Fluconazole is an antifungal medicine used to treat yeast and other fungal infections. It’s commonly used for vaginal yeast infections, oral thrush, esophageal candidiasis, and sometimes more serious fungal infections like cryptococcal meningitis.

Common uses

  • Vaginal yeast infections.
  • Mouth and throat yeast infections, including oral thrush.
  • Esophageal candidiasis, which affects the tube from the mouth to the stomach.
  • Certain infections in the blood, lungs, abdomen, or other organs.
  • Prevention of fungal infections in people at higher risk, such as those having chemotherapy, radiation, or bone marrow transplant.

Important note

Fluconazole only works for fungal infections, not bacterial or viral infections. Some fungi can also be resistant, so it may not be the right treatment for every case.

When to be careful

It can interact with other medicines and may not be appropriate for everyone, so it’s best used under a clinician’s guidance.

TL;DR: Fluconazole is used to treat and sometimes prevent fungal infections, especially yeast infections and certain deeper Candida or cryptococcal infections.