INTRODUCTION

AF 50MG contains Fluconazole which belongs to the group of medicines called Anti-fungal agents. It is used to treat various fungal infections such as systemic candidiasis (fungal infection affecting the blood, brain, heart, eyes or other parts of the body), mucosal candidiasis (fungal infection affecting the mouth, throat or denture sore mouth), cryptococcosis (fungal infection mainly affecting the lungs and brain), vaginal candidiasis (fungal infection of the vagina and tissues at the opening of the vagina (vulva)).

Also, it prevents fungal infections in immunocompromised patients considered at risk due to HIV infection or low white blood cell count after cytotoxic chemotherapy, radiotherapy or bone marrow transplant.

Before taking AF 50MG, inform your doctor if you have liver, kidney or heart problems, abnormal levels of potassium, calcium or magnesium in your blood, are prone to develop severe skin reactions and have a history of adrenal insufficiency.

AF 50MG is not recommended for use in pregnant and breastfeeding women unless clearly advised by the doctor. AF 50MG should be used with caution in children and adolescents (from birth to 17 years of age). It should be used with caution in elderly patients particularly with renal impairment.

The most common side effects of taking AF 50MG are headache, nausea, vomiting diarrhoea, abdominal pain and indigestion. Consult your doctor if any of the side effects get worse.

USES OF AF 50MG

• Treats various fungal infections (such as systemic candidiasis, mucosal candidiasis, cryptococcosis and vaginal candidiasis)
• Prevents fungal infection in immunocompromised patients

HOW AF 50MG WORKS

AF 50MG works by stopping the action of an enzyme called ergosterol, which is an integral part of the fungal cell membrane to increase its cellular permeability. Thereby, making the cell membrane more permeable and stopping the fungal growth. This type of action is helpful in treating and preventing various fungal infections.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

Take AF 50MG as advised by your physician. Swallow AF 50MG with a glass of water and do not chew or crush the medicine. The correct dose and duration for you will be decided by the doctor depending upon your age, body weight and type of infection.

SIDE EFFECTS OF AF 50MG

HOW TO MANAGE SIDE EFFECTS

Diarrhoea:

Drink lot of fluids, such as water or fruit juice to keep yourself hydrated. Do not take any medicine on your own to treat diarrhoea without consulting your doctor.

Nausea or vomiting:

Stick to simple meals while receiving this medicine. Avoid eating oily rich, fried or spicy foods. Do not lie down or sleep immediately after eating. Consult your doctor if the symptom does not improve.

Stomach pain:

Try to take rest and relax. Eat and drink slowly or try to have smaller and more frequent meals. Keep a heating pad on your stomach. If the symptom does not improve, contact your doctor.

Headache:

Drink ample amount of water and avoid skipping meals. Get adequate rest. Try to be relaxed and stress-free. Apply pain relieving balm on your forehead if necessary. Consult your doctor if the symptom does not improve.

Dizziness:

Lie down until the dizziness is gone, then get up slowly. Move slowly and carefully, do not hurry. Get adequate rest. Drink plenty of water and other fluids. Avoid coffee, cigarettes, alcohol and drugs. Consult your doctor if the symptom gets worse.

WARNING & PRECAUTIONS

INTERACTIONS

A. Drug-Drug Interactions:

Before taking AF 50MG, inform your doctor, if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• medicines used to treat diabetes medicines (Ex. glyburide, tolbutamide, glipizide, chlorpropamide)
• medicines used to treat high blood pressure (Ex. hydrochlorothiazide, nifedipine, isradipine, amlodipine, felodipine and losartan)
• medicines used as blood thinners (Ex. warfarin)
• medicines used to use to prevent rejection of organ transplants (Ex. cyclosporine, tacrolimus, sirolimus)
• rifampicin or rifabutin (used to treat tuberculosis)
• astemizole, terfenadine (used to treat a certain type of allergies)
• medicines used to control seizures /fits (Ex. phenytoin or carbamazepine)
• theophylline (used to control asthma)
• cisapride (used to treat heartburn)
• medicines used to treat heart diseases (Ex. quinidine, amiodarone)
• medicines used to treat depression (Ex. amitriptyline, nortriptyline)
• pimozide (used to control motor or verbal tics)
• amphotericin B, voriconazole (medicine for treating various fungal infections)
• erythromycin (used for treating bacterial infections)
• cyclophosphamide, medicines used for treatment of cancer (Ex. vincristine or vinblastine)
• alfentanil, fentanyl (used as general anesthetic)
• halofantrine (for treating malaria)
• medicines used to treat high cholesterol levels (Ex. atorvastatin, simvastatin and fluvastatin)
• medicines used to treat painful conditions with inflammation (Ex. celecoxib, ibuprofen and naproxen)
• prednisone (used to treat inflammatory disorders)
• antiviral medications used to treat HIV infection (Ex.  saquinavir, zidovudine)
• tofacitinib (used to treat rheumatoid arthritis)
• ivacaftor (medicine used for treating cystic fibrosis)
• ibrutinib (used for treating blood cancer)
• midazolam, triazolam or similar medicines (used to induce sleep and treats anxiety)
• olaparib (used for treating ovarian cancer)
• methadone (used to treat chronic pain and also opioid dependence)

Overdosage:

If you or anyone else accidentally takes too much of AF 50MG, consult your doctor immediately or visit the nearby hospital. Overdosage symptoms of AF 50MG are hearing, seeing, feeling and thinking things that are not real (hallucination and paranoid behaviour).

SYNOPSIS

MORE INFORMATION

• Keep AF 50MG out of reach of children
• Store at room temperature

FAQs ABOUT AF 50MG

How does AF 50MG work?

AF 50MG works by stopping the action of an enzyme called ergosterol, which is an integral part of the fungal cell membrane to increase its cellular permeability. Thereby, making the cell membrane more permeable and stopping the fungal growth. This type of action is useful in treating and preventing various fungal infections.

What if I forget to take a dose of AF 50MG?

If you have missed a dose of AF 50MG, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next scheduled dose. Do not double the dose of AF 50MG to make up for the missed one as this may increase the chances of developing side effects.

What are the common side effects of AF 50MG?

The common side effects of taking AF 50MG are headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, indigestion and acne. Consult your doctor if any of the symptoms get worse or does not improve over time.

Can AF 50MG be used in elderly patients?

AF 50MG should be used with caution in elderly patients particularly with renal impairment. Your doctor may adjust the dose depending upon kidney function. Consult your doctor for advice before taking AF 50MG.

Is AF 50MG safe to use during pregnancy?

AF 50MG is not recommended for use during pregnancy unless clearly advised by the doctor. Consult your doctor before taking AF 50MG if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant.

REFERENCES

1. KD. Tripathi. Section, Antifungal Drugs. Essentials of medical pharmacology. Seventh edition. 2013. Page – 787.

2. Ameish Govindarajan; Karlyle G. Bistas; Curtis J. Ingold; Ayham Aboeed. NIH National Library of Medicine, National center for biotechnology information. June 2022. [Accessed on 12th July 2022] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537158

3. Josilene Chaves Ruela Corrra & Herida Regina Nunes Salgado. Review of Fluconazole Properties and Analytical Methods for Its Determination, Critical Reviews in Analytical Chemistry. May 2011. [Accessed on 12th July 2022] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10408347.2011.557980?journalCode=batc20

4. Viatris Ltd. Fluconazole. [Revised in March 2022] [Accessed on 12th July 2022] https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/datasheet/f/fluconazolecapmylan.pdf

5. Accord Healthcare Limited. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC). [Revised in April 2021] [Accessed on 12th July 2022 ] https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.6086.pdf

6. FDC limited. Zocon (Fluconazole tablets) [Revised in July 2022] [Accessed on 12th July 2022] http://fdcindia.com/PackageInsert/ZoconTablets.pdf

USEFUL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

• Complete blood count
• Liver function test