Fluconazole is well absorbed and can be given orally or intravenously. It reaches high concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid and ocular fluids, and may become the drug of first choice for most types of fungal meningitis.
**active against many species of Candida and cryptococcal disease. **
Side effects:
- hepatotoxicity is a concern and should be monitored for courses longer than a few days.
- As with all azoles, interactions with many drugs metabolized by the cytochrome P450 system are possible. But does not produce the inhibition of steroidogenesis that occurs with ketoconazole.
- Prolongation of the corrected QT interval (QTc) can be seen, and patients with risk factors for cardiac arrhythmias may require ECG monitoring.