What is Fluconazole used for?

Fluconazole is indicated for: Aspergillosis, Blastomycosis (CNS involvement adjunct), candidiasis, CNS cryptococcosis, CNS fungal infections, Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever), Cryptococcosis, dermatophytosis, Nasal cryptococcosis, Pulmonary fungal infections, Severe CNS fungal infections, Severe systemic mycoses, Systemic fungal infections, systemic mycoses, Yellow fungus disease adjunct.

Which species have cited Fluconazole dosing data?

Fluconazole dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 7 species: African Grey Parrot, Ball Python, Bearded Dragon, Cat (Domestic), Dog (Domestic), Guinea Pig, Rabbit (Domestic).

Is Fluconazole a controlled substance?

Fluconazole is not federally scheduled in the US. Controlled-drug status differs by country — verify your local rules.

What are the warnings or contraindications for Fluconazole?

Hepatotoxic: monitor liver enzymes during prolonged therapy. Drug interactions via CYP450 inhibition. Good CNS and ocular penetration.

What are the side effects of Fluconazole?

Reported side effects, adverse reactions, and contraindications for Fluconazole: Hepatotoxic: monitor liver enzymes during prolonged therapy. Drug interactions via CYP450 inhibition. Good CNS and ocular penetration.

How does Fluconazole work?

Inhibits fungal cytochrome P450 enzyme 14-alpha-demethylase, blocking ergosterol synthesis and disrupting fungal cell membrane.

Fluconazole

US brand names:Diflucan

Calculate dosage

Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

Fluconazole is dosed at 5 mg/kg PO q24h in ball pythons, per Exotic Animal Emergency & Critical Care Medicine (corpus 'eecc'), Snakes chapter, table 'Common systemic antibiotics and antifungals used in snakes', corpus p.885 (printed 869). Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Antifungal

Routes

POIV

Indications

AspergillosisBlastomycosis (CNS involvement adjunct)candidiasisCNS cryptococcosisCNS fungal infections

Backed by 8 published sources

· Carpenter's 6th ed. Table 4.3 Antifungal Agents Used in Reptiles, p.221; identical row in Mader's Table 127.3, corpus p.1404; Plumb's Fluconazole REPTILES, corpus p.560: 'Dermatophytosis in iguanas: 5 mg/kg PO once daily'
· Carpenter's 6th ed. Table 4.3, p.221; Mader's Table 127.3, corpus p.1404; Plumb's Fluconazole REPTILES, corpus p.560
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed
· Exotic Animal Emergency & Critical Care Medicine (corpus 'eecc'), Snakes chapter, table 'Common systemic antibiotics and antifungals used in snakes', corpus p.885 (printed 869)
· Flammer K, Papich M. Pharmacokinetics of fluconazole after oral administration of single and multiple doses in African grey parrots. Am J Vet Res. 2006;67(3):417-422. doi:10.2460/ajvr.67.3.417 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.425 (2026-08-01).
· Mazepa AS, Trepanier LA, Foy DS. Retrospective comparison of the efficacy of fluconazole or itraconazole for the treatment of systemic blastomycosis in dogs. J Vet Intern Med. 2011;25(3):440-445. ; Wilson AG, KuKanich KS, Hanzlicek AS, Payton ME. Clinical signs, treatment, and prognostic factors for dogs with histoplasmosis. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2018;252:201-209. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.559 (2026-08-01).

Sample dosing (2 of 17 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 7 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.

Species	Route	Dose	Frequency	Evidence	Source
Cat (Domestic)	PO	10–15 mg/kg	q12h	Strong	Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed
Cat (Domestic)	PO	5–10 mg/kg	q12-24h	Strong	Vaden SL, Heit MC, Hawkins EC, Manaugh C, Riviere JE. Fluconazole in cats: Pharmacokinetics following intravenous and oral administration and penetration into cerebrospinal fluid, aqueous humour and pulmonary epithelial lining fluid. J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 1997;20(3):181-186. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2885.1997.tb00093.x — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.559 (2026-08-01).

· Vaden SL, Heit MC, Hawkins EC, Manaugh C, Riviere JE. Fluconazole in cats: Pharmacokinetics following intravenous and oral administration and penetration into cerebrospinal fluid, aqueous humour and pulmonary epithelial lining fluid. J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 1997;20(3):181-186. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2885.1997.tb00093.x — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.559 (2026-08-01).

Fluconazole

Drug Class

Routes

Indications

Mechanism of Action

Side effects & warnings

Species with Fluconazole dosing data (17 dose rules)

Evidence levels across 17 dose rules

Backed by 8 published sources

Sample dosing (2 of 17 cited rules)

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Fluconazole

Drug Class

Routes

Indications

Mechanism of Action

Side effects & warnings

Species with Fluconazole dosing data (17 dose rules)

Evidence levels across 17 dose rules

Backed by 8 published sources

Sample dosing (2 of 17 cited rules)

Upgrade for Full Details

Articles mentioning Fluconazole

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