Diflucan vs. Flagyl

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

Diflucan (fluconazole) and Flagyl (metronidazole) are used to treat different kinds of infections.

Diflucan 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.

Flagyl is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial vaginosis, trichomonas, amebiasis, and anaerobic bacterial infections. Flagyl is also used to treat some protozoal infections.

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.

Common side effects of Flagyl include:

• nausea,
• abdominal cramps,
• stomach upset,
• vomiting,
• diarrhea,
• constipation,
• headache,
• weight loss (anorexia),
• dizziness,
• dry mouth,
• dark-colored urine, or
• a metallic taste in the mouth or changes in taste.

Uncomfortable side effects that may become serious are:

• fevers,
• pain with urination,
• mouth sores,
• tingling or pricking sensations that may become permanent,
• brain disease, and
• seizures.

Serious but unlikely side effects of Flagyl include:

• unsteadiness,
• seizures,
• mood changes,
• numbness or tingling of the hands or feet, and
• painful urination.

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.

Flagyl, Flagyl ER, and Flagyl Injection (metronidazole) are antimicrobial drugs used to treat bacterial vaginosis, trichomonas, amebiasis, and anaerobic bacterial infections.

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.

Flagyl may interact with blood thinners or seizure medications.

Flagyl may also interact with cimetidine, lithium, or disulfiram.

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.

Flagyl is supplied in 250 and 500 mg strength tablets, Flagyl ER is available in 750 mg strength tablets, and Flagyl Injection in 500 mg strength in a buffered 100 ml vial. Dosage is quite variable and dependent upon the severity of disease and other considerations made by the treating physician. Most of the serious side effects may occur with any of these three preparations of Flagyl. Flagyl may cause liver enzyme levels to increase; lithium and creatinine levels should be checked to avoid lithium toxicity or renal compromise. Alcohol may increase the side effects of Flagyl. Patients on disulfiram should not take Flagyl until they have had a two week interval without taking disulfiram, especially alcoholic patients, to avoid psychotic reactions. Treatment in pregnant women (during first 3 months is not advised) or women who are breastfeeding should only be done if the benefits outweigh the potential problems. Flagyl passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding. Except for use in amebiasis, studies in pediatric patients are not available; Flagyl ER has no pediatric studies.