Fluconazole

Generic name
Fluconazole
Brand name
ATC Code
J02AC01

Fluconazole

Dosages
Side effects in children
Warnings & precautions in children
Contra-indications in children

Interactions
PK
Renal impairment
References

Pharmacokinetics in children

Premature ageCmax (µg/ml)Tmax (hours)T½ (hours)Cl (ml/min/kg)Vd (l/kg)
1 day 5.5 2.2 88.6 0.18 1.18
7 days 12.8 1.6 67.5 0.33 1.84
13 days 10.0 1.6 55.2 0.52 2.25

T½ = 15-20 hours in children (> 3 months) and the VP is on average 0.95 l/kg (3 months to 12 years) and 0.70 l/kg (12 to 16 years) [Brammer 1994, Saxén 1993]. Children on ECMO: Vd = 1.5 l/kg, Cl = 0.28 ml/min/kg, t½ = 60 hours [Watt 2012]

dose recommendation of formulary compared to licensed use (on-label versus off-label)

No information is present at this moment.

Available formulations

No information is present at this moment.

Dosages

Go to:

Mucosal candidiasis
  • Oral
    • Neonaten 0 days up to 14 days
      • Initial dose: Once on day 1 6 - 12 mg/kg/day in 1 dose
      • Maintenance dose: (=half of the starting dose) 3 - 6 mg/kg per 72 hours in 1 dose
      • Duration of treatment:

        The duration of treatment is based on the clinical and mycological response.

         

    • Neonates 14 days up to 28 days
      • Initial dose: Once only on Day 1: 6 - 12 mg/kg/day in 1 dose    .
      • Maintenance dose: (= half the initial dose) 3 - 6 mg/kg per 48 hours in 1 dose
      • Duration of treatment:

        The duration of treatment is based on the clinical and mycological response.

    • 1 month up to 12 years
      • Initial dose: Once only on Day 1: 6 - 12 mg/kg/day in 1 dose. Max: 800 mg/day.
      • Maintenance dose: (= half the initial dose) 3 - 6 mg/kg/day in 1 dose. Max: 400 mg/day.
      • Duration of treatment:

        The duration of treatment is based on the clinical and mycological response.

    • 12 years up to 18 years
      • Initial dose: 400 mg/day in 1 dose
      • Maintenance dose: 200 - 400 mg/day in 1 dose Raise the maintenance dose to 400 mg/day, depending on the clinical response.  .
      • Duration of treatment:

        The duration of treatment is based on the clinical and mycological response.

      • Only in exceptional and very severe infections: up to 20 mg/kg/day in a single dose, maximum 1600 mg/day.

         

  • Intravenous
    • Neonates 0 days up to 14 days
      • Initial dose: Once only on Day 1: 6 - 12 mg/kg/day in 1 dose
      • Maintenance dose: (= half the initial dose) 3 - 6 mg/kg per 72 hours in 1 dose
      • Duration of treatment:

        The duration of treatment is based on the clinical and mycological response.

    • Neonates 14 days up to 28 days
      • Initial dose: Once only on Day 1: 6 - 12 mg/kg/day in 1 dose
      • Maintenance dose: (= half the initial dose) 3 - 6 mg/kg per 48 hours in 1 dose
      • Duration of treatment:

        The duration of treatment is based on the clinical and mycological response.

    • 1 month up to 12 years
      • Initial dose: Once only on Day 1: 6 - 12 mg/kg/day in 1 dose. Max: 800 mg/day.
      • Maintenance dose: (= half the initial dose) 3 - 6 mg/kg/day in 1 dose. Max: 400 mg/day.
      • Duration of treatment:

        The duration of treatment is based on the clinical and mycological response.

    • 12 years up to 18 years
      • Initial dose: 400 mg/day in 1 dose
      • Maintenance dose: 200 - 400 mg/day in 1 dose Raise the maintenance dose to 400 mg/day, depending on the clinical response..
      • Duration of treatment:

        The duration of treatment is based on the clinical and mycological response.

      • Only in exceptional and very severe infections: up to 20 mg/kg/day in a single dose, maximum 1600 mg/day.

Systemic deep candidiasis, cryptococcal infections
  • Oral
    • Neonates Gestational age < 30 weeks
      [22] [39] [41] [42] [43] [44]
      • Initial dose: Once only on Day 1: 25 mg/kg/day in 1 dose
      • Maintenance dose: 12 mg/kg/day in 1 dose
    • Premature neonates Gestational age ≥ 30 weeks
      [22] [39] [41] [42] [43] [44]
      • Initial dose: Once only on Day 1: 25 mg/kg/day in 1 dose
      • Maintenance dose: 12 mg/kg/day in 1 dose
      • In case of severe infection, the dose can be increased up to 20 mg/kg/day

    • Term neonate
      [22] [39] [41] [42] [43] [44]
      • Initial dose: Once only on Day 1: 25 mg/kg/day in 1 dose
      • Maintenance dose: 12 mg/kg/day in 1 dose
      • In case of severe infection, the dose can be increased up to 20 mg/kg/day

    • 1 month up to 12 years
      • Initial dose: Once only on Day 1: 25 mg/kg/day in 1 dose. Max: 800 mg/day.
      • Maintenance dose: 12 mg/kg/day in 1 dose. Max: 400 mg/day.
      • Duration of treatment:

        The length of treatment is based on the clinical and mycological response.

    • 12 years up to 18 years
      • Initial dose: 800 mg/day in 1 dose
      • Maintenance dose: 400 mg/day in 1 dose Lower the maintenance dose to 200 mg/day, depending on the clinical response..
      • Duration of treatment:

        The length of treatment is based on the clinical and mycological response.

      • Only in exceptional and very severe infections: up to 20 mg/kg/day in a single dose, maximum 1600 mg/day.

  • Intravenous
    • Premature neonates Gestational age < 30 weeks
      [22] [39] [41] [42] [43] [44]
      • Initial dose: Once only on day 1: 25 mg/kg/day in 1 dose
      • Maintenance dose: 12 mg/kg/day in 1 dose
    • Premature neonates Gestational age ≥ 30 weeks
      [22] [39] [41] [42] [43] [44]
      • Initial dose: Once only on Day 1: 25 mg/kg/day in 1 dose
      • Maintenance dose: 12 mg/kg/day in 1 dose
      • In case of severe infection, the dose can be increased up to 20 mg/kg/day.

    • Term neonate
      [22] [39] [41] [42] [43] [44]
      • Initial dose: Once only on Day 1: 25 mg/kg/day in 1 dose
      • Maintenance dose: 12 mg/kg/day in 1 dose
      • In case of severe infection, the dose can be increased up to 20 mg/kg/day.

    • 1 month up to 12 years
      • Initial dose: Once only on Day 1: 25 mg/kg/day in 1 dose. Max: 800 mg/day.
      • Maintenance dose: 12 mg/kg/day in 1 dose. Max: 400 mg/day.
      • Duration of treatment:

        The length of treatment is based on the clinical and mycological response.

    • 12 years up to 18 years
      • Initial dose: 800 mg/day in 1 dose
      • Maintenance dose: 400 mg/day in 1 dose Lower the maintenance dose to 200 mg/day, depending on the clinical response..
      • Duration of treatment:

        The length of treatment is based on the clinical and mycological response.

      • Only in exceptional and very severe infections: up to 20 mg/kg/day in a single dose, maximum 1600 mg/day.

Prophylaxis for candidiasis, prophylaxis for cryptococcal infections
  • Oral
    • VLBW premature neonates Gestational age < 37 weeks and < 1000 g
      [8] [11] [13] [14] [15] [16] [22] [25] [40] [45] [47]
      • 6 mg/kg/dose every 3 days.
      • Duration of treatment:

        Prophylaxis is indicated as long as an intravenous administration route is present.

    • Full-term neonates 0 days up to 14 days
      • 6 mg/kg per 72 hours in 1 dose
    • Full-term neonates 14 days up to 28 days
      • 6 mg/kg per 48 hours in 1 dose
    • 1 month up to 12 years
      • 3 - 6 mg/kg/day in 1 dose. Max: 200 mg/day.
    • 12 years up to 18 years
      • 200 - 400 mg/day in 1 dose
  • Intravenous
    • VLBW premature neonates Gestational age < 37 weeks and < 1000 g
      [8] [11] [13] [14] [15] [16] [22] [25] [40] [45] [47]
      • 6 mg/kg/dose every 3 days.
      • Duration of treatment:

        Prophylaxis is indicated as long as an intravenous administration route is present.

    • Full-term neonates 0 days up to 14 days
      • 6 mg/kg per 72 hours in 1 dose
    • Full-term neonates 14 days up to 28 days
      • 6 mg/kg per 48 hours in 1 dose
    • 1 month up to 12 years
      • 3 - 6 mg/kg/day in 1 dose. Max: 200 mg/day.
    • 12 years up to 18 years
      • 200 - 400 mg/day in 1 dose
Prophylaxis for candidiasis in children on ECMO
  • Intravenous
    • Term neonate
      [23] [24]
      • Initial dose: Once only on Day 1: 12 mg/kg/day in 1 dose
      • Maintenance dose: 6 mg/kg/day in 1 dose
    • 1 month up to 18 years
      [23] [24]
      • Initial dose: Once only on Day 1: 12 mg/kg/day in 1 dose
      • Maintenance dose: 6 mg/kg/day in 1 dose
      • This dosage recommendation should be applied with caution in children aged > 2 years; very little research has been done for this as yet.

Vaginal candidiasis
  • Oral
    • 12 years up to 18 years
      [10]
      • 150 mg/dose, once only.
      • In the event of recurrences (> 4 episodes per year): 150 mg/week in a single dose for 6 months

         

Tinea capitis
  • Oral
    • Term neonate
      [26]
      • 6 mg/kg/day in 1 dose
      • Duration of treatment:

        4-8 weeks

    • 1 month up to 18 years
      [26]
      • 6 mg/kg/day in 1 dose
      • Duration of treatment:

        4-8 weeks

Renal impaiment in children > 3 months

Adjustment in renal impairment as specified:

GFR 50-80 ml/min/1.73 m2
Adjustment not necessary
GFR 30-50 ml/min/1.73 m2
Day 1: 100% of regular dose. Day 2 and further: 50 % of regular dose. Interval between two doses does not require adjustment
Dosage adjustment is not necessary in case of vaginal candidiasis (single administration or administration of 150 mg once a week).
GFR 10-30 ml/min/1.73 m2
5 percentage of single dose and dosing interval : uur Day 1: 100% of regular dose. Day 2 and further: 50 % of regular dose. Interval between two doses does not require adjustment
Dosage adjustment is not necessary in case of vaginal candidiasis (single administration or administration of 150 mg once a week).
GFR < 10 ml/min/1.73 m2
Day 1: 100% of regular dose. Day 2 and further: 50 % of regular dose. Interval between two doses does not require adjustment.
Dosage adjustment is not necessary in case of vaginal candidiasis (single administration or administration of 150 mg once a week).
Patients on dialysis

Give 100% of the recommended dose after every haemodialysis. On days that dialysis is not being done, a lower dose should be given based on the GFR (see above).

The complete list of all undesirable drug reactions can be found in the national Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) – click here

Side effects in children

Impaired hepatic function occurs more frequently in children. Hypersensitivity and anaemia are specific side effects that occur in children.

The complete list of all contra-indications can be found in the national Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) – click here

Contra-indications

No information available on specific contra indications in children.

The complete list of all warnings and precautions can be found in the national Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) – click here

Warnings & precautions

No information available on specific warnings and precautions in children.

Interactions

The complete list of all interactions can be found in the national Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) – click here

ANTIMYCOTICS FOR SYSTEMIC USE

This pages provides a list of drugs from the same ATC class for comparison. This does not necessarily mean that these drugs are interchangeable.

Antibiotics
J02AA01
Triazole and tetrazole derivatives
J02AC02
J02AC03
Other antimycotics for systemic use
J02AX06
J02AX04
J02AX01
J02AX05

References

  1. Long SS, et al, Reducing Candida infections during neonatal intensive care: management choices, infection control, and fluconazole prophylaxis, J Pediatr, 2005, 147, 135-41
  2. Clerihew L, et al, Systemic antifungal drugs for invasive fungal infection in preterm infants., Cochrane Database Syst Rev., 2004;, CD003953.
  3. Kaufman D., Strategies for prevention of neonatal invasive candidiasis, Semin Perinatol, 2003, 27, 414-24
  4. Martínez Sesmero JM, et al, Fungal chemoprophylaxis with fluconazole in preterm infants, Pharm World Sci, 2005, 27, 475-7
  5. Manzoni P, et al, A multicenter, randomized trial of prophylactic fluconazole in preterm neonates, N Engl J Med, 2007, 14, 2483-95
  6. Novelli V, et al, Safety and tolerability of fluconazole in children, Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1999, 43, 1955 –1960
  7. Schwarze R, et al, Administration of fluconazole in children below 1 year of age, Mycoses, 1999, 42, 3-16
  8. Aziz M et al, Efficacy of fluconazole prophylaxis for prevention of invasive fungal infection in extremely low birth weight infants., Pediatr Infect Dis J, 2010, 29, 352-6
  9. Brammer KW et al., Pharmacokinetics of fluconazole in pediatric patients., Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1994, Apr;13(4), 325-9
  10. Hacimustafaoglu M et al. , Candida infections in non-neutropenic children after the neonatal period., Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. , 2011, Oct;9(10), 923-40
  11. Healy CM et al, Fluconazole prophylaxis in the neonatal intensive care unit. , Pediatr Infect Dis J , 2009, 28, 49-52
  12. Hope WW et al. , ESCMID guideline for the diagnosis and management of Candida diseases 2012: prevention and management of invasive infections in neonates and children caused by Candida spp., Clin Microbiol Infect , 2012, 18 (suppl 7), 38-52
  13. Kaufman DA, Fluconazole prophylaxis: can we eliminate invasive Candida infections in the neonatal ICU?, Curr Opin Pediatr , 2008, 20, 332-40
  14. Kaufman DA, Why prevent invasive Candida infections?, J. Perinatol , 2008, 28, 385-8
  15. Kaufman DA, Prevention of invasive Candida infections in preterm infants: the time is now., Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther , 2008, 6, 393-9
  16. Kaufman DA, "Getting to Zero": preventing invasive Candida infections and eliminating infection-related mortality and morbidity in extremely preterm infants. , Early Hum Dev., 2012, May;88 Suppl 2, S45-9
  17. Leibovitz E. , Strategies for the prevention of neonatal candidiasis., Pediatr Neonatol. , 2012, Apr;53(2), 83-9
  18. PfizerBV, SmPC Diflucan 30-10-2012, www.geneesmiddeleninformatiebank.nl
  19. Piper L et al. , Fluconazole loading dose pharmacokinetics and safety in infants., Pediatr Infect Dis J., 2011, May;30(5), 375-8
  20. Saxén H, et al., Pharmacokinetics of fluconazole in very low birth weight infants during the first two weeks of life., Clin Pharmacol Ther. , 1993, Sep;54(3), 269-77
  21. Turner K et al, Fluconazole pharmacokinetics and safety in premature infants. , Curr Med Chem., 2012, 19 (27), 4617-20
  22. Wade KC et al. , Fluconazole dosing for the prevention or treatment of invasive candidiasis in young infants. , Pediatr Infect Dis J , 2009, 28, 717-23
  23. Watt KM et al. , . Pharmacokinetics and safety of fluconazole in young infants supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation., Pediatr Infect Dis J., 2012, Oct;31(10), 1042-7
  24. Watt KM et al., Fluconazole Population Pharmacokinetics and Dosing for Prevention and Treatment of Invasive Candidiasis in Children Supported with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation. , Antimicrob Agents Chemother. , 2015, Jul;59(7), 3935-43
  25. Weitkamp JH et al. , Fluconazole prophylaxis for prevention of invasive fungal infections in targeted highest risk preterm infants limits drug exposure. , J. Perinatol , 2008, 28, 405-11
  26. Mekkes JR, Tinea capitis (schimmel van het behaarde hoofd, hoofdschimmel). 26-5-2012, www.huidziekten.nl
  27. Pfizer BV. , SmPC Diflucan (Rvg 15758) dd 15-11-2017, www.geneesmiddeleninformatiebank.nl
  28. Lyomark Pharma GmbH, SmPC FLUCONAZOL LYOMARK 2 mg/ml (87053.00.00), 07/2014
  29. ratiopharm, SmPC Fluconazol-ratiopharm® 2 mg/ml Infusionslösung (55368.00.00), 03/2017
  30. PFIZER PHARMA PFE, SmPC Diflucan 50 mg HKps Diflucan 100 mg HKps Diflucan 200 mg HKps (18943.00.00 / 18943.01.00 / 18943.02.00), 12/2017
  31. PFIZER PHARMA PFE, SmPC Diflucan Derm 50 mg Hartkapseln (28858.00.00), 11/2017
  32. PFIZER PHARMA PFE, SmPC Diflucan® 40 mg/ml Pulver zur Herstellung einer Suspension zum Einnehmen (89459.00.00), 06/2017
  33. EurimPharm Arzneimittel, SmPC Diflucan Trockensaft 10 mg/ml (52339.00.00), 03/2017
  34. PFIZER PHARMA PFE, SmPC Fungata 150mg HKps (15824.00.00), 11/2017
  35. Fresenius Kabi Deutschland, SmPC Fluconazol Kabi 2 mg/ml Infusionslösung (72244.00.00), 04/2017
  36. Aristo Pharma, SmPC Fluconazol Aristo ® 50 mg/100 mg/150 mg/200 mg Kapseln (52713.00.00 / 52713.01.00 / 52713.02.00 / 52713.03.00 ), 03/2017
  37. Accord Healthcare Limited, SmPC Fluconazol Accord 50 mg | 100 mg | 150 mg | 200 mg Hartkapseln (84490.00.00 / 84491.00.00 / 84492.00.00 / 84493.00.00), 12/2017
  38. Baxter Deutschland, SmPC Fluconazol Redibag 2 mg/ml Infusionslösung (61426.00.00), 07/2015
  39. Engbers AGJ, et al., Optimisation of fluconazole therapy for the treatment of invasive candidiasis in preterm infants, Arch Dis Child, 2022, Apr;107(4), 400-6
  40. Leonart LP, et al., Fluconazole Doses Used for Prophylaxis of Invasive Fungal Infection in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: A Network Meta-Analysis., J Pediatr., 2017, Jun;185, 129-35
  41. Gerhart, J.G. et al., Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling of Fluconazole Using Plasma and Cerebrospinal Fluid Samples From Preterm and Term Infants., CPT Pharmacometrics Syst Pharmacol , 2019, 8(7), 500-10
  42. Leroux, S. et al., Pharmacokinetics and safety of fluconazole and micafungin in neonates with systemic candidiasis: a randomized, open-label clinical trial., Br J Clin Pharmacol , 2018, 84(9), 1989-99
  43. Pappas, P.G. et al., Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Candidiasis: 2016 Update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America., Clin Infect Dis , 2016, 62(4), e1-50
  44. Wade, K.C. et al., Population pharmacokinetics of fluconazole in young infants, Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 2008, 52(11), 4043-9
  45. Momper, J.D. et al., Population Pharmacokinetics of Fluconazole in Premature Infants with Birth Weights Less than 750 Grams., Antimicrob Agents Chemother , 2016, 60(9), 5539-45
  46. Watt, K.M. et al., Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Approach to Determine Dosing on Extracorporeal Life Support: Fluconazole in Children on ECMO., CPT Pharmacometrics Syst Pharmacol , 2018, 7(10), 629-37
  47. Robati Anaraki M, et al., Fluconazole prophylaxis against invasive candidiasis in very low and extremely low birth weight preterm neonates: a systematic review and meta-analysis., Clin Exp Pediatr., 2021, Apr;64(4), 172-9.

Changes

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring


Overdose