Fluconazole, commonly known as Diflucan, is a synthetic antifungal medication used to treat a variety of fungal infections. It’s particularly effective against yeast infections and is often taken as a single pill for treatment. The time it takes for fluconazole to leave your system varies from person to person. Since it’s primarily excreted through the kidneys, healthy kidney function is crucial in determining how long it stays in your body.
When your kidneys are functioning well, the half-life of fluconazole is between 20 and 50 hours, with 30 hours being the average. It generally takes about 5.5 half-lives for a drug to be completely cleared from the body. So, for a healthy adult, fluconazole is typically eliminated in about 165 hours, or just under seven days. This extended presence in the body explains why a single dose can effectively treat yeast infections.
While fluconazole doesn’t have specific interactions with alcohol, it’s wise to consume alcohol in moderation when taking it, as it might increase the risk of stomach-related side effects. Unlike fluconazole, some other medications, like metronidazole, can cause a “disulfiram-like” reaction when combined with alcohol, leading to severe symptoms.
Each person’s body processes medications differently, so several factors can influence how long fluconazole remains in your system. About 80% of the drug is excreted unchanged in the urine, with a quarter of the dose leaving as waste. The plasma half-life of fluconazole is around 30 hours, and its pharmacokinetics are similar in both healthy individuals and the elderly. Research shows that after 4 to 5 half-lives, 94 to 97% of the drug is eliminated, meaning its concentration in the plasma falls below clinically significant levels. Typically, fluconazole is cleared from the body within a week (150 hours to 7 days) after the last dose.
