Flucytosine Oral: Dosing, Duration, and Precautions
Flucytosine guidance for induction-phase cryptococcal meningitis in combination therapy, with blood count and renal monitoring needs.
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Source reviewed
September 2023
Guide category
Oral drugs
Safety boundary
Prescription medicine information for clinician-guided use.
Kenza Health Hub presents this medicine page as structured health education. Check dose, route, interactions, pregnancy or breast-feeding considerations, and local protocol with a qualified clinician or pharmacist. Read our medical editorial policy.
Therapeutic action
Antifungal.
Indications
Cryptococcal meningitis, induction phase, in combination with amphotericin B or fluconazole.
Forms and strengths
- 500 mg capsule and tablet.
Dose
- Child over 1 week and adult: 25 mg/kg 4 times daily.
Duration
- One week if in combination with amphotericin B.
- 2 weeks if in combination with fluconazole.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Administer with caution and monitor use in patients over 60 years, with renal impairment, or with haematological disorders.
- Reduce the dose by half, 25 mg/kg 2 times daily, in patients with renal impairment.
- May cause gastrointestinal disturbances, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, less frequently agranulocytosis, increased transaminases, severe allergic reactions, and sometimes confusion and hallucinations.
- Monitor blood count and liver and renal function until the end of treatment.
- Pregnancy and breast-feeding: generally not recommended, but may be used despite potential risks when disease severity and lack of safer alternatives justify treatment.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page combines source-derived medicine reference sections with Kenza editorial context, while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections from the source batch.
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