Comprehensive medication guide to Diflucan including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0–$30 copay for generic fluconazole; Tier 1–2 on most commercial plans, Medicare Part D, and Medicaid. Prior authorization is rarely required for standard indications.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$3–$35 retail for generic fluconazole tablets; as low as $2.79 with GoodRx or $3.31 with SingleCare coupons for a 30-day supply. Brand-name Diflucan costs significantly more ($37–$267).
Medfinder Findability Score
88/100
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Diflucan is the brand name for fluconazole, a prescription antifungal medication in the triazole class. Originally developed by Pfizer and FDA-approved in 1990, fluconazole is now available as a widely accessible generic from numerous manufacturers. It is one of the most commonly prescribed antifungal agents in the world.
Fluconazole treats a broad range of fungal infections — from the common vaginal yeast infection (a single 150 mg dose) to life-threatening systemic infections like cryptococcal meningitis in AIDS patients. It is also used preventively in immunocompromised patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation.
Available as oral tablets (50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, 200 mg), oral suspension (10 mg/mL, 40 mg/mL), and IV injection, Diflucan offers convenient dosing — it can be taken with or without food, and its long 30-hour half-life allows once-daily dosing for most indications.
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Fluconazole works by targeting a fungal enzyme called lanosterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51), which is a key step in the biosynthesis of ergosterol — the fungal equivalent of cholesterol. Ergosterol is an essential component of fungal cell membranes; without it, the cell membrane becomes unstable and the fungus cannot maintain its structure, grow, or reproduce.
Fluconazole is highly selective for the fungal form of CYP51 compared to the human version, which is why it disrupts fungal cells while leaving human cells relatively unaffected. Human cells use cholesterol rather than ergosterol, providing an additional layer of selectivity. The drug is primarily fungistatic — it halts fungal growth and allows the body's immune system to clear the remaining infection.
With a half-life of approximately 30 hours, fluconazole stays active in the body for several days after a single dose. It is cleared primarily by the kidneys (~80% excreted unchanged in urine) and achieves excellent penetration into vaginal tissue, oral mucosa, esophageal tissue, and even cerebrospinal fluid (reaching ~80% of blood levels in CSF).
50 mg — tablet
Lower dose for prophylaxis in some settings
100 mg — tablet
Used for oropharyngeal/esophageal candidiasis maintenance dosing
150 mg — tablet
Single-dose treatment for vaginal yeast infections (most common)
200 mg — tablet
Used for more serious infections and loading doses
10 mg/mL — oral suspension
Liquid form; useful for children and patients who can't swallow tablets
40 mg/mL — oral suspension
Higher-concentration liquid form
200 mg/100 mL — IV injection
Hospital use for serious systemic infections
As of 2026, Diflucan (fluconazole) is not on the FDA Drug Shortages Database or the ASHP shortage list. Generic fluconazole is manufactured by dozens of companies, making it one of the most supply-resilient generic medications in the United States. For most patients in suburban and urban areas, fluconazole can be found in stock at a nearby pharmacy without significant difficulty.
That said, individual pharmacies can occasionally run low — particularly on the 150 mg single-dose tablet (the most common prescription for vaginal candidiasis) at smaller pharmacies during peak summer months. Oral suspension forms can also be harder to find than tablets. These are localized, temporary issues rather than national supply problems.
If your pharmacy is out of stock, medfinder can help you locate a pharmacy near you that has it in stock — without spending time calling around yourself. We call pharmacies on your behalf and text you the results.
Diflucan (fluconazole) is not a controlled substance and carries no DEA scheduling restrictions. This means any licensed prescriber with appropriate prescribing authority can write for it without special DEA registration or certification. Prescriptions can be issued electronically, by phone, fax, or paper.
Providers commonly prescribing Diflucan include:
Primary care physicians (PCPs) — family medicine and internal medicine
OB/GYN physicians — particularly for vaginal candidiasis and recurrent RVVC management
Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) — in all 50 states
Infectious disease specialists — for complex, systemic, and resistant fungal infections
Oncologists and transplant physicians — for antifungal prophylaxis
Dentists — for oropharyngeal candidiasis (oral thrush) within their scope of practice
Telehealth availability is excellent for Diflucan. Numerous telehealth platforms (Wisp, Ro, Hims/Hers, Teladoc) regularly prescribe fluconazole for uncomplicated vaginal yeast infections and oral thrush after a brief online consultation or questionnaire — often with same-day prescription delivery to your pharmacy.
No. Diflucan (fluconazole) is not a controlled substance and is not scheduled by the DEA. It does not have any special prescribing restrictions based on scheduling. Any licensed healthcare provider with prescribing authority — including nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and dentists — can write a prescription for fluconazole without special DEA registration or training.
Prescriptions for fluconazole can be sent electronically, called in by phone, faxed, or issued as a paper prescription. Refills are permitted for maintenance prescriptions (such as weekly suppressive therapy for recurrent vaginal candidiasis). There are no legal restrictions on the number of refills for fluconazole prescriptions, though individual prescriber and pharmacy policies may vary.
Most patients tolerate fluconazole well. Common side effects, which are more frequent with multi-dose regimens than a single dose, include:
Nausea
Headache
Abdominal pain or stomach upset
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Rash (contact your doctor if a rash develops)
Serious side effects (rare — seek immediate medical attention):
Severe skin reactions: Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis (blistering, widespread rash, skin peeling)
Hepatotoxicity: jaundice, dark urine, severe nausea — primarily in patients with serious underlying disease
QT prolongation: irregular heartbeat, palpitations, fainting — especially with high doses or interacting drugs
Anaphylaxis: severe allergic reaction — difficulty breathing, swelling of face/lips/throat
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Itraconazole (Sporanox)
Broader-spectrum triazole covering Aspergillus; more complex dosing and interactions; boxed warning for heart failure; requires food and acid for absorption
Voriconazole (Vfend)
Second-generation triazole; effective against fluconazole-resistant Candida and invasive Aspergillus; more expensive; causes visual disturbances; variable CYP2C19 metabolism
Clotrimazole
OTC topical antifungal for vaginal yeast infections and oral thrush (prescription troches); clinically equivalent for uncomplicated vaginal candidiasis; no systemic absorption
Miconazole (Monistat)
OTC topical antifungal; available as vaginal cream and suppository in 1-day, 3-day, 7-day formulations; clinically equivalent to single-dose fluconazole for uncomplicated vaginal yeast infections
Nystatin
Polyene antifungal for oral/vaginal local use only; not systemically absorbed; very safe with minimal drug interactions; used as swish-and-swallow for oral thrush
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Warfarin
majorSignificantly increases prothrombin time via CYP2C9 inhibition. Monitor INR closely; warfarin dose adjustment typically required. Bleeding events reported.
Erythromycin
majorContraindicated. Both prolong QT interval and fluconazole raises erythromycin levels via CYP3A4 inhibition. Risk of fatal arrhythmia (torsades de pointes).
Pimozide
majorContraindicated. Additive QT prolongation plus elevated pimozide levels via CYP3A4 inhibition. Cardiac arrhythmia risk.
Quinidine
majorContraindicated. Additive QT prolongation. Serious cardiac arrhythmia risk.
Clopidogrel (Plavix)
majorFluconazole inhibits CYP2C19 conversion of clopidogrel to its active metabolite, significantly reducing antiplatelet effect. Risk of thrombotic events.
Tacrolimus
majorSubstantially increases tacrolimus levels via CYP3A4 inhibition. Monitor trough levels; nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity risk.
Amiodarone
majorAdditive QT prolongation risk. Use only if clearly necessary; ECG monitoring recommended.
Cyclosporine
moderateIncreases cyclosporine levels via CYP3A4 inhibition. Monitor levels; toxicity risk.
Phenytoin
moderateIncreases phenytoin levels via CYP2C9 inhibition. Monitor levels; toxicity signs include dizziness, nystagmus.
Sulfonylureas (glipizide, glyburide)
moderateIncreases hypoglycemic effect via CYP2C9 inhibition. Monitor blood glucose; dose reduction may be needed.
Theophylline
moderateProlongs theophylline half-life by ~20%. Monitor for theophylline toxicity (nausea, palpitations, tremors).
Rifampin
moderateReduces fluconazole levels by ~23% via CYP induction. Higher fluconazole dose may be needed.
Diflucan (fluconazole) stands out as one of the most versatile, affordable, and widely available antifungal medications on the market. For the millions of Americans who take it annually — whether for a simple yeast infection or as part of complex antifungal management — it is a reliable, well-studied medication with decades of safety data behind it.
Its long half-life, flexible dosing forms, lack of food restrictions, and low cost as a generic make it a practical choice for both patients and prescribers. Important considerations include its significant drug interactions (especially with warfarin, clopidogrel, and QT-prolonging agents), pregnancy precautions at higher doses, and the need for dose adjustment in renal impairment.
If you have a prescription for Diflucan and are having trouble finding it at your pharmacy, medfinder can locate a pharmacy near you that has it in stock — fast. Just enter your medication, dosage, and zip code, and we'll call pharmacies on your behalf and text you the results.
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