Drug interactions
Fluconazole + Pentobarbital
Severity: Moderate
Fluconazole and Pentobarbital: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Barbiturates induce hepatic enzymes and can lower fluconazole concentrations, though fluconazole is mostly cleared unchanged by the kidney so the effect is modest. Fluconazole may in turn slightly raise barbiturate levels, increasing sedation.
What this interaction means in plain words
Fluconazole and Pentobarbital can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Pentobarbital induces CYP enzymes, and fluconazole inhibits CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP3A4.
What to do
Monitor for reduced antifungal response and for excess sedation; consider increasing fluconazole dose if treatment fails.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Fluconazole
- Dihydroergotamine intranasal + Fluconazole Contraindicated
- Dihydroergotamine + Fluconazole Contraindicated
- Dofetilide + Fluconazole Contraindicated
- Domperidone + Fluconazole Contraindicated
- Dronedarone + Fluconazole Contraindicated
- Erythromycin + Fluconazole Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Fluconazole with Pentobarbital?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Fluconazole and Pentobarbital can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Barbiturates induce hepatic enzymes and can lower fluconazole concentrations, though fluconazole is mostly cleared unchanged by the kidney so the effect is modest. Fluconazole may in turn slightly raise barbiturate levels, increasing sedation.
How serious is the interaction between Fluconazole and Pentobarbital?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor for reduced antifungal response and for excess sedation; consider increasing fluconazole dose if treatment fails.
What other medicines interact with Fluconazole?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Fluconazole with, for example, Dihydroergotamine intranasal, Dihydroergotamine, Dofetilide. The full list is on the Fluconazole page.
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