From the Guidelines
The appropriate dose and frequency of Diflucan (fluconazole) for treating oral candidiasis (thrush) is 100-200 mg daily for 7-14 days.
Key Considerations
- The dosage of fluconazole for oral candidiasis is based on the severity of the disease, with mild cases potentially being treated with other agents such as clotrimazole or nystatin 1.
- For moderate to severe disease, fluconazole is recommended at a dosage of 100-200 mg (3 mg/kg) daily for 7-14 days 1.
- It's essential to note that the evidence provided focuses on the treatment of various forms of candidiasis, including oropharyngeal candidiasis, which is relevant to oral candidiasis (thrush).
- Chronic suppressive therapy with fluconazole at a dosage of 100 mg 3 times weekly may be considered in certain cases, such as for patients with HIV infection who require ongoing management of recurrent infections 1.
- The choice of antifungal agent and dosage should be guided by the clinical presentation, susceptibility patterns of the infecting organism, and the patient's overall health status, including any history of antifungal use or resistance 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Oropharyngeal candidiasis: The recommended dosage of fluconazole tablets for oropharyngeal candidiasis is 200 mg on the first day, followed by 100 mg once daily. Clinical evidence of oropharyngeal candidiasis generally resolves within several days, but treatment should be continued for at least 2 weeks to decrease the likelihood of relapse
The appropriate dose and frequency of Diflucan (fluconazole) for treating oral candidiasis (thrush) is:
- 200 mg on the first day, followed by
- 100 mg once daily. Treatment should be continued for at least 2 weeks to decrease the likelihood of relapse 2.
From the Research
Dose and Frequency of Diflucan (Fluconazole) for Oral Candidiasis (Thrush)
- The appropriate dose of Diflucan (fluconazole) for treating oral candidiasis (thrush) is 150 mg as a single dose, as shown in a study published in 2017 3.
- This single-dose regimen has been found to be effective in treating oral thrush in patients with advanced cancer, with 96.5% of patients showing more than 50% improvement in signs and symptoms.
- Another study published in 1992 compared the efficacy and safety of fluconazole 100 mg tablets once per day versus clotrimazole 10 mg troches five times per day in the treatment of thrush in patients with HIV infection, and found that fluconazole was superior in terms of clinical cure and patient compliance 4.
- The frequency of dosing is typically once per day, with a dose of 100-200 mg per day, as reported in a study published in 1999 on the therapeutic experience with fluconazole in the treatment of fungal infections in diabetic patients 5.
- However, in severe cases, higher dosages of up to 800 mg per day may be required, as noted in the same study 5.
- It's worth noting that fluconazole has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use as a single 150-mg oral dose in the treatment of vaginal candidiasis, and has been shown to be effective in treating this condition, as reported in studies published in 1996 6 and 1988 7.