Sporanox vs. Diflucan

• Are Diflucan and Sporanox the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Sporanox?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Diflucan?
• What Is Sporanox?
• What Is Diflucan?
• What Drugs Interact with Sporanox?
• What Drugs Interact with Diflucan?
• How Should Sporanox Be Taken?
• How Should Diflucan Be Taken?

Sporanox (itraconazole) and Diflucan (fluconazole) are antifungal medications used to treat infections caused by fungus.

Diflucan is also used to treat fungal meningitis and may be prescribed to ward off fungal infections in patients being treated with chemotherapy or radiation before a bone marrow transplant.

Side effects of Sporanox and Diflucan that are similar include diarrhea, headache, dizziness, stomach upset, and unpleasant taste in your mouth.

Side effects of Sporanox that are different from Diflucan include nausea, vomiting, constipation, bloating, gas, itching, skin rash, joint pain, muscle pain or weakness, and runny nose or other cold symptoms.

Side effects of Diflucan that are different from Sporanox include drowsiness, stomach or abdominal pain, heartburn, loss of appetite, and allergic reactions (including skin inflammation, itching, rash).

Both Sporanox and Diflucan may interact with antibiotics, blood thinners, sedatives, and seizure medications.

Sporanox may also interact with cancer medications, cholesterol medications, cyclosporine, diabetes medications taken by mouth, antifungals, antidepressants, barbiturates, heart or blood pressure medications, HIV/AIDS medicines, digoxin, disopyramide, fentanyl, isoniazid, rifabutin, rifampin, sirolimus, or tacrolimus.

Diflucan may also interact with diuretics.

Common side effects of Sporanox include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• diarrhea,
• constipation,
• bloating,
• gas,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• stomach upset,
• unpleasant taste in your mouth,
• itching,
• skin rash,
• joint pain,
• muscle pain or weakness, or
• runny nose or other cold symptoms.

Tell your doctor if you have unlikely but serious side effects of Sporanox including:

• signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat),
• trouble breathing,
• unusual tiredness,
• swelling ankles or feet,
• burning/painful/frequent urination,
• decreased sexual interest or ability,
• hair loss,
• muscle cramps,
• weakness,
• fast/irregular heartbeat,
• mental/mood changes (e.g., depression),
• enlarged breasts in men,
• ringing in the ears, or
• temporary or permanent hearing loss.

Common side effects of Diflucan include:

• headache,
• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• stomach or abdominal pain,
• upset stomach,
• diarrhea,
• heartburn,
• loss of appetite, and
• allergic reactions including skin inflammation, itching, rash, and unusual or unpleasant taste in your mouth.

Sporanox (itraconazole) is an antifungal agent used to treat infections caused by fungus, which can invade any part of the body including the lungs, mouth or throat, toenails, or fingernails. Sporanox is available in generic form.

Diflucan (fluconazole) is an antifungal medication prescribed to treat Candida fungal infections of the mouth, vagina, esophagus, lungs, urinary tract, abdomen, and other organs. Diflucan is also used to treat fungal meningitis and may be prescribed to ward off fungal infections in patients being treated with chemotherapy or radiation before a bone marrow transplant.

Many drugs may interact with Sporanox, including blood thinners, cancer medications, cholesterol medications, cyclosporine, diabetes medication taken by mouth, antibiotics, antifungal medications, antidepressants, barbiturates, heart or blood pressure medications, HIV/AIDS medicine, sedatives, seizure medications, digoxin, disopyramide, fentanyl, isoniazid, rifabutin, rifampin, sirolimus, or tacrolimus. Tell your doctor all medications you are taking. During pregnancy, Sporanox should be used only when prescribed. It may harm a fetus. Discuss the risks with your doctor.

Diflucan may interact with blood thinners or seizure medications.

Diflucan may also interact with alfentanil, fentanyl, clopidogrel, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, methadone, pimozide, prednisone, saquinavir, zidovudine, sirolimus, tacrolimus, theophylline, voriconazole, antidepressants, cancer medicines, cholesterol lowering medicines, heart or blood pressure medications, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), oral diabetes medications, rifabutin, rifampin, or sedatives.

Dosage of Sporanox depends upon the condition for which it is being used to treat.

Diflucan is available in several strengths and comes as a tablet (50, 100, 150 and 200 mg strength), liquid (350 or 1400 mg strength), or injection (2 mg per ml). Diflucan is taken once a day and may be taken for several weeks depending on the condition being treated.