your doctor
- First episode of thrush, thrush that keeps coming back, being under 16 or over 60, or a weakened immune system: see a doctor rather than treating it yourself
- Dizziness or seizures: avoid driving or using machinery until you know how it affects you
Medicines and things that interact with Fluka 150
Fluka 150 can change how many other medicines work. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about everything you take, including herbal remedies and medicines bought over the counter.
- Medicines that affect heart rhythm, such as amiodarone, erythromycin, clarithromycin, quetiapine, haloperidol, risperidone and pimozide: a higher risk of heart rhythm problems
- Warfarin, dabigatran and clopidogrel (blood thinners): the effect on bleeding can change
- Statins (cholesterol medicines): the NHS lists them as medicines to mention
- Carbamazepine, lithium, escitalopram, venlafaxine, losartan and ergotamine: levels or effects can change
- NSAID painkillers such as ibuprofen and naproxen: they may interact
- Herbal remedies and supplements: there is not enough evidence to show they are safe with fluconazole
If someone takes too much
The NHS says one or two extra doses are unlikely to harm you, but feeling unwell after taking too much needs medical advice. If someone has taken much more than advised, call 112 or go to the nearest hospital and take the medicine pack with you.
Storage
Store in a cool, dry place in the original strip, away from light and moisture, and out of the reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date. Check the pack for the exact storage instructions.
Regulatory status in India
Approved for sale in India. Single-ingredient fluconazole is not on the CDSCO list of medicines banned under section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act (only a combination kit containing azithromycin, secnidazole and fluconazole is listed). Fluka 150 should be taken on a doctor's advice; check the schedule printed on the pack.
Other brands with the same medicine
Fluconazole 150 mg is sold under other brand names and as generic medicines. They contain the same medicine; check the label for the strength. Fluconazole is also sold in other strengths, and these are not interchangeable without a doctor's advice.
Other strengths and forms
Fluconazole is also sold in other strengths, as a liquid and as an injection used in hospitals. The strength and form are printed on the pack and are not interchangeable, so check the label of the one you have.
Common questions
What is Fluka 150 used for?
Fluka 150 contains fluconazole, an antifungal used on a doctor's advice for yeast infections such as vaginal thrush and balanitis, and for some other fungal infections. A doctor decides whether it suits you and for how long.
Is one Fluka 150 dose enough for vaginal thrush?
For vaginal thrush or balanitis the NHS says a single 150 mg dose is usual. Symptoms may take a few days to settle. If they do not clear, or come back, see a doctor rather than repeating the dose.
When should I see a doctor instead of treating thrush myself?
See a doctor if it is your first episode, you are under 16 or over 60, it returns more than four times in a year, you are pregnant or breastfeeding, treatment has not worked or your immune system is weakened.
Can I take Fluka 150 during pregnancy?
The NHS says fluconazole is used in pregnancy only if other treatments have not worked. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, may be pregnant or are planning a baby. Do not take it on your own while pregnant.
Does Fluka 150 affect the contraceptive pill?
The NHS notes that severe vomiting or diarrhoea can stop the pill working. If you are sick or have severe diarrhoea for over 24 hours, check the pill leaflet or ask your pharmacist.
Does Fluka 150 interact with other medicines?
Yes, with many, including some heart rhythm medicines, blood thinners and antipsychotics. Always tell your doctor or pharmacist what else you take before using it.
What should I do if I miss a dose of Fluka 150?
Take it when you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one and carry on as usual. Never take two doses together to make up for a missed one.
What is the difference between Fluka 150 and fluconazole 150 mg?
Fluka is a brand name and fluconazole is the medicine inside it. Generic fluconazole 150 mg contains the same active ingredient. Check the strength and ingredient list on the pack, and ask your doctor before switching products.
Sources
- Fluconazole: a medicine for fungal infections and thrush. NHS (UK)
- Who can and cannot take fluconazole. NHS (UK)
- How and when to take fluconazole. NHS (UK)
- Side effects of fluconazole. NHS (UK)
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility while taking fluconazole. NHS (UK)
- Taking fluconazole with other medicines and herbal supplements. NHS (UK)
- Fluconazole. MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine
- Vaginal thrush. NHS (UK)
- ATC/DDD Index: J02AC01 Fluconazole. WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology
- List of drugs prohibited for manufacture and sale through gazette notifications under section 26A of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)