Fluconazole usually stays in the body for several days after the last dose. In healthy adults, it has a long half life of about 24 to 30 hours, which means it can take around 6 to 9 days for most of the medication to be cleared from the system after a single dose.
This happens because fluconazole is removed slowly, mainly through the kidneys. About 80 percent of the drug leaves the body unchanged in the urine. Because of this, people with reduced kidney function may keep fluconazole in their system much longer, sometimes for more than a week, depending on how well the kidneys are working.
Even though fluconazole remains in the body for several days, this does not usually cause problems when it is taken as prescribed. Its long duration is one reason why a single dose can be effective for some infections, such as vaginal yeast infections. However, the drug can continue to interact with other medications for several days after the last dose.
Fluconazole should not be taken without medical guidance, especially by people with kidney disease or those using other medications. If there are concerns about side effects, interactions, or dosing, a doctor or pharmacist should be consulted for proper evaluation.