Oral fluconazole for vaginal candidiasis.

The recent surge of interest in fluconazole is due to its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use as a single 150-mg oral dose in the treatment of vaginal candidiasis. Fluconazole is a triazole antifungal agent that acts primarily by inhibiting sterol synthesis in the fungal cell membrane. Recent studies have shown that a single dose of oral fluconazole is as effective as intravaginal antifungal agents. Many physicians and patients prefer this single-dose regimen because of its low rate of side effects, cost-effectiveness and ease of administration.