Panicking - any pharmacists or doctors around - medicine interaction!

[Jellybellycat]

I’ve been an idiot.

Took 2 x 150mg fluconazole tablets last week on Tuesday and Friday. These were ones I had at home.

I’ve just read they shouldn’t be taken with certain anti anxiety meds - one of which is Escitalopram / Lexapro!!

I take 5mg daily.

Would there have been side effects already? I have health anxiety and in a panic.

So so angry with myself!

Havent experienced any side effects any time I’ve taken them in the past or this recent time.

I have taken them before together without realising too.

Call 111. They will advise you.

I used to take these together and no doctor ever told me not to nor did I suffer any.ill effects

I think they are rare

If you took them Tuesday and Friday last week and it's now Monday, then you would have had any side effects by now. Step away from Google and get on with your life now

Thank you. Are you a doctor or pharmacist? Just checking as I’m so anxious

My DH took 1 x fluconazole tablet with eplilepsy meds, a reaction happened after 2 hours. I think you'd know by now.

Surely if you are that anxious you would either ring 111 or drop into a pharmacy rather than rely on strangers on MN who could claim to be medical professional and not be.

I’m trying not to panic 🤣

Thank you - I thought so but given I’ve recently been prescribed Escitalopram I’m not as rational as I usually am. Everything was making me anxious hence why I was prescribed it.

Wont make this silly mistake again.

It says can cause issues with serotonin syndrome and also heart issues - it’s the heart issues I’m most worried about.

Im wondering if my low dose of Escitalopram will help me

Pharmacist here - I wouldn’t worry.

Fluconazole can increase the levels of escitalopram in your body. This doesn’t mean they should never be taken together just that you have to be a bit careful as side effects are more likely with higher levels in your body. As you are on a relatively low dose of escitalopram this is unlikely to be a problem and if you haven’t felt any ill effects by now I wouldn’t expect you to.

You can always phone a pharmacy for advice about things like this in the future

Thanks for this - so are they sometimes prescribed together?

Sorry I’m seeking reassurance - I’m not usually quite so pathetic!

I had no idea of this and have taken that lots of times over the years, also been on 20- 30mg of citalopram throughout

Thanks so much - I assume it’s rare. It came up on google straight away which scared me!

I took it a few years ago while also on Escitalopram too!

Yes.

It’s relatively common for medicines to affect each other, and it doesn’t always mean you can’t take them at the same time. It needs a bit of thought about how much they are likely to affect each other, and what are the consequences of this are compared to the benefits you will get from the medicines.

it can get quite complicated hence the standard advice is not to take them together, but a healthcare professional can help you weigh things up more thoroughly and might make a different decision - always best to check beforehand but do reach out afterwards as much better than worrying about things.

I won’t be taking them again unless GP or pharmacist prescribes them!

Lesson learned.

Thank you so much for the info, it has really helped me. I am well over the 72 hours now since taking them so hopefully I can put the worry behind me and move on!

In future run them through the drug interaction checker. It tells you whether they do interact and in what way and whether they are high, medium or low risk. No substitute for a pharmacist but can be useful when one isn't available.

Haven’t heard of that, thank you.